Brussels: The European Commission has called on Apple to enhance the compatibility of its iPhone with other devices like smartwatches and headphones, in accordance with the EU's Digital Markets Act.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the EU Commission highlighted in a press release that interoperability allows for a more seamless integration of third-party products into Apple's ecosystem. The statement noted that with Apple's cooperation, a broader range of products would become available to consumers in Europe, compatible with their Apple devices. The European Commission has pledged to assist Apple in complying with these requirements by outlining necessary measures to enable interoperability with iOS for third-party connected devices and simplifying the process Apple uses to handle future interoperability requests with iPhone and iPad devices.
The European Commission's initiative targets nine iOS connectivity features, which are primarily used with devices such as smartwatches, headphones, and televisions. The measures aim to provide device manufacturers and app developers better access to iPhone features that interact with these devices, such as displaying notifications on smartwatches, enabling faster data transfers via device-to-device Wi-Fi connections and near-field communication, and simplifying device setup processes like pairing.
The Commission emphasized that the innovation would proceed with full respect for user privacy and security, as well as the integrity of Apple's operating systems.