Apple expands access to this useful iPhone feature to more developers with iOS 18.1: Details here
Apple has announced that it will expand access to the NFC (Near Field Communication) functionality on iPhones to third-party developers outside the European Union, marking a significant change in the company’s policy.
Following recent regulatory pressure from the European Commission, which required Apple to open up NFC capabilities for mobile payments and other applications beyond its proprietary Wallet, the company is now expanding this accessibility further, GSM Arena confirms.
This change will be rolled out in the upcoming developer release of iOS 18.1.
Initially, this expansion will include developers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, in addition to those in the EU.
According to GSM Arena, Apple has indicated that it plans to expand this feature to more countries in the future.
Apple’s approach to this new openness comes with notable conditions, however.
How developers can access the iPhone’s NFC functionality
Developers interested in using NFC functionality will have to sign a commercial agreement with Apple.
They must also obtain “NFC and SE (Secure Element) permissions” and pay the associated fees, although details of the specific fees have not been disclosed.
In a statement obtained by GSM Arena, Apple stressed its commitment to user security and privacy, noting that “user security and privacy are of the utmost importance to Apple.”
While this change represents a significant shift in Apple’s NFC policy, the functionality won’t be as open as it is on Android devices, which have long allowed broader access to NFC functionality.
Read more: iOS 18.1 beta 2 update is rolling out to developers: Find out what’s new in the latest iPhone update
Overall, while NFC on the iPhone is becoming more flexible, developers should prepare for a more tightly managed and expensive process than their counterparts in the Android ecosystem.
One more thing! We are now on WhatsApp Channel! Follow us there so you never miss any updates from the tech world. To follow HT Tech channel on WhatsApp, click This to join now!
