EU Commission Reviews Apple’s Tap-and-Go Tech Access Proposal

• EU reviews Apple’s tap-and-go access proposal for antitrust settlement.
• Apple commits to NFC payment integration for EEA developers.
• Stakeholder feedback sought, trustee oversight if approved.

The European Commission is currently reviewing a proposal put forth by Apple to settle antitrust charges and potentially avoid significant fines. The tech giant’s offer includes allowing third-party service providers to access its tap-and-go mobile payment systems, a move aimed at addressing concerns related to competition in the market.

Apple’s proposal comes in response to previous allegations by the EU competition enforcer that the company had restricted rivals’ access to its Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology. This limitation reportedly hindered competitors from developing alternative services on Apple devices.

As part of its commitments, Apple is willing to permit third-party developers within the European Economic Area (EEA) to utilize its tap-and-go technology for mobile payments. This option, separate from Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, would be available for a period of ten years. Developers focusing on payments, banking, and digital wallet apps in the EEA would have an additional avenue, aside from Apple Pay, to integrate NFC contactless payments.

In an emailed statement, Apple clarified, “We have offered commitments to provide third-party developers in the European Economic Area with an option that will enable their users to make NFC contactless payments from within their iOS apps, separate from Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.”

The proposed changes also encompass allowing consumers to choose between Apple’s payment services and other NFC-enabled applications provided by their bank or card issuer. Additionally, the commitments involve introducing features like defaulting to preferred payment apps and access to authentication features such as FaceID.

Stakeholders, including rivals and customers, now have a one-month window to provide feedback on Apple’s proposal. Once approved, the implementation of these commitments will be overseen by a trustee, who will report to the European Commission.

The outcome of this evaluation and the subsequent decisions could significantly impact the competitive landscape for mobile payments within the European market.

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