The European Union has launched two specification procedures against Apple. They aim to define how the company should adjust iOS and iPadOS so they work better with other companies’ products and apps.
Interoperability is one of the requirements of the European Union’s Digital Markets Regulation (or DMA), which came into force in March 2024.
Connectivity with other devices
The first procedure is the one that brings the most news. It concerns “iOS connectivity features and functionalities, predominantly used for and by connected devices”.
In the statement, the EU mentions smartwatches, headphones and virtual reality headsets as examples of devices. Among the features, the bloc lists notifications, pairing and connectivity.
This means that the company may be forced to make features similar to those currently offered by Apple Watch and AirPods available to other manufacturers. These devices often work better than competitors when it comes to accessing notifications or connecting to a smartphone, for example. However, these changes are still subject to the conclusions of the procedure.
Apple told Bloomberg that it has created ways to allow developers to request additional interoperability with iOS and iPadOS while still keeping users safe. The company believes that reducing these protections could put European users at risk.
Changes will be investigated
The second procedure will investigate whether Apple has complied with interoperability requests submitted by developers and third parties, in accordance with the DMA’s obligations. The statement notes that if a company fails to comply with the rules of the regulation, it may be fined.
Until now, Apple has been forced to open iOS to direct app installation (also known as sideloading) and stores competing with the App Store.
Developers are no longer required to use the iPhone manufacturer’s own billing systems and can choose other platforms.
Another important change was the opening of the iPhone’s NFC chip, which will be able to work with other wallets in addition to Apple Pay.
The proceedings will be completed within six months. The European Commission will communicate the preliminary results to Apple, outlining the steps the company should take to ensure interoperability. A summary of these will be published so that third parties can comment on the decisions.
With information: European Union, AppleInsider, MacRumors, TechCrunch.
