EU tells Apple how to extend iOS interoperability to third-party accessories

The European Commission has outlined how Apple should make the benefits of its device ecosystem available to third-party accessories, and help developers meet related requests.

As part of the Digital Markets Act, which took effect last year, EU regulators issued Apple compliance instructions on how to expand interoperability between iPhones and third-party devices such as smartwatches, headphones, virtual reality headsets and more. This includes features such as device pairing, notifications and connectivity, the commission said.

The tech giant must pave the way for these devices to work with iOS and iPadOS at no cost to developers, and also offer support on demand. The European Commission will work with Apple on compliance with these interoperability requirements through a pair of formal proceedings that will conclude next year.

“We are focused on ensuring fair and open digital markets. Effective interoperability, for example with smartphones and their operating systems, plays an important role in this,” Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president for competition policy at the European Commission, wrote in an official post.

Apple said in a statement that it will continue to work with the Commission to protect users and clarify regulation. The tech giant has created ways for apps in the European Union to request greater interoperability with iOS and iPadOS “while protecting our users. Undermining the protections we’ve built over time would put European consumers at risk by giving bad actors more ways to access their devices and data.”

Apple has stressed the dangers of giving third parties access to users’ devices without data protections, which could lead to personal data leaks or even device corruption. The company explained that each developer request for greater interoperability requires a specific solution with complex engineering to protect EU users. Requests that are not feasible or appropriate under the DMA are rejected.

Apple did not specify whether these extended interoperability requests will be available outside the EU.

The Digital Markets Act is better known as the landmark ruling that requires Apple and Google to open up their devices and operating systems to third-party app stores. Apple announced the functionality would be included with a new version of iOS released in March, although EU regulators have slammed the company for App Store rules that prevent apps from directing users elsewhere to make payments.

Following WWDC in June, where the company unveiled Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18 and the iPhone 16 line, Apple said the AI ​​features would not be rolled out in the EU to ensure DMA compliance. The company did not say when the features would be made available to European users.

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