Regulatory pressure on Apple continues to mount as the UK's antitrust authority has called on the tech giant to grant third-party developers access to the iPhone's Near Field Communication (NFC) chip. Historically, access to this contactless hardware on iOS has been tightly restricted, primarily favoring Apple's own native payment solutions.
Regulators argue that opening up NFC functionality is necessary to foster fair competition among mobile wallet providers and financial institutions. Permitting third-party developers equal access to the tap-to-pay infrastructure would allow competing services to offer seamless contactless transactions directly on iOS hardware, giving consumers more payment options.
This push aligns with broader international scrutiny surrounding Apple's closed ecosystem, notably in Europe where similar regulatory measures have targeted platform restrictions. As antitrust watchdogs intensify their focus on digital markets, Apple faces growing demands to dismantle software barriers that limit competing mobile services.
For the full report and comprehensive details on the regulator's findings, check the original coverage on Engadget.
