Apple opens its payments system to rivals, avoids EU antitrust penalty

iPhone maker Apple has decided to open up its tap-and-go mobile payments system to rivals, EU antitrust regulators have confirmed.

Apple’s decision ends a four-year investigation that could have resulted in the tech giant being fined.

Apple remains subject to three ongoing investigations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) into its business practices.

Apple Pay is offered by over 3,000 banks and issuers in Europe.

Apple’s tap-and-go technology, called near-field communication, or NFC, enables contactless payments with mobile wallets. Now, it will give developers access to NFC to pre-build payment apps for competing mobile wallet providers.

Two years ago, the EU’s antitrust watchdog accused Apple of hampering competition in its Apple Pay mobile wallet by blocking rival app developers from using its contactless payment technology.

In March, Apple was fined €1.84 billion, the first antitrust fine imposed on it in the EU, for blocking competition from Spotify and other music streaming rivals by introducing restrictions on the App Store.

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