Access to NFC technology like Apple Pay needs new rules, says Dutch market authority
What you need to know
- A Dutch market authority says more rules are needed in the NFC payment market.
- It could prompt a look at technology like Apple Pay.
- The body says it welcomes further European rules to increase competition.
A Dutch market authority says further rules are needed to curb anticompetitive practices in the market of NFC payment technology on smartphones such as Apple Pay.
In a release published today the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets stated:
The report says the investigation "has revealed that access to NFC technology (Near Field Communication) is an important prerequisite for market participants to invest in the development of payment apps of their own" because consumers can already pay for goods in brick-and-mortar stores using this technology using contactless bank cards.
Because market participants like banks don't have access to the technology on smartphones, the body says that they have not started developing for the tech.
"As a result thereof, consumers and retailers have fewer methods of payment to choose from."
The report says that the EU's IFR rules do not tackle the problem, because it relies on there being a choice between different payment apps, and "that choice currently does not exist in the Netherlands."
The body says it is in favor of amending EU rules to mandate that smartphone makers like Apple "offer access to crucial technology and infrastructure such as NFC technology."
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In June of 2020 the EU announced a formal investigation into Apple Pay over allegations that Apple's limitation of access to NFC technology on the iPhone violates EU competition rules.
Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9