According to the latest reports from overseas on April 20th, the European Commission is set to approve Apple's opening of the "tap-to-pay" feature (NFC payments) as early as next month.
Since the launch of the iPhone 6 in 2014, Apple has equipped its phones with NFC functionality, but it has only been accessible for internal system use, limited to functions such as Apple Pay.
Moreover, compared to Android, which has been able to utilize features like recharging and access cards for many years, Apple's restrictions have left users feeling somewhat shortchanged, resembling a feature falling behind the curve.
Two years ago, the European Commission accused Apple of preventing other mobile payment app developers from using its "tap-and-go" technology, namely Near Field Communication (NFC), thus stifling competition.
In January this year, Apple proposed allowing competitors to use NFC technology on iPhones, iPads, and other Apple mobile devices for free, without requiring the use of Apple Pay or Apple Wallet.
It's reported that with the introduction of NFC third-party payment, iPhone users can now set a default app to be activated when their iPhone is near an NFC terminal or when they double-click the side button on the device.
This means that using third-party payment tools can provide a similar experience to native ones, which is much more convenient for many users.
Of course, there's still anticipation for Apple to open up more interfaces, such as the ability to replicate access cards, eliminating the need to carry physical cards when going out.
