Apple has offered open access to rival services to its contactless payment module on the iPhone – with this step, Reuters writes, the company expects to resolve the claims of the anti-monopoly regulator in the European Union and avoid a large fine. resources.

Last year, the European Commission accused Apple of limiting competitors’ access to NFC (Near Field Communication) modules in their devices, making it impossible to develop services with similar capabilities. According to the regulator, the beneficiary of this measure is the company itself and the Apple Pay payment service; The manufacturer has achieved a dominant position in the smart mobile devices and mobile wallet market.

In January, the European Commission will invite comments from Apple’s competitors and customers to decide on the company’s proposed measure. The duration and length of market testing may vary, the agency added. Apple Pay is supported by 2,500 banks and 250 fintech companies in Europe. Contactless payments are made using the NFC chip.

Apple had also complained in 2020 that Spotify and other music streaming platforms did not have the ability to inform users of iOS versions of the apps about the possibility of paying for services outside the App Store. The decision on this issue will be made by the European Commission next year; Companies may be fined and asked to stop this practice. Violation of EU anti-monopoly legislation is punishable by a fine of up to 10% of the company’s annual global turnover.