The European Union may soon require Apple to allow its exclusive features such as AirDrop and AirPlay to be used by other Android phone makers. The Digital Markets Act, a new piece of legislation, aims to regulate the smartphone market and ensure that tech companies compete fairly.
Under the proposals, EU residents would no longer need to buy an iPhone to use these features. Instead, other developers and phone makers would have access to Apple’s APIs, which allow for seamless communication between apps.
Apple has already responded to the proposals, citing concerns about user privacy. The company claims that allowing other companies to access its technology could lead to a loss of user privacy.
However, experts argue that this is not necessarily the case. They point out that Google’s Android platform has been open with interoperability features for years, and that Apple should follow suit.
The Digital Markets Act has already led to some significant changes in the smartphone market. For example, Apple was forced to switch to USB-C on the iPhone 15, and sideloading of apps is now possible through unofficial channels.
While some may see this as a step too far for Apple, others believe that it’s necessary to promote competition and innovation. The EU’s goal is to ensure that tech companies compete fairly and provide consumers with choices.
In the end, whether or not Apple will be forced to make its exclusive features available to other developers remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the Digital Markets Act has already had a significant impact on the smartphone market, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out in the future.
Source: https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/the-eu-could-force-apple-to-put-airdrop-and-airplay-on-android-phones