By Sarah Clark
A new European Commission ruling will require Apple to open up a range of iOS connectivity features to third-party devices so that, for example, an iPhone owner will be able to use their choice of NFC-enabled wearable to make a payment using a card they have stored on their smartphone.
European Commission logo
The move follows last year’s deal between Apple and the EU to open up access to the iPhone’s NFC functionality so that third-parties can offer iOS users a host card emulation-based alternative to Apple Pay.
The new ruling “will grant device manufacturers and app developers improved access to iPhone features that interact with such devices (eg displaying notifications on smartwatches), faster data transfers (eg peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connections, and near-field communication) and easier device set-up (eg pairing),” the European Commission says.
“As a result, connected devices of all brands will work better on iPhones. Device manufacturers will have new opportunities to bring innovative products to the market, improving the user experience for consumers based in Europe.”
The specification decision clarifies which measures Apple must implement to allow effective interoperability between Apple’s iOS operating system and connected devices by other manufacturers in relation to a total of nine iOS connectivity features.
Among them is “NFC Controller in Reader/Writer mode”. This, the EU says, will allow “apps on an iPhone to communicate with connected devices, such as rings or bracelets, to provide them with information such as a user’s payment card details.
“The end user can then use the ring or bracelet in a shop to perform payment transactions like with a payment card — without the presence of the iPhone.
“Moreover, physical smart cards can easily be read for instance to activate or secure mobile banking.”
The legally binding measures “ensure that this innovation takes place in full respect of users’ privacy and security as well as the integrity of Apple’s operating systems,” the EU adds.
