After being pressured to open its iPhone NFC payment system to competitors in Europe, Apple has decided to extend the same feature to more countries, including the US. The European Union’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA) required Apple to let rivals use its technology. Now, Apple has developed a “secure way to offer NFC contactless transactions” and is allowing developers in certain regions to access it.
The regions currently included are:
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Japan
- New Zealand
- UK
- US
More countries and regions will be added later, but Apple hasn’t shared a timeline yet.
For developers who now have access to this technology, it means they can offer in-app contactless payments, along with features like keys, reward cards, and ID cards. They can do this without using Apple Pay or Apple Wallet, but still rely on Apple’s Secure Element to protect users’ privacy.
Apple stated, “We have invested a lot to create a solution that ensures users’ security and privacy, using Apple’s unique hardware and software technologies like the Secure Enclave, biometric authentication, and Apple servers for contactless transactions.”
For users, they can open an app and complete the transaction directly. Alternatively, they can set a third-party app as their default payment method.
If they do, they can double-press the iPhone’s side button to access the third-party payment system, replacing Apple Pay.
Developers must apply to Apple to access the NFC system. This process includes an unspecified fee and requires meeting certain industry regulations.
The option for third-party developers to use NFC will be available with iOS 18.1, coming later in the fall.