Apple provides iPhone NFC in more countries

After the EU forced the opening of Apple’s NFC technology for use with third-party apps in Europe, Apple has announced a similar move for the US, UK and some other countries. Unsplash / Nathan Dumlao

After the EU, the USA and other countries are now following suit

Slowly but surely, Apple’s monopoly on the use of the NFC chip built into iPhones with the so-called Secure Element is falling in more and more countries. In this country, the opening of the NFC chip for use with payment solutions from other providers instead of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet has already been announced because Apple has to comply with the new Digital Markets Act.

In a press release, the US computer company has now announced that starting with the upcoming iOS version 18.1, external developers in more countries will be able to process NFC payments using the Secure Element in their apps on the iPhone outside of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.

Apple demands contracts and collects fees

The contactless transactions can be used for payments in shops, as well as for car keys, means of transport, company access cards, student IDs, apartment or house keys, hotel room keys, bonus and loyalty cards, event tickets and soon also government IDs. Users will soon also be able to decide for themselves which third-party app they want to use in connection with NFC transactions.

In order for the new, more open solutions for using the NFC chip in the iPhone to be used by third parties, Apple requires the conclusion of a contract with the respective app developers. As part of this contract, they should then be able to obtain the right to access the NFC chip and the secure element. Apple also wants to charge fees, but the company has not yet provided any information about the amount and structure or processing of these.

Via its developer website Apple now offers more information about the contact options for accessing the NFC chip by third parties. They now announced further opening of the NFC chip and the Secure Element in the iPhone initially only applies to the USA, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Great Britain outside the EU. In all other countries, Apple initially retains its sole right to offer transactions of any kind via the NFC chip and the Secure Element only using Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.