The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets ACM demands (Dutch only) from Apple that dating providers can choose more payment systems. Only paying from Apple’s App Store is no longer allowed. The EU wants Apple to open its NFC chip to parties other than Apple’s own payment system Apple Pay. According to the EU researchers, the NFC chip can be safely used by users other than Apple alone.
Hopefully, regulators will succeed in breaking Apple’s hegemony. Apple’s monopolistic behavior is holding back development. As a result, all consumers and providers pay too much and Apple users actually double.
App providers must remit up to 30% of sales to Apple when customers pay in the App. An unprecedented high percentage for a payment service. For regular payment transactions, a transaction rate of maximum euro cents is normal. With credit cards, interchange is limited to 0.3%; Apple charges up to 100 times more than the maximum interchange fee.
Payment transactions with the NFC chip are only possible at Apple via Apple Pay. Banks and other card issuers pay an amount to Apple. Rumors of €5 per cardholder are doing the rounds. And Apple probably not only entrance fees, but also usage costs.
The costs that Apple charges to will in most cases be passed on to all customers. Most providers have an unambiguous pricing policy for all customers, regardless of whether they pay via Apple, Android or another way.
Apple’s monopolistic behavior not only drives up costs but also holds back development. And that in the age of open banking, where new payment options are emerging. Apple users are often early adopters. One more reason to open up the NFC chip to new payment options and to allow other payment providers in the App Store. Our own supervisors should be perfectly capable of ensuring adequate security. The way Apple does this now, that’s like marking your own homework.
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