Much is said, good and bad, about Apple's overprotective approach to its handsets and services. Several impossibilities stem from this attitude of Ma: you can't install apps from outside the App Store or set a default browser on iOS other than Safari, for example, and there are positive and negative arguments regarding these company decisions.
One such blockage, however, may be threatened at least in one place in the world. According to the Reuters, a committee of the parliament of Germany approved a few days ago an amendment to anti-money laundering law in the country; with it, Apple and other companies may be required to open their NFC chips to third party payment systems.
For those who do not understand very well, here is a brief explanation: Apple has included in its iPhones, for some years now, yes NFC chips, those that allow you to touch the devices in certain terminals to make payments or other actions. In the case of Ma, however, these chips can only be used for Apple pay; That's why other contact payment systems (like Google Pay) don't exist on Ma's smartphones.
The new German legislation, however, may require Ma to open its chip to other systems as the amendment specifically "obliges e-money infrastructure operators to offer access to rivals for a reasonable fee." That is, if you want, at least Apple can charge for this access.
While not naming Apple by name, it is true that the amendment has Cupertino as the right address for Ma, after all, the only technology giant that blocks its NFC chips to other payment systems. The legislation, moreover, further demonstrates the European Union's focus on dismantling Apple's practices considered monopolists; Just look at recent cases involving the acquisition of Shazam, Spotify's accusations and free competition on the App Store.
Apple has commented on the case, saying it is "surprised" by the law's approval and that it may "pose a danger to users' ease of use, data protection and financial information security."
The amendment should take effect early next year, but there is still water to roll under that bridge. lobby and European lawmakers in the coming months. What do you guys think?
via iMore | image: Shutterstock
