LONDON (AP) — Apple has promised to open up its tap-and-go mobile payment system to rivals, the European Union said Friday, as the U.S. tech company seeks to resolve an antitrust case and avoid a fine that potentially could be worth billions.
Apple proposed letting third-party mobile wallet and payment service providers access the contactless payment function on its iOS operating system, the EU said.
The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm and top antitrust enforcer, accused Apple in 2022 of abusing its dominant position by limiting access to its mobile payment technology.
Brussels has been using antitrust cases and new digital laws to rein in the power of Apple and other tech giants and protect consumers.
The commission alleged that Apple was restricting competition by blocking developers of rival mobile wallet apps from accessing the near-field communication, or NFC, technology used by its Apple Pay system.
Persons:
Apple
Organizations:
European Union, U.S ., Apple, European Commission
Locations:
U.S, EU, Brussels, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein