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| The Netherlands is targeting Apple Pay |
Apple is subject to antitrust reviews by Dutch supervisory authorities due to the contactless payment system Apple Pay and NFC technology with the iPhone.
The Netherlands Agency for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has announced a study on contactless payment platforms for smartphones and the ability of payment applications to access NFC technology.
According to Dutch authorities, the programs included in some smartphones only allow payment apps for developers to connect to NFC technology, preventing third-party payment apps from using NFC functions.
No other smartphone maker specifically mentions Apple in the press release, but Apple Pay is the only payment method on an iPhone that can use NFC.
And Apple does not allow other financial apps to use NFC technology, which has led to legal disputes with some banks and financial institutions.
Australian banks have asked the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission to try to negotiate Apple Pay with Apple.
The bank had hoped to open access to NFC functionality through the iPhone, but the petition failed because access to NFC on Apple devices is still limited to the Apple Pay platform.
The Dutch Consumer and Market Authority said: Restricting NFC via smartphones could hinder innovation in payment apps and limit freedom of choice for consumers and businesses.
Dutch authorities plan to examine whether restricting access to NFC payment apps limits the degree of freedom of choice. If this is the end result of the investigation, fines such as fines may be imposed.
According to Bloomberg News, the European Commission is still investigating Apple Pay to determine whether Apple's terms and conditions and procedures for using Apple Pay will distort competition and reduce choice and innovation.
The European Commission is concerned that Apple Pay is the only mobile payment solution that can access NFC technology from Apple devices.
Apple did not comment on the Dutch investigation in its statement, but said: Apple has developed Apple Pay as an easy and secure way for customers to use any payment card they want on their Apple devices.
"We are working with banks, finance companies and merchants to become the preferred payment method for Dutch companies and consumers," she added.