The EU has announced procedures that will force Apple to allow third-party devices – such as smartwatches, headphones and VR headsets – to connect to an iPhone or iPad.
The announcement highlights that the Commission will clarify the requirements for providing interoperability with iOS features, such as notifications and device pairing. Within six months, the Commission will have provided guidance to Apple on how it expects third-party device integration to work.
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The Digital Markets Act has always required gatekeeper platforms (including iOS and iPadOS) to be interoperable with third-party hardware. However, the detailed rules of the law have remained intentionally vague.
The current procedure will allow the EU to define specific terms related to Apple’s case, focusing on the unification between the brands with iPhone and iPad. This procedure is expected to be completed within six months.
Apple may have already started moving in this direction, as it has announced support in iOS 18 for an AirPods-like setup experience for compatible third-party accessories.
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In her statement, Margrethe Vestager, the EU's executive vice‑president for competition policy, said that this is the first time specification procedures are being launched.
The goal is to guide Apple towards “effective compliance with interoperability obligations through constructive dialogue» and to provide clarity to Apple, developers, and third-party individuals.
Over time, it is expected that Apple will update its operating systems to comply with the imposed specifications, otherwise it may face fixes and fines.
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Apple is already under investigation for alleged violations of the Digital Single Market Act regarding the App Store. In addition, it has already been fined $2 billion by the EU in a separate but related case involving antitrust provisions in the streaming music market.
Source: 9to5mac
