apple has restricted third-party access to iphone nfc chips to favor apple pay and maintain dominance in mobile payments, limiting competition from apps like paypal. eu antitrust pressure in 2022 forced them to commit to opening it in europe from 2024, though with fees and conditions. this echoes the point in View quoted note → the verge

The Verge

Apple offers to open iPhone NFC payments to third-party providers after EU investigation

After four years, the EU’s investigation nears its end.

This makes me sad. Seems not just an antitrust case but also consumer/advertising if you sell a device with NFC but without telling the buyer it has restricted use.