Apple and EU reach agreement on extending tap-to-pay to alternate wallets

As expected, the EU is happy with Apple’s concessions for opening NFC payments.
While the larger points had already been agreed upon, negotiations continued in response to third-party concerns.
Even with mobile payments sorted, Apple still has a lot of work to do to achieve full Digital Markets Act compliance.

The European Commission and its passion for open access continue to be the most wonderful thorn in the side of big tech. Time and time again, we’ve seen EU regulatory authorities hold some of the largest companies on the planet accountable for their anti-competitive practices and bend their will for the good of consumers. The Digital Markets Act (DMA), in particular, has been a real force for change, and its impact on everything from app stores to search results is already being felt.

One of the many changes Apple has had to face as a result of the DMA is a requirement to open up NFC-based tap-to-pay functionality on iPhones to third-party wallets, so users wouldn’t be forced to use Apple Pay. Today, the EC announced that it has accepted Apple’s revised commitments to addressing the Commission’s concerns, locking the company into a binding agreement.

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