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Apple makes NFC technology available to third-party developers

  • August 16, 2024
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A few weeks ago, the European Union and Apple buried the hatchet over NFC technology in iPhones. Now Apple has announced that it will make its technology, which

Apple Pay

A few weeks ago, the European Union and Apple buried the hatchet over NFC technology in iPhones. Now Apple has announced that it will make its technology, which enables payments with the smartphone, available to third-party developers.

Following a long-running conflict between the European Union and Apple, the company announced in a blog post that it would open up its NFC technology to third-party developers. The European Commission has been targeting Apple for years, claiming that exclusive access to the iPhone’s NFC features would limit competition in the mobile payments space.

In response, Apple has already opened up its technology to parties in the region. Now the company is announcing plans to expand access to other markets. Access is currently limited to some countries in an upcoming developer release for iOS 18.1, but more countries will be added later.

Access NFC technology

Near Field Communication (NFC) is the short-range wireless technology behind Apple Pay and Wallet. It allows iPhone users to make payments using their smartphones. Apple’s announcement states that the company will make its new NFC and Secure Element APIs available primarily to developers in Australia, Canada, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom. More locations will be added in due course.

Developers can use these new APIs to offer contactless in-app transactions for “in-store payments, car keys, enclosed transportation, corporate IDs, student IDs, house keys, hotel keys, merchant loyalty and rewards cards, and event tickets,” as well as “government IDs that will be supported in the future,” the blog says.

Of course, that’s not the only access you get. “To integrate this new solution into their iPhone apps, developers must enter into a commercial agreement with Apple, apply for NFC and SE rights, and pay the associated fees.” The company has not yet announced further details of this agreement.

Access to this NFC technology could encourage innovation as other developers can now get started with this technology. It also expands the options for competitors in the mobile payment space.

Source: IT Daily

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