{"id":381630,"date":"2026-10-21T03:16:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T10:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/?p=381630"},"modified":"2026-10-21T05:24:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T12:24:23","slug":"apple-pay-on-iphone-faces-new-uk-pressure-tap-to-pay-rivals-could-get-easier-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/apple-pay-on-iphone-faces-new-uk-pressure-tap-to-pay-rivals-could-get-easier-access\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple Pay on iPhone faces new UK pressure: tap-to-pay rivals could get easier access"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UK\u2019s Competition and Markets Authority is pushing for tougher rules on iPhone NFC payments, adding more pressure on Apple to make access simpler for banks, fintechs, and wallet providers that want a real chance to compete with Apple Pay<\/a>. Apple did open NFC access in the UK in 2024<\/strong>, but the CMA says developers still have to sign Apple\u2019s agreement, pay Apple\u2019s fees, and use Apple\u2019s Secure Element. In the regulator\u2019s view, those terms have so far kept serious wallet-style rivals from getting very far.<\/p>\n

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\r\n \"Google\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n Google Pay<\/span>\r\n Download<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n <\/path><\/path><\/text><\/svg>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n <\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Now the CMA wants Apple to support Host Card Emulation<\/strong>, or HCE, too. That would allow payment apps to handle tap-to-pay without depending on Apple\u2019s dedicated chip. The regulator also wants fees cut a lot, even if it isn\u2019t asking for a fully free model like the EU\u2019s 2024 arrangement, where PayPal<\/a>, Klarna<\/a>, and Curve have already launched.<\/p>\n\n

Apple says HCE comes with weaker privacy and security<\/strong> protections. The CMA doesn\u2019t agree. It says the evidence it has reviewed doesn\u2019t show that HCE, or Secure Element access, is inherently insecure.<\/p>\n\n

If you want more choice in iPhone payments, this one matters. The case falls under the UK\u2019s Digital Markets law, Apple already has Strategic Market Status, contactless payments now make up 39%<\/strong> of UK payments compared with 3% a decade ago, and more than 60% of adults use a digital wallet, according to the CMA. Firms including Revolut<\/a> also argue that fuller access could lead to more innovation and lower costs.<\/p>\n\n

You can read the CMA consultation on the Competition and Markets Authority website before the regulator decides whether to make the measures binding<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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\r\n \"PayPal\"\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n PayPal<\/span>\r\n Download<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
\r\n <\/path><\/path><\/text><\/svg>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The UK\u2019s Competition and Markets Authority is pushing for tougher rules on iPhone NFC payments, adding more pressure on Apple to make access simpler for banks, fintechs, and wallet providers that want a real chance to compete with Apple Pay. Apple did open NFC access in the UK in 2024, but the CMA says developers … Continue reading “Apple Pay on iPhone faces new UK pressure: tap-to-pay rivals could get easier access”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9349,"featured_media":381629,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":0},"categories":[1015],"tags":[],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-381630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t