The European Commission is seeking feedback from rivals and customers on Apple’s offer to settle EU antitrust charges and stave off a possible large fine.
The bloc’s regulator had charged Apple with restricting access to its tap-and-go mobile payment systems, based on the independent technology called Near-Field Communication (NFC), as it made it difficult for rivals to develop alterative payment options for iOS-based devices and compete with Apple Pay and Wallet apps.
Earlier today, Apple said it will open up its tap-and-go mobile payment system to developers of payments, banking, and digital wallet apps in the European Economic Area (EEA) as another option, on top of Apple Pay.
Other concessions include applying the third-party allowance to all mobile wallet app developers in the EEA, which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The apps would work for all iOS users in that zone, and Apple wouldn’t prevent the use of these apps for payments outside of the area, according to the EU.
“If Apple keeps their promise, this is a real game changer for mobile wallets,” Nordic wallet company Vipps MobilePay, one of the complainants in the case, said in a statement.
“We are super optimistic and positive to Apple’s proposed commitments, but we will save the real celebration to when we see Apple fulfilling the commitments without hindrances and extra costs for developers,”
Rivals and customers have one month from the publication of the summary to come back with feedback.
Once approved, the implementation of these commitments will be monitored by a trustee, who will report to the Commission.
