Apple may face European Union rules to open up payment technology

At present, iPhone and Apple Watch users can only make NFC payments using Apple Pay.

The European Union is weighing legislation that could force Apple Inc. to open iPhone payment technology to competitors.
 
The potential rules would grant other payment services a right of access to infrastructure such as near-field communication technology embedded in smartphones, the European Commission said Thursday, confirming a Bloomberg report last week.
 
While the EU didn’t explicitly name Apple, it said the “most commonly reported issue” related to mobile device manufacturers restricting third-party access to NFC chips. The components handle wireless signals that allow users to pay via their smartphones or watches at store terminals.
 
At present, iPhone