EU Tells Apple How to Expand iOS Interoperability to Third-Party Accessories

The European Commission has outlined how Apple must open up advantages of its device ecosystem to third-party accessories, as well as help developers with related requests. 

As part of the Digital Markets Act that came into force last year, EU regulators have given Apple compliance instructions on how to expand interoperability between iPhones and devices made by other companies, like smartwatches, headphones, virtual reality headsets and more. This includes features like device pairing, notifications and connectivity, the commission specified.

The tech giant must pave the way for these devices to work with iOS and iPadOS at no cost to developers, as well as offer help when requested. The European Commission will work with Apple on compliance for these interoperability requirements through a pair of official proceedings that will wrap up next year. 

“We are focused on ensuring fair and open digital markets. Effective interoperability, for example, with smartphones and their operating systems, plays an important role in this,” Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president in charge of competition policy at the European Commission, wrote in an official post.

Apple confirmed in a statement that it will keep working with the Commission to protect users and clarify the regulation. The tech giant has created ways for apps in the European Union to request more interoperability with iOS and iPadOS “while protecting our users. Undermining the protections we’ve built over time would put European consumers at risk, giving bad actors more ways to access their devices and data.”

Apple emphasized the danger in giving third parties access to user devices without data protections could lead to leaking personal information or even damaging devices. The company explained that each developer request for greater interoperability requires a specific solution with complex engineering to protect EU users. Requests that aren’t feasible or not appropriate under the DMA are denied.

Apple didn’t clarify whether these greater interoperability requests would be made available outside the EU.

The Digital Markets Act is better known as a landmark ruling that requires Apple and Google to open up their devices and operating systems to third-party app stores. Apple announced that this functionality would be enabled with a new version of iOS released in March, though EU regulators rebuked the company for its App Store rules preventing apps from directing users elsewhere for payment. 

After WWDC in June, where it introduced its Apple Intelligence features coming in iOS 18 and its iPhone 16 line, Apple said its AI features wouldn’t be launching in the EU to ensure compliance with the DMA. The company hasn’t said when the features would come to European users.

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