Apple’s iPhone NFC to open to third-party devs post-EU probe
Following pressure to open up its iPhone NFC payment processes to rivals across Europe, Apple has decided to bring the same feature to more countries, including the US.
The European Union required Apple to allow rivals access to its technology under its recent Digital Markets Act (DMA). Now having created what it describes as a “secure way to offer NFC contactless transactions,” Apple is allowing developers in selected regions.
Initially, those regions are:
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Japan
- New Zealand
- UK
- US
More countries and regions are to follow, but Apple has not announced a schedule.
For developers now allowed access to the technology, it means that they will be able to offer in-app contactless payments, plus keys, reward cards, ID cards, and more. The developers will be able to do this without Apple Pay or Apple Wallet, but still using Apple’s Secure Element to protect users’ privacy.
“Apple has dedicated significant resources to design a solution that protects users’ security and privacy,” says the company in a statement, “leveraging a number of Apple’s proprietary hardware and software technologies when making a contactless transaction, including the Secure Enclave, biometric authentication, and Apple servers.”
From the users’ perspective, they can open an app and then perform the transaction. Or they can set the third-party app as their default payment method.
In that case, they will be able to double-press on the iPhone’s side button to bring up the third party payment system. It will take the place of Apple Pay.
Developers have to apply to Apple to get access to the NFC system. The application process involves an as-yet unspecified fee, and developers must meet various industry regulations.
The ability to use NFC as a third-party developer will be introduced along with iOS 18.1, later in the fall.
