Apple fails with DMA not brake: iPhone has to become more compatible

Apple has failed to get rid of the extensive interoperability requirements of the EU Commission through exceptional regulations. Accordingly, the group must further open its operating systems iOS 26 and iOS 27 to the specifications in many places. This should ensure that devices from other manufacturers will be able to interact with iPhones in the future, as is reserved for Apple Watches, Airpods and other accessories from the manufacturer.

iPhone must become more compatible

Apple has been providing for months against the opening steps dictated by the EU Commission: In June, the group lodged an appointment with the court of the European Union (ECG) and attempted to achieve exceptional regulations (“Waiver Clauses”) for five of the nine specific specifications. The Commission has now completely rejected this, as from the newly published, The decision was already made in August.

The iPhone group wanted to prevent other smartwatches from being able to present the iPhone communications exactly as it has only been possible for the in-house watches. Apple also preferred to keep the comfortable Airpods pairing from approach-as well as the convenient change of the audio connection between the user’s devices. Apple also called for an exemption for direct data exchange and automatic WLAN connections and referred to data protection and security concerns as well as violation of intellectual property.

The regulators rejected the group’s objections that a “Waiver Clause” was only intended for extraordinary and unpredictable cases in the implementation of specifications of the Digital Market Act (DMA). Apple’s arguments are “generic and hypothetical,” writes the commission.

Apple blocks functions in the EU

In response to the DMA requirements, Apple is blocking more and more functions for its EU customers as long as they are within the EU member states: In addition to the live translation function of Airpods, this also includes iPhone mirroring (“iPhone synchronization”) on the MAC and new location functions of iOS 26.

“You want to take us the magic-the seamless integration that we offer-and make ourselves like the others,” complained the Apple top manager Greg Joswiak about the EU Commission at a press event, As the BBC reports. The regulators would “provide a poorer user experience”, undermine innovation, “violate Apple’s intellectual property” and “damage data protection and security”, says Joswiak.