In the EU: Apple has to open further functions with iOS 19 and iOS 20

Smartwatches, GPS watches, headphones and mixed reality headsets: Such hardware will have to support iPhones better in the future, even if there is no Apple logo on these devices. Apple has to create specific interfaces in iOS 19 and iOS 20 according to new requirements of the EU Commission. Functions that have been reserved for Apple's in -house devices such as watches, Airpods and Vision ProS are open to other companies for the first time. This is what the new interoperability requirements dictate, which the EU Commission made specifically for Apple on Wednesday.

EU functions for iOS 19 and iOS 20 prescribed

The schedule is partly sporty: Many interfaces around interactivity, data transmission and device device must already implement Apple in iOS 19 – partly until the end of the current year. Specifically, it is about the fact that other smartwatches can receive the communications incoming on the iPhone and answer them.

In addition, the accompanying apps of other manufacturers on the iPhone should be allowed to run in the background longer, for example to query current data and transfer them to the accessory. On top of that, Apple must enable WLAN direct connections, as well as a comfortable transmission of WLAN passwords. The establishment of such “foreign” accessories should also become as comfortable as users are used to from Apple devices.

In the field of media casting-the streaming of content from one device to another-Apple has to ensure better interoperability to iPhones, as well as when replacing payment information via NFC. The convenient audio switching between Airpods is obviously open to other headphone manufacturers in the future.

For all of this, Apple has to create well -documented frameworks and interfaces – and that, mind you, free of charge. Only then does Apple fulfill its far-reaching interoperability obligations that the Digital Markets Act (DMA) imposes gatekeen in the EU, as the EU Commission emphasized. Such specification procedures are not concerned with possible violations of the DMA, accordingly no penalty payment is imposed. Apple will not have to open the protocols Airdrop and AirPlay that the EU originally had in the crosshairs. In the future, Apple will provide more transparency for the interoperability requests that are now possible for other manufacturers.

Apple warns of forced opening

Apple warned again on Wednesday with reprint of the forced interoperability. It leads to new security and data protection problems. An app could see all the communications incurred on the iPhone and misused, the company led as an example. However, users of an app must first give permission before it can see the communications from other apps.

“Today's decisions bind us into bureaucracy and slow down the innovative strength of Apple for users: inside in Europe. They force us to pass on new functions to companies free of charge that do not have to adhere to the same rules. This is bad for our products and for our European users: inside,” emphasized Apple in a statement – but will continue to work with the commission. This also makes it more difficult for Apple to introduce new products and functions in Europe.