The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) has compelled tech giant Apple to open up its iPhone’s NFC reader to third-party developers, a move that has been implemented with the release of iOS 17.4 earlier this year. Now, the Norwegian payment platform Vipps has become the first to leverage this new API, enabling users to make contactless payments directly from their iPhones.
According to Tek.no, the latest update to the vipps app allows iPhone users to make contactless payments in stores using their Bankaxept cards, Norway’s national payment system, without leaving the app or relying on Apple Wallet. Users can even choose to replace the Apple Wallet app with Vipps, so that double-clicking the side button opens Vipps instead of Wallet.
Vipps plans to expand its support to include Visa adn Mastercard in the coming months,allowing users to make contactless payments with Vipps worldwide. “We have fought for years to be able to compete on equal footing with Apple,and it feels almost surreal to finally be able to launch our very own solution,” said Rune Garborg,CEO of Vipps MobilePay. “This will now be a very exciting battle between the world’s biggest brand and Vipps.”
In August, Apple announced that it would roll out the ability for third-party apps to function as NFC wallets to more countries. With the release of iOS 18.1 in October, the company made the NFC & SE Platform API available to developers based in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This API allows developers to create wallet apps that support payments, digital keys, IDs, and even tickets, all while ensuring that data is managed privately through the iPhone’s Secure Enclave.
For more details about the NFC & SE Platform API, visit the Apple Developer website.
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The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) has prompted Apple to open the NFC (Near Field Communication) reader on the iPhone to third-party developers,allowing platforms like Vipps to offer contactless payment options without relying on Apple Wallet. With the launch of iOS 17.4, the Norwegian payment app Vipps has become the first to utilize this new API, enabling users to make payments directly from their iPhones using Bankaxept cards, Norway’s national payment system.
According to tek.no, the updated Vipps app allows users to conduct transactions in stores while remaining within the app. Additionally, users can configure their iPhones to open Vipps instead of Apple Wallet when double-clicking the side button. Vipps is also set to broaden its services to include Visa and Mastercard,allowing users to make payments globally.
Rune Garborg, CEO of Vipps MobilePay, expressed excitement over this growth, highlighting that Vipps has long sought to compete with Apple. The competition is anticipated to intensify as third-party wallet apps gain traction.
In further developments, Apple has announced that by october, with iOS 18.1, it would extend the NFC & SE Platform API to developers in several countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. This API can support various applications beyond payments, such as digital keys, IDs, and tickets, all while maintaining user data privacy through the iPhone’s Secure Enclave.
