British Regulator Asks Apple to Open Contactless Payment Tech

Published 5h ago · Latest report 3h ago · Regulation

Affects United Kingdom · Covered in 2 countries

AI summary37s readNeutral

Britain urges Apple to open its contactless payment hardware to third-party apps.

The British government has urged Apple to open up its contactless payment system to third-party developers. Officials believe the proposed changes will pave the way for alternative digital wallets, transit tickets and digital keys. The move aims to increase competition and give consumers more choice in how they use mobile devices for transactions.

The motivationRegulators want to break up closed ecosystems to foster competition and innovation in mobile transactions.
Potential usesConsumers could soon use alternative apps for boarding passes, hotel room keys and digital payments.

Why it matters

Smartphone mobile payment systems have drawn intense scrutiny from competition watchdogs around the globe. Tech giants often restrict access to near-field communication hardware, which critics argue stifles market competition and locks consumers into proprietary services.

How outlets cover it

What outlets agree on

The United Kingdom competition watchdog is pressing Apple to grant other developers access to its device hardware for contactless payments and digital keys.

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