Apple will finally give third-party providers access to the NFC chip

Apple will allow third-party developers to make NFC transactions in apps, and as part of the iOS 18.1 update, users will also be able to set a default contactless payment app that will be accessible when you double-click the iPhone's side button. Previously, Apple only allowed Apple Pay to appear when double-clicking this button.

With this change, developers will be able to offer contactless in-app transactions for a wide variety of tasks, including payments in stores, buses, trains, and anywhere else where contactless payments come into play. Until now, access to NFC for third-party applications was limited to reading tags.

The corresponding APIs to build these apps will be available to developers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the UK and the US in the upcoming iOS 18.1 developer beta, with "additional locations to follow," according to Apple. Developers who want to take advantage of Apple's APIs, however, will have to "enter into a commercial agreement with Apple, request the right to NFC and pay related fees."

This is another decision in a series imposed on Apple by the European Union.