Apple opens up NFC to third parties | Leading developers in the US, Canada, UK, Japan, etc. must pay

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iOS 18.1 support avoids EU fines AI desktop robot is expected to debut in 2026 Support EJ Tech

originalPublished in Hong Kong Economic Times Financial NewsEJ Tech Innovation Lab“

Apple Inc. signed a legally binding agreement with the European Commission last month.protocolon Wednesday (14th) proposed its next-generation operating system iOS 18.1, to third-party developersOpen NFC (Near Field Communication)The new program will also introduce a new application programming interface (API) to separate Apple Pay from Apple Wallet. The first countries to benefit from the new program include the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as well as Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil, with more locations to be opened soon.

iOS 18.1 support avoids EU fines

Apple’s developer website mentions that after obtaining access permissions, users can directly open third-party applications, or set them as default programs in iOS settings, and then enable them by double-clicking the side button, just like using Apple Pay now. In addition to the touch payment system, NFC can also handle digital car keys, transportation cards, home door locks, hotel keys, student ID cards, membership cards, reward cards and event tickets, and is expected to support government ID documents in the future.

Of course, the new solution is not a free lunch. To integrate the API into iPhone applications, developers must sign a business agreement with Apple and requestNFC and Hardware Secure Element (SE)Simply put, Secure Element is a dedicated chip that operates completely separate from the main processor and is powered by a security subsystem.“Safe Quarantine”used to generate and store encryption keys and process key information such as biometric data.

Apple’s opening of its NFC function to third parties means that after four years of pressure from regulators, it will open its “tap and pay” mobile payment system to competitors to avoid violating the EU Digital Markets Directive and facing antitrust fines of up to 10% of its annual total revenue, equivalent to US$40 billion (approximately HK$312 billion).

After Apple opened NFC to third-party programs, in addition to tap payment, it can also be used as a car key or ID card in the future. (Apple company online photo)

AI desktop robot is expected to debut in 2026

In addition, Bloomberg quoted people familiar with the matter as sayingdiscloseApple currently has a team of hundreds of people, and its priority is to build a desktop robot (codenamed J595), which features an iPad-like display and a slender robotic arm. The device is positioned as a “smart home command center”, and users can control the device through the voice assistant Siri or Apple Intelligence, and can also make video calls. The product will be unveiled as early as 2026, with a target price of US$1,000 (approximately HK$7,800).

The report also predicts that in addition to developing smart glasses, Apple is also designing an AirPods headset with a built-in lens. It is also reported that it will launch a huge foldable iPad, which will not be available until 2027 or 2028 at the earliest. Apple is about to introduce a new mobile phone in September, and a batch of iPhone 16 model photos have been released.Social MediaSpread.Video visibleThe new phone is available in the common black and white colors, and may also be available in blue, green and pink versions. The back of the phone uses a vertically arranged rear lens, which is convenient for shooting space videos and playing them on the Apple Vision Pro headset.