The European Commission has outlined how Apple should open up the benefits of its device ecosystem to third-party accessories and assist developers with related requests.
As part of the Digital Markets Act that came into effect last year, EU regulators gave Apple compliance guidance on how to expand interoperability between iPhones and other companies’ devices, such as smartwatches, headphones, virtual reality headsets and more. This includes features such as device pairing, notifications and connectivity, the commission specified.
The tech giant must pave the way for these devices to work with iOS and iPadOS at no cost to developers, and also provide assistance when requested. The European Commission will work with Apple on compliance with these interoperability requirements through a series of formal processes that will be completed next year.
“We are focused on ensuring fair and open digital markets. Effective interoperability, for example with smartphones and their operating systems, plays an important role in this,” Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission’s executive vice president in charge of competition policy, wrote in a official message.
Apple confirmed in a statement that it will continue to work with the Commission to protect users and clarify the regulations. The tech giant has created ways for apps in the European Union to request greater interoperability with iOS and iPadOS “while protecting our users. Undermining the protections we’ve built over time would put European consumers at risk, giving bad actors more ways to access their devices and data.”
Apple stressed the danger of giving third parties access to user devices without data protection, which could lead to the leakage of personal information or even damage to devices. The company explained that each developer request for greater interoperability requires a specific solution with complex engineering to protect EU users. Requests that are not feasible or appropriate under the DMA will be rejected.
Apple has not disclosed whether these larger interoperability requests will be available outside the EU.
The Digital Markets Act is better known as a landmark ruling that requires Apple and Google to open up their devices and operating systems to third-party app stores. Apple announced that the functionality would be enabled with a new version of iOS released in March, though EU regulators have rebuked the company for its App Store rules that prevent apps from sending users elsewhere for payment.
Following WWDC in June, where it introduced its Apple Intelligence features coming to iOS 18 and its iPhone 16 line, Apple said its AI features would not launch in the EU to ensure compliance with the DMA. The company did not say when the features would come to European users.
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