EU accepts Apple’s plan to open up competition for contactless payments on iPhones

The European Union announced Thursday that it accepted Apple’s plan to open its iPhone phones to competition and allow them to be used with competing applications in tap-to-pay transactions.

European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Apple «has committed to allow rival companies access to ‘tap and go’ technology on iPhone devices.»

With this, European consumers «will have a wider and more innovative range of virtual wallets to choose from,» she added.

By this approved plan, Apple committed to apply a «fair, objective, transparent and non-discriminatory» procedure to authorize the access of independent developers to the technology of iPhone devices.

Apple’s proposal had been presented on January 19, and since then the initiative has been the subject of analysis by the European Commission, which even conducted surveys with companies interested in the payment segment.

In a statement, the Commission indicated that only accounts (Apple ID) registered in the European Economic Area (EEA) will be able to use applications developed by competing companies.

Since the EU adopted two ambitious laws, the Digital Markets Law (LMD) and the Digital Services Law (LSD), the bloc has maintained a tense relationship with the giant companies in the sector, especially with Apple.

In March of this year the Commission announced a fine of 1.8 billion euros (about 1.9 billion dollars) in a separate controversy, but the U.S. giant appealed that ruling to a European court.