Apple Offers to Open Mobile Payments to Third Parties Amid EU Antitrust Case -- Update

By David Sachs

Apple committed to address antitrust concerns posed by the European Commission surrounding its popular Apple Pay app, including allowing access to third-party mobile wallet and payment services.

The U.S. tech giant has agreed to allow companies' apps to make contactless payments on devices that use the iOS system, such as iPhones, for free without the need to use Apple Pay or Apple Wallet, the EU's executive arm said Friday.

The Commission posted an invitation for comment from competitors on that concession and others, following the EU body's investigation into antitrust concerns that began in 2020.

"Through our ongoing discussions with the European Commission, we have offered commitments to provide third-party developers in the European Economic Area with an option that will enable their users to make NFC contactless payments from within their iOS apps, separate from Apple Pay and Apple Wallet," Apple said.

"Apple Pay will continue to be a broadly available option, and over 3,000 issuing banks across all EEA countries will still be able to offer the unparalleled privacy and security of Apple Pay, as well as its great user experience," it said.

Other concessions include applying the third-party allowance to all mobile wallet app developers in the European Economic Area, which includes the EU Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, the commission said. 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.

Write to David Sachs at david.sachs@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 19, 2024 07:08 ET (12:08 GMT)

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