The EU and Apple were at loggerheads a few weeks ago over NFC technology in iPhones. Now Apple has announced that it is making its technology, which allows payments with your smartphone, available to third-party developers.

After a long conflict between the European Union and Apple, the company exited through a blog post knowing that they would open up NFC technology to third-party developers. The European Commission has been targeting Apple for years, saying that exclusive access to the iPhone’s NFC capabilities would limit competition in the mobile payments space.

In response, Apple has opened its technology to those in the region. Now the company is announcing an expansion of access to other markets. Access is currently limited to a handful of countries in the upcoming developer release for iOS 18.1, but more countries will be added later.

Access NFC technology

Near Field Communication (NFC) is the short-range wireless technology behind Apple Pay and Wallet. It allows iPhone users to pay with their smartphones. Apple’s announcement states that the company will make NFC and the new Secure Element API available primarily to developers in Australia, Canada, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom. More locations will be added in due course.

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Developers can use the new API to offer contactless transactions within apps for “in-store payments, car keys, closed-loop transportation, corporate badges, student IDs, home keys, hotel keys, merchant loyalty and rewards cards, and event tickets, with government IDs to be supported in the future,” it explained in a blog post.

Of course, you don’t get that access for free. “To integrate this new solution into their iPhone apps, developers must sign a commercial agreement with Apple, apply for NFC and SE rights, and pay the associated fees.” The company has yet to announce further details about the agreement.

Access to NFC technology can drive innovation as other developers can now work with this technology. In addition, it expands the capabilities of competitors in the mobile payments space.