Apple's long-running dispute with the European Commission over the accessibility of its near-field communications (NFC) technology appears to be on the verge of being resolved。The European Commission has officially acknowledged Apple's proposal to open up its NFC technology to third-party mobile wallet providers, potentially ending a two-year investigation into alleged antitrust violations.。

Apple's shift in stance on third-party access

The dispute, launched by the European Commission in 2020, is largely concerned that Apple is restricting the use of its NFC technology, thus creating an anti-competitive environment for rival mobile wallet developers.。The European Commission formally sued Apple in 2022, accusing the tech giant of violating EU antitrust laws.。

In December 2023, rumors began to circulate that Apple had proposed a compromise, indicating a shift in the company's position on third-party access to its payment technology, and an official statement from the European Commission validated those speculations.。

"Through ongoing discussions with the European Commission, we are committed to providing third-party developers in the European Economic Area with an option to enable their users to make NFC contactless payments in their iOS apps, separate from Apple Pay and Apple Wallet."。"

Apple promises independent examiners in European Commission review

Apple's proposal, if accepted, would show that it deviated from its previous position that the involvement of third parties could compromise the security of its payment systems.。Key elements of the proposal include allowing third parties to access NFC functionality via an application programming interface (API) without using Apple Pay or its wallet.。Importantly, this access extends to the technology responsible for securing payment information。

The proposed changes will apply to developers and iOS users within the European Economic Area (EEA).。However, individuals outside the EEA may still be able to use third-party applications, suggesting a potential global impact.。

Apple Pay will continue to be a widely available option, and more than 3,000 card issuers in all EEA countries will still be able to offer the privacy and security of Apple Pay, as well as its superior user experience. "。"

In an effort to allay concerns about fairness and controversy, Apple promised to involve independent censors if the company denied third-party use of NFC.。Despite Apple's outcry, the European Commission did not rush to accept the proposed commitments。Instead, it proposed changes and invited feedback from Apple's competitors and other stakeholders to assess whether the proposed changes were acceptable.。