The Apple payment platform, Apple Pay, is again being investigated by the European Commission again, MLex reported on Wednesday(October 16).
A report says that European Union antitrust regulators are gathering information from other payments companies about Apple’s marketplace decorum.
The investigation is looking at how iPhone users set up their phones and the role Apple Pay plays. Regulators are also examining Apple Pay’s exclusivity on iOS since Apple denies other payment platforms to use its Wallet app.
A European Commission spokesperson told MLex that the watchdog agency was investigating “possible anti-competitive market practices and abusive conduct.”
The probe is in the early stages and if no proof is discovered, the investigation will possibly discontinue.
“In this context, the commission is actively monitoring the development of mobile payment solutions, the behavior by operators active in the payments sector, including mobile payments,” the EU Commission spokesperson told MLex.
European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager said last year that she knew Apple was limiting access to the iPhone’s contactless payments chip called the Near-Field Communication (NFC) interface.
Apple’s core payment functionality defaults to Apple Pay and when users go to pay for goods on an NFC reader, the Apple Pay interface is offered.
Apple is promoting Apple Pay even more with the recent rollout of the Goldman Sachs-backed Apple Card. Apple executives have also said that Apple Pay is growing and will overtake PayPal.
Although Apple said earlier this year that Apple Pay would start to support other NFC platforms with partners like Bird scooters and PayByPhone parking meters, that has yet to happen.
Apple said in June that Apple Pay was planning to add support for users in the Netherlands and also expanded services for Revolut users. Apple Pay has also been rolling out internationally in many different countries and is also growing in the US among retailers and transit systems.
Full Content: MLex
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Apple Prevails in Dismissal of Crypto-Payment Antitrust Lawsuit
Mar 27, 2024 by
CPI
Amazon Fined in Poland for Misleading Customers
Mar 27, 2024 by
CPI
Credit Card Rewards Under Threat as Visa, Mastercard Settlement Impacts Swipe Fees
Mar 27, 2024 by
CPI
UK Fashion Giants Commit to Honest Environmental Claims
Mar 27, 2024 by
CPI
Former Traders Lose Appeal Against Libor Rigging Conviction
Mar 27, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Real Estate & Antitrust
Mar 27, 2024 by
CPI
Systematic National Evidence of Steering by Real Estate Agents
Mar 27, 2024 by
CPI
Compliance Now! Actionable Antitrust Advice for the Residential Real Estate Industry
Mar 27, 2024 by
CPI
Real Estate Commissions: Some Insights from the Economics of Multi-Sided Platforms
Mar 27, 2024 by
CPI
New Ideas for Promoting Real Estate Brokerage Price Competition
Mar 27, 2024 by
CPI