The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has proposed changes to make it easier and cheaper to offer Apple Pay alternatives on the iPhone.
The proposal
- Apple opened NFC to UK developers in 2024, but they have to sign an agreement, pay fees and use the Secure Element.
- The CMA wants Apple to support host card emulation (HCE), which lets payment apps work without the Secure Element, and to lower its access fees a lot.
- Apple already offers HCE free in the EU, where rival apps have launched. No wallet-style rival has launched in the UK.
- Apple says it doesn’t think it should be made to adopt “an approach with lower privacy and security protections.”
My take
Competition is good, but I get Apple’s point about the Secure Element. Let’s see where the CMA lands.
Have a blessed day! And Happy Hacking!
