Apple should unlock iOS – Euractiv DE

The European Commission has announced that it will formally ask Apple to take the necessary measures to ensure interoperability with other products. The focus here is on Apple’s iOS operating system under the EU’s Digital Competition Regulation.

In a process that formalises ongoing discussions between the Commission and the US tech giant under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) – the EU regulation on digital competition – the Commission is using this DMA tool for the first time.

the advertisement The “specification procedure” was carried out on Thursday (September 19), as MEPs in Strasbourg debated the landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice in the state aid case against Apple.

However, the interoperability change could come at the expense of privacy and security, Apple said in its response to Euractiv. A company representative said the company is “continuously working to improve accessibility” of the iPhone, including 250,000 APIs so developers can access internal features.

The first step looks at how Apple's iOS operating system works. Interoperability The committee said that the handles, especially in relation to connected devices.

Apple now needs to make it easier to connect non-Apple devices like smartwatches, headphones, and virtual reality headsets to iPhones and iPads. For example, features like Bluetooth pairing and notifications need to work seamlessly with third-party products.

The second process deals with Apple’s interactions with developers who want to make their products compatible with iPhone and iPad. The goal is to ensure that the process is fair, transparent, and efficient so that all developers have the opportunity to create innovative products.

The committee announced on Thursday the launch of the investigation, which is expected to be completed within six months.

During this time, Apple will receive the committee’s preliminary findings and actions necessary to meet the DMA’s interoperability requirements. A summary of these findings will be published for feedback.

If Apple fails to comply, the Commission may impose fines and restrict Apple's operations in certain geographic or technology areas.

In July, the committee had Apple Inc. legally bindingTo address previous competition concerns arising from the company's refusal to allow competitors access to its near field communication (NFC) technology for contactless payments.

[Bearbeitet von Eliza Gkritsi/Martina Monti/Kjeld Neubert]