iOS 17.4: Apple will open NFC on iPhones to third parties in Europe

2024-01-25 20:32:49

A Apple announced today that it will open the NFC from iPhones to third-party apps in iOS 17.4, which began testing today. The decision aims to comply with the Digital Markets Law (Digital Markets Actor DMA) and will only be supported in European Union.

Previously, only the Apple Pay used technology for contactless payments. With the new rules in the European bloc, users will have access to bank applications and digital wallets from other companies by default in the system.

However, anyone who thinks it will be easy to adopt technology is mistaken. This is because developers will still need Apple’s approval and must follow security rules to use NFC in their applications.

Once approved, they will be able to make payments contactlessautomatically open apps near terminals and also quickly access them by double-clicking the iPhone’s side button — as happens with Apple Pay.

Even though the decision benefits the competition, Maçã warned regarding possible risks to the safety of users and devices. In its announcement, the company promised to take measures to reduce these risks, respecting DMA rules.

Inevitably, new options […] create new risks for Apple users and their devices. Apple cannot eliminate them, but within the constraints of the DMA, the company will take steps to reduce them. These safeguards will be in effect when users download iOS 17.4 or later, starting in March.

As we know, the company’s decision to open NFC is a response to growing pressure from EU regulators, who have been investigating the company since 2019 for practices that might limit competition in the use of technology.

The release seeks (in theory) to balance competition in the payments market, dominated by Apple Pay. This indicates the impact of regulations on technology and raises the possibility of such measures being adopted in other regions — such as Australia.


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