Update: Apple has responded to the EU’s announcement with a statement provided to 9to5Mac, that strongly opposes the decision.
The EU has followed up on its Digital Markets Act specification procedures for Apple regarding the iPhone’s interoperability with third-party connected devices like smartwatches and headphones, as announced last fall.
Today’s announcement details exactly what third-party integrations the EU commission expects Apple to implement. This includes giving third-party devices access to iOS notifications, as well as way for companies to make like-for-like competitors to AirDrop file sharing, AirPlay streaming, and much more.
The list of features that the EU commission has ordered Apple to implement is vast, as well as signalling that any future Apple features with first-party hardware integrations must also be made available to third-party companies.
Today’s measures revolve around opening up iOS connectivity features. This includes allowing connected devices, like third-party smartwatches, full access to the iOS notification system, as well as background execution privileges, just like how the Apple Watch works with the iPhone.
Headphone makers will be given access to system features that support AirPods, like proximity auto-pairing and automatic audio switching. Other kinds of connected devices must also be able to make equivalent features to system services like AirDrop and AirPlay.
Other requirements include automatically providing access to Wi-Fi network information to accessories, enable high-bandwidth peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connections, and open up the NFC chip to communicate data like user payment card details to third-party connected devices.
However, the decision has wider scope than just these specific examples. The EU has made it clear that it expects all features provided by Apple to support interoperability free of charge, for any type of connected device. The EU also expects Apple to make the relevant frameworks and APIs available at the same time they arrive as Apple platform features; third-party access is not allowed to launch later.
In collaboration with Apple, the EU has also announced a timeline for the above listed features. Third-party support for iOS notifications should go into beta by the end of this year, with full rollout in 2026. Similar timelines are expected for proximity pairing, background execution and other noted features. Media casting alternatives are penciled in for end of 2026. In general, it seems that much of this support will roll out as part of iOS 19, with full support coming by iOS 20 at the latest.
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