The
European
Commission
has
opened
new
proceedings
under
the
Digital
Markets
Act
(DMA)
that
will
see
the
bloc
instruct
Apple
on
how
it
can
comply
with
its
interoperability
obligations.
The
two
“specification
proceedings”
focused
on
iOS
and
iPadOS
will
conclude
within
six
months.
Under
DMA,
Apple
is
required
to
provide
third
parties
“free
and
effective
interoperability”
with
hardware
and
software
features
controlled
by
iOS
and
iPadOS.
Now
the
EU
is
going
to
help
Apple
understand
what
that
specifically
means.
“Today
is
the
first
time
we
use
specification
proceedings
under
the
DMA
to
guide
Apple
towards
effective
compliance
with
its
interoperability
obligations
through
constructive
dialogue,”
said
outgoing
EU
competition
chief
Margrethe
Vestager.
“We
are
focused
on
ensuring
fair
and
open
digital
markets.
Effective
interoperability,
for
example
with
smartphones
and
their
operating
systems,
plays
an
important
role
in
this.”
The
first
specification
proceeding
will
examine
how
Apple’s
iOS
operating
system
handles
interoperability
with
devices
like
headphones,
smartwatches,
and
virtual
reality
headsets,
particularly
regarding
functions
like
notifications,
device
pairing,
and
connectivity.
While
the
EU
doesn’t
specify,
we
can
imagine
it
might
want
to
address
AirPods’
lack
of
support
for
true
Bluetooth
multipoint
capabilities
and
a
long-standing
complaint
from
Garmin
watch
owners
who
can’t
send
quick
replies
when
paired
with
an
iPhone.
AirPods
would
seem
out
of
scope,
but
we’ll
see
where
the
Commission
draws
the
line.
The
second
proceeding
will
focus
on
how
Apple
is
handling
interoperability
requests
from
third-party
developers
who
want
to
bring
their
products
to
iOS
and
iPadOS
devices.
In
a
statement
to
Bloomberg,
Apple
said
it’s
introduced
secure
ways
for
developers
to
request
additional
iPhone
and
iPad
interoperability,
and
that
undermining
the
system
protections
it’s
created
would
put
European
consumers
at
risk.
The
Commission
says
it
will
“communicate
its
preliminary
findings
to
Apple,
where
it
will
explain
the
measures
the
gatekeeper
should
take
to
effectively
comply
with
the
interoperability
obligation
of
the
DMA.”
A
summary
of
this
will
also
be
published
for
third
parties
to
comment.
If
the
iPhone
maker
then
fails
to
comply,
it
eventually
faces
fines
of
up
to
10
percent
of
its
global
annual
turnover,
but
that’s
only
after
a
lengthy
non-compliance
investigation.
In
September
last
year,
Apple
was
designated
as
a
“gatekeeper”
—
large
tech
platforms
providing
essential
services
that
could
impact
market
competition
—
alongside
Microsoft,
Meta,
Amazon,
and
Alphabet.
Correction,
September
20th:
Changed
to
say
AirPods,
not
iPhones,
lack
true
Bluetooth
multipoint.
(Originally posted by Jess Weatherbed)
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