- Apple won’t be able to use a proprietary USB-C port on the iPhone
- Rumors suggest that the firm would have considered reserving fast charging via USB-C to special and certified cables
- But the EU should oppose it
The European Union is preparing to apply a new rule which imposes the USB-C port on electronic devices, including smartphones. This port is already used by Android smartphones, but as far as Apple is concerned, it will have to replace its proprietary Lighting technology with the USB-C port on future iPhones. But while the first iPhone with USB-C port is not yet on the market, Apple has already been warned: it will not be able to use a proprietary USB-C port on its iPhones.
This week, the German newspaper Spiegel indicates that in a letter to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur press agency, European Commissioner Thierry Breton would indicate that Apple will not be able to reserve certain USB-C functionalities for the cables it has certified. “Devices that do not meet the uniform charger requirements will not be approved for the EU market,” the letter would read.
The Mystery of the USB-C iPhone
Apple has already confirmed that it will comply with European rules regarding the charging of electronic devices. It is not known which will be the first iPhone model equipped with this USB-C port. But sources indicate that the firm is already mass-producing wired headphones with USB-C plug for future iPhone 15s.
Rumors suggest that Apple may reserve the fast-charging functionality of its USB-C iPhones for cables it has certified. “I believe Apple will optimize the fast charging performance of MFi-certified chargers for the iPhone 15”for example, indicated the analyst Ming Chi Kuo, in an article published in March on Medium.
And if this was allowed by the European Union, it would have been logical. The use of proprietary Lighting technology does not only allow Apple to stand out from competitors, it is also a source of revenue for the firm. Indeed, manufacturers of accessories certified for Apple products must pay royalties to the Cupertino company.
A USB-C port reserving functionality for certified cables would therefore allow Apple to adopt this standard port, while maintaining its financial advantages. However, before the publication of Spiegel’s article, the media had already swept away the rumours. Our colleagues from Cult of Mac quoted for example an extract from the text which indicates that the objective of this one is to have “ensure the proper functioning of the internal market, while guaranteeing consumer comfort and reducing environmental waste.”
A goal that would not be achieved if Apple forced iPhone owners to buy a new certified cable instead of using a USB-C cable they already own. In any case, we should know more about the requirements of the European Union by the end of the year. Indeed, according to Spiegel, in the third quarter, the European Commission will publish a guide which will allow for a uniform interpretation of the text.
The EU fully on the regulation of tech
The obligation to use the USB-C port is just one of the many rules that the European Union will impose on tech players. For example, Apple should also be affected by the DMA or Digital Markets Act, a regulation that should force the form to end the closed system of the iPhone by allowing sideloading (installing an application that does not come from the store of official apps).
Apple is also affected by the DSA or Digital Service Act, which affects areas such as confidentiality, moderation, competition, or even transparency towards users. In accordance with this regulation, the Cupertino company has already revealed its number of users in the European Union.
In theory, only the App Store for iOS is affected by the new rules. But Apple has already indicated that it will apply these to all versions of the store (iPad, Apple Watch, etc.). “Apple intends, on a completely voluntary basis, to align each of the existing App Store versions (including those that do not currently meet the VLOP designation threshold) with the existing DSA requirements for VLOPs. , the major platforms by number of users), because the DSA’s goals align with Apple’s goals to protect consumers from illegal content”explains the firm.
