Home | FinTech | Digital Lending / Digital Payments

Apple’s NFC Chip Opens to Third-Party Payments under EU Regulation

June 20, 2024

Image Credit: Pexels

Apple’s NFC Chip Opens to Third-Party Payments under EU Regulation

Apple’s recent decision to open up the iPhone’s NFC chip to third-party contactless payment services has garnered approval from the European Union, marking a significant shift in the company’s business practices. This decision forms part of Apple’s compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a regulation crafted to encourage fair competition within the digital market. Introduced with iOS 17.4, this update is significant not only for its practical implications but also for its avoidance of substantial EU-imposed fines. Apple has also included support for third-party app stores in this update, signaling the company’s commitment to adhering to the new regulatory landscape.

The EU’s satisfaction with Apple’s NFC-related modifications signals a positive turn in what could have been a more severe outcome for the tech giant. The end of the probe marks a milestone; Apple has successfully avoided a fine that could have amounted to 10% of its annual revenue, around $40 billion. This regulatory approval means that third-party developers in the European Union can now integrate contactless payment functionalities directly into their apps without relying solely on Apple Pay or Apple Wallet. This new flexibility affords developers greater autonomy and diminishes Apple’s monopoly over iPhone payment services, marking a win for fair competition advocates.

Long-Term Compliance and Persistent Scrutiny

Apple’s recent move to open the iPhone’s NFC chip to third-party contactless payment services has received approval from the European Union, marking a notable shift in the tech giant’s business model. This change is in compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a regulation aimed at promoting fair competition in the digital market. Introduced with iOS 17.4, this update not only has practical implications but also helps Apple avoid hefty fines from the EU.

Additionally, Apple has expanded its support to include third-party app stores, demonstrating its commitment to adhering to the new regulatory framework. The EU’s approval of Apple’s changes signals a positive outcome, avoiding a potential fine that could have been as high as 10% of Apple’s annual revenue, or roughly $40 billion.

This regulatory green light means that third-party developers in the European Union can now integrate contactless payment functionalities directly into their apps, bypassing the need to rely solely on Apple Pay or Apple Wallet. This increased flexibility offers developers more control and reduces Apple’s dominance in iPhone payment services, representing a victory for advocates of fair competition in the digital landscape.

Explore more

Is Your Marketing Ready for the AI Revolution?

February 19, 2026

The subtle, yet seismic, shift in digital landscapes means that a company’s most valuable customer is no longer found through intuition but is instead pinpointed by a complex algorithm working silently in the background. This transformation has moved beyond theoretical discussions and into the core operational mechanics of the global marketplace. For businesses striving for relevance and growth, understanding this

Is Your Worst Touchpoint Sabotaging Your Marketing?

February 19, 2026

Countless organizations dedicate substantial financial and creative resources toward crafting visually stunning and precisely targeted digital campaigns, yet many watch in dismay as potential customers vanish moments after the initial click. This abrupt departure is not a failure of attraction but a breakdown in experience. In the landscape of digital commerce, the bridge between a compelling advertisement and a successful

What Is the True ROI of Employee Engagement?

February 19, 2026

In the relentless pursuit of market advantage and financial stability, many organizations overlook the single most potent and renewable resource they already possess: the latent potential of their workforce. As businesses navigate a landscape of constant disruption, the prevailing wisdom often points toward external solutions for growth, such as new market entry or technological acquisition. However, a more sustainable and

AI Transforms Business Intent Into Network Reality

February 19, 2026

The sheer scale and dynamism of contemporary digital infrastructure, where thousands of devices across data centers and clouds must adapt in real-time, have rendered the traditional command-line approach to network management an exercise in futility. In its place, a new paradigm is solidifying, one where artificial intelligence acts as the central nervous system, translating high-level business objectives directly into the

Is Your Payroll Ready for the Coming Reckoning?

February 19, 2026

A storm is gathering on the horizon for Australian human resources professionals, threatening to capsize organizations that fail to navigate the turbulent waters of legislative change. For years, many have relied on a patchwork of outdated systems, manual processes, and siloed data to manage payroll and HR compliance, a practice that is rapidly becoming untenable. The impending shift is not