European Commission Specification Proceedings
The European Commission has initiated two specification proceedings to guide Apple towards compliance with its interoperability obligations under the DMA. These latest proceedings focus on iOS connectivity features for connected devices and the process Apple has established for addressing interoperability requests from developers.
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The first proceeding targets iOS functionalities predominantly used by connected devices such as smartwatches, headphones, and virtual reality headsets. The EU intends to specify how Apple should provide effective interoperability with features like notifications, device pairing, and connectivity.
The second proceeding examines the transparency, timeliness, and fairness of Apple’s process for handling interoperability requests from developers and third parties for iOS and iPadOS.
The upshot seems to be to allow third-party accessories to have the same benefits as Apple’s own accessories, like the Apple Watch and AirPods. Some of this is work Apple’s already done with iOS 18’s new accessory pairing feature, which it’s now incumbent upon third-party developers to embrace. Ultimately, the experience for third-party accessories should be much closer to that of AirPods.
But at the end of the day, a lot of what makes AirPods better is the fact that it’s using Apple designed hardware, like the H-series chips instead of standard Bluetooth. I have difficulty imaging that the EC would require Apple to make that hardware available to third parties.
I don’t think that would make sense, but maybe they would try to require that iOS support software so that other companies could make AirPods competitors.
Apple prides itself on its tight integration between hardware and software, and the EC is determined to open that up for the benefit of all hardware manufacturers. While I think that is a good goal, we’re getting very close to the EU editing APIs, which I find hard to imagine will lead to an optimal outcome for Apple, third-party manufacturers, or consumers. However, if you accept the goal as worthwhile, it’s just as hard to imagine accomplishing it any other way given Apple’s apparent unwillingness to open iOS up itself.
‘The DMA isn’t prescriptive enough!’
Careful what you wish for. 😏 If you can’t follow the spirit of the law, get ready for the detailed specifications.
As ever with the Commission and their bureaucratese, I’m unsure whether this announcement is perfunctory or an escalation. But I think it’s an escalation, and they’re so irritated by Apple’s refusal to cave to the “spirit” of the DMA while complying with the letter of the law, that they’re simply going to tell Apple exactly what they want them to do in six months.
In other words, this feels a lot like one last push by Vestager to get Apple to comply with the continually vague “opening up” things they’re looking for – but really, it also feels like one last time in the spotlight and in the headlines for Vestager on this high-profile issue, as she has about a month remaining on her tenure.
Not only that, but it’s starting to sound like the EU is going to be taking a different approach to regulation – or at least looking at if they should – following Mario Draghi’s competition report, which was fairly damning of the ways the body currently operates and approaches regulation, among other things.
Previously:
- Apple’s DMA Compliance, Summer 2024
- Apple Commits to Opening NFC in EU
- Can Anyone But a Tech Giant Build the Next Big Thing?
- Trying to Bring Apple Watch to Android
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Understanding that bureaucrats gonna bureaucrat, one does begin to wonder whether the EC is just entertaining itself by seeing how far it can push Apple (and others) before the companies decide the market isn’t worth the hassle and just stop selling there. Or perhaps they think that if they make their market inhospitable enough to outside business, some European alternative will have space to emerge?
@OUG Split up Google if you want - their whole purpose for doing anything is to increase ad revenue for themselves. Leave Apple alone - the integration is worth it to me.
@DJ they're not against the device integration. They just that other devices are able to be integrated too. That's a huge win for the consumer, the right to choose whatever device (s)he likes.
