UK CMA Moves to Open Apple Payments and NFC Access, Curbing 30% App Store Fees
Updated
Updated · 9to5Mac · Jun 30
UK CMA Moves to Open Apple Payments and NFC Access, Curbing 30% App Store Fees
3 articles · Updated · 9to5Mac · Jun 30
Summary
Britain’s CMA proposed forcing Apple to let developers link iPhone users to third-party payment options for apps and subscriptions outside the App Store, with the plan now open for comment.
The draft rules would bar Apple from charging unreasonable steering fees — a response to what regulators call “malicious compliance” in the US and EU that blunted earlier remedies.
The CMA also wants Apple to open iPhone NFC access so banks, fintechs and app developers can build contactless payment rivals to Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
Google said it is already taking steps to comply, while Apple said sending users outside its payment system would strip away protections and that it will press its objections.
The UK move follows similar pressure abroad but goes further by trying to pre-empt workarounds, after Apple and Google were designated as holding strategic market status.
Can the UK's push for open payments truly challenge Apple's control, or will it just lead to new, unavoidable platform fees?
As regulators dismantle App Store walls, are consumers gaining choice or just being exposed to more scams and complex fees?
With tech giants facing fragmented rules globally, is the era of the seamless, universal app store experience coming to an end?
Breaking the Mobile Duopoly: How the UK CMA’s 2026 Interventions Target Apple and Google’s Market Power
Overview
As of June 2026, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is taking decisive steps to address competition concerns in digital markets, focusing on major players like Apple and Google. By designating firms with Strategic Market Status (SMS), the CMA uses a legal framework to proactively regulate companies with substantial and entrenched market power. This allows the CMA to implement targeted interventions, enforce tailored rules, and prevent anti-competitive practices. The goal is to foster greater competition and innovation, ensuring that dominant firms do not stifle competition, limit consumer choice, or hinder new entrants in the mobile platform market.