USB-C joined the iPhone lineup this month.
This necessary and somewhat late step shows that Apple can adapt to international standards, at least at the hardware level. After a visit by Tim Cook to Brussels, the EU is also demanding this at the software level.
DMA: EU politician reminds of urgency
After a meeting with Cook, EU industry manager Thierry Breton referred to the new Digital Markets Act (DMA), which bans gatekeeper products in Europe’s digital space. Apple needs to make further improvements here.
Breton said verbatim:
The next task for Apple and other Big Tech companies under the DMA is to open their doors to competitors. Whether e-wallets, browsers or app stores, consumers using an Apple iPhone should be able to benefit from competitive services from a range of providers.
Deadline: March 5, 2024
According to the DMA, both the App Store and Apple’s other cross-device platforms such as iMessage must be adapted to work better with other providers. How exactly Apple will implement this is unknown. Officially, the company has until March 5, 2023 to do this.
