by Dan Moren
Apple to enable third party NFC payments in the EU
European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager has announced that Apple has committed to allowing third-party payment apps use the same NFC features as Apple Pay in Europe. This is the end result of an investigation launched by the body back in 2020, and, according to the release, has been the result of a back and forth between the EC, Apple, and interested third parties. The decision also has implications under the Digital Markets Act; the EC describes the solution as “more than what is required by the DMA.”
There are three major implications to this change: first, a secure payment method called “host card emulation mode.” This doesn’t seem to use the iPhone’s Secure Enclave, but the EC has accepted it as an equivalent solution. Second, the ability launch any payment app with a double-click of the iPhone’s side button, which currently launches the Wallet app. And third, the ability to set a default payment option.
This strikes me as a solid compromise. The EC did not, notably, mandate that Apple open the Secure Enclave aspect of Apple Pay to third parties, which might have been not only technically difficult (if not impossible), but could have potentially created other security risks. Perhaps most importantly, it illustrates that it is indeed possible for these two entities to come to a decision that is acceptable to both parties.
More to the point, the end result is ultimately good for users. If they want to stick with Apple’s Wallet app, nothing changes for them. If they prefer an alternative, they now have the option to use that seamlessly—just as, for example, iOS 18 will allow users to replace the Camera shortcut on the iPhone’s lock screen with a third-party camera app, if they prefer.
The changes will kick in as of July 25th and are to remain in place for ten years, which will be monitored by a trustee along with a mechanism for resolving disputes and independent review.