The EU could force Apple to put AirDrop and AirPlay on Android phones
- The EU could force Apple to let Android phones use AirDrop and other exclusive features
- New proposals under the Digital Markets Act also emphasize the features of AirPods and Apple Watch
- Apple responded citing privacy concerns
A new round of EU proposals has firmly suggested that Apple would make its exclusive features available to other developers and phone makers.
Under the proposals, EU residents may not have to buy themselves an iPhone 16 to use features like AirDrop, AirPlay and automatic audio switching.
Allowing other companies to use APIs of Apple features that have long been exclusive would mark a significant step forward in the EU’s ongoing efforts to loosen Apple’s control over the region’s smartphone market.
An API – Application Programming Interface – is a piece of software that allows two applications to communicate and forms the basis for functions such as AirDrop. These exclusive elements of the Apple ecosystem have long been considered the main benefits of buying an iPhone.
The proposals are the latest suggestions made regarding the Digital Markets Act, a piece of EU legislation that regulates the activity and competition of online stores and technology companies.
Apple has already responded with a paper titled “Interoperability December 2024,” which claims that “misuse” of the DMA could result in the loss of user privacy.
The paper says Meta has submitted 15 requests for far-reaching access to Apple device technology, and suggests Apple would be unable to turn them down if the latest round of DMA proposals were enforced.
In addition to iPhone features, the latest set of suggestions focuses on the exclusive audio and notification features enabled on the Apple Watch and AirPods. The EU has asked Apple to allow third-party accessories to use the same notification systems as its own products.
If Android Authority According to reports, the EU has repeatedly demonstrated that it believes that Apple’s market dominance and tightly controlled ecosystem give the company an unfair advantage over the competition.
The suggestions do not appear to be immediately binding, but it is ostensibly within the EU’s power to use the DMA to enforce them.
My analysis
Apple has previously seemingly been forced to make grudging concessions under the DMA, such as switching to USB-C with the iPhone 15 and sideloading apps through unofficial channels – but API access feels like a step too far.
The DMA has been instrumental in shattering the popular view of tech companies as invincible entities, and has shown time and time again that even those at the top can be forced to change.
However, if the DMA exists to promote competition, it’s worth remembering that companies need something to compete with. Phones in particular are at a performance plateau that’s only just coming to an end this year, so internal specs will rarely be enough to attract customers.
Exclusive features like AirDrop and AirPlay give Apple something to offer. It’s great that Google is so open with Android – I make extensive use of all the platform’s interoperability features when switching between handsets for reviews – but I’m not convinced this is a precedent Apple should follow.
Plus, I’m inclined to believe Apple’s concern for user privacy. The company previously had to deal with the FBI to protect the integrity of its ecosystem, and I’m always pleasantly surprised by its privacy features when I use my iPad, MacBook, or on the rare occasions I use an iPhone.
Apple has received its fair share of criticism over the years, some deserved, some not. But one thing the company has done is work hard to create a unique vision and a sense of flow through its ecosystem. If the company is forced to publicly offer its prized exclusive features, I wonder how long it will be before we see Android phones with Apple logos printed on the back.