The antitrust regulators of the European Union accused this Monday Manzana to restrict rivals’ access to its NFC chip technology, in a move that could result in a heavy fine for the car maker. iPhone and force you to open up your mobile payment system to competitors.
The European Comission said it had sent a statement of objections to Apple, detailing how the company had abused its dominant position in mobile wallet markets on devices iOS.
“We have indications that Apple restricted third party access to key technology needed to develop rival mobile wallet solutions on Apple devices,” said the European Union’s antitrust chief, Margrethe Vestagerit’s a statement.
In our statement of objections, we preliminarily find that Apple may have restricted competition, to the benefit of its own Apple Pay solution,” he said.
Apple said it would continue to work with the Commission.
“ApplePay is just one of many options available to European consumers for making payments, and has ensured equal access to NFC while setting industry-leading standards for privacy and security,” the company said in a statement.
The Commission’s decision to send a statement of objections to Apple confirmed a Reuters story from October last year.