The European Union has already compelled Apple to make significant changes to its policies, including allowing third-party app stores, NFC access for payment services, and the ability to change default apps on the iPhone. However, regulators are not stopping there. As reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday, December 18, the European Commission is now requiring Apple to ensure that the iOS operating system is effectively compatible with other platforms.
New Requirements for Third-Party Developers
The European Commission’s latest demand is that third-party iOS developers must provide more detailed information on how to request access to the iPhone’s essential functions. In addition, a list has been published detailing the functions that Apple must make accessible to all developers, functions that are currently only available to apps created by Apple itself. These include:
- Full-fledged work in the background
- Data transfer via AirDrop
- Priority access to notifications
- Broadcasting media files via AirPlay
- Automatic connection to Wi-Fi
These requirements mark a significant shift in how Apple’s ecosystem has operated in the past, where many of these functions were exclusive to Apple’s own applications.
Concerns from Apple
In response to the European Commission’s demands, Apple has expressed strong concerns, particularly about the potential impact on user privacy. The company argues that these requirements could harm innovation, as competitors would be able to access proprietary technologies that could be used to create their own competing products, adds NIXSOLUTIONS. Apple maintains that companies should be able to compete by creating new ways for their products to work together, without having to share their innovations with competitors who may not share the same commitment to user privacy.