European Commission wants Apple to make haste with interoperability requirements

The European Commission has launched two so-called ‘specification proceedings’ to assist Apple in complying with its interoperability obligations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Apple is a tech company that develops both hardware and software. Each of Apple’s devices is controlled by an operating system: iOS for smartphones and iPadOS for tablets.

The DMA obliges manufacturers to provide free and effective interoperability to third-party developers and businesses, meaning that other companies are allowed to develop products and services that can operate within Apple’s ecosystem.

To ensure Apple complies with the rules dictated by the DMA, the European Commission has initiated two proceedings that exactly describe what is expected of the Cupertino-based tech company.

The first proceeding focuses on iOS connectivity features and functionalities, primarily used for and by connected devices like smartwatches, headphones, and VR headsets. The Commission tries to explain how Apple can provide effective interoperability and functionalities with these devices, including sending notifications, device pairing, and connectivity.

The second proceeding revolves around interoperability requests for iOS and iPadOS, submitted by developers and third parties. “It is crucial that the request process is transparent, timely, and fair so that all developers have an effective and predictable path to interoperability and are enabled to innovate,” the European Commission stated on Thursday in a press release.

The Commission intends to publish its conclusions within the next six months. During these proceedings, the Commission will share its preliminary findings with Apple in order to explain what the company can do to effectively comply with the interoperability obligation of the DMA.

Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President in charge of competition policy, emphasizes that the review is not about punishing Apple.

“Today is the first time we use specification proceedings under the DMA to guide Apple towards effective compliance with its interoperability obligations through constructive dialogue. This process will provide clarity for developers, third parties, and Apple. We will continue our dialogue with Apple and consult third parties to ensure that the proposed measures work in practice and meet the needs of businesses,” Vestager states.

Earlier this month, BEUC complained that Apple was one of the many companies that massively ignored the DMA, Apple being one of them.

According to the European consumer organization, Apple is hindering the use of alternative app stores on its devices and discourages the use of other web browsers than Safari. Although Apple allows third-party app stores on its platforms, installing them is complex. In addition, BEUC claims that default settings are difficult to change, and consumers are not sufficiently informed about cheaper, alternative payment services.