Access for accessory manufacturers: EU opens proceedings against Apple
The EU Commission is increasing the pressure on Apple. Two new procedures are intended to improve the interoperability of iOS and iPadOS with 3rd-party devices.
(Image: Marian Weyo / shutterstock.com)
The European Commission now wants to specify to Apple in detail how the manufacturer of iPhones and iPads should fulfill the interoperability requirements of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in two areas. Two so-called specification procedures have been initiated for this purpose. Specifically, these concern functions that are necessary for other devices to be able to connect to Apple's devices – and how requests from developers to Apple in this regard should be handled.
According to the DMA, Apple is obliged to offer third-party developers and companies free interoperability with hardware and software functions in iOS and iPadOS that have been designated under the DMA. In order to ensure that the so-called gatekeepers actually comply with the DMA, the law authorizes the Commission to define measures on its own initiative that can be imposed on the company to ensure effective compliance with the DMA.
What the EU Commission wants to achieve
Interoperability is about smartwatches, headphones and virtual reality headsets, for example. According to the EU regulations, these must be given the same options as Apple's own products (AirPods, Vision Pro, Apple Watch) to connect to iPhones and iPads and their operating systems. According to the communication, the Commission is specifically concerned with functions such as notifications, device pairing and connectivity. In these areas, Apple's devices – have an advantage over competitor products, at least in the user's current experience –.
To ensure that interoperability requests from developers are processed by Apple in a "transparent, timely and fair" manner according to the EU, the Commission's second procedure focuses on this point. The aim is to provide all developers with an effective and predictable path to interoperability.
Proceedings to last 6 months
The two procedures should each take a maximum of six months. The results will then be communicated to Apple and published. The Commission nevertheless reserves the right to impose fines for violations of the DMA.
The DMA regulates large digital platforms. Apple's iPhone operating system iOS has had to be DMA-compliant since March 7, 2024. iPadOS, which was only classified later, must comply with EU regulations by October 30, 2024.
What Apple says about the EU announcement
When asked by heise online, Apple explained that the company has developed more than 250,000 APIs that allow developers to access the operating system and Apple's functions “while ensuring user privacy and security”. In order to comply with the DMA, the company has also created opportunities for apps in the European Union to take advantage of additional interoperability with iOS and iPads while protecting users. “Undermining the protections we have built over time would put European consumers at risk and give malicious actors more opportunities to access devices and data. We will continue to work constructively with the European Commission to find a way forward that protects our EU users and also makes regulation clearer,” said Apple.
According to Apple's understanding, interoperability requests are very specific. Unlike the EU Commission, the company believes it is already well positioned to find a DMA-compliant solution with developers. Apple, on the other hand, is critical of unrestricted interoperability, as the example of the worldwide computer outage caused by CrowdStrike showed what this can lead to. Microsoft justified the extent of the disruption to Windows PCs at the time by saying that, since an agreement with the EU in 2009, it can no longer shield its own operating system against threats in the same way as Apple can its operating systems.
(mki)