iPhone users in Europe to access Samsung Wallet as Apple lets rivals use tap-and-go payments

Apple has decided to open its tap-and-go mobile payments system to rivals in Europe, which will give iPhone users more choices beyond Apple Pay, such as Samsung Wallet and Google Pay, according to EU antitrust regulator, Thursday (local time).

The European Commission said that it accepted Apple’s offer to open its tap-and-go technology, called near-field communication, or NFC, to rivals to end its antitrust investigation against Apple. The probe began in 2020 and could have resulted in a heavy fine.

NFC allows users to use contactless payments with mobile wallets.

The commission said the offer made by the U.S. tech giant would be valid for 10 years.

“From now on, Apple can no longer use its control over the iPhone ecosystem to keep other mobile wallets out of the market,” EU antitrust body chief Margrethe Vestager said.

This image captured from an online community shows a hand tapping an iPhone on a local bus payment terminal, along with the logos of Apple Pay and T-Money. Yonhap

Meanwhile, expectations are growing as utilization of Apple Pay for public transport in Korea looks imminent, following the leakage of an image showing using an iPhone to get onboard a bus.

Apple Pay made a grand entrance into the Korean market in March 2023. However, it still does not support transport payments. Negotiations between the iPhone maker and T-Money, Korea’s leading transport card issuer, to enable this service have progressed slowly due to technical issues and other hurdles.

The image, leaked Friday through online communities, includes the phrase, which reads “Now, make payments through iPhone on public transport,” and a hand tapping the iPhone to the T-money device on a bus.

Both Apple and T-Money refused to confirm when the service will be made available.