Apple Pay Faces Swiss Antitrust Investigation Over NFC Access

[Nekronos]

Don't forget that it's also how the Mac works.

On the Mac, I decide what apps to download and install... even ones outside of Apple's App Store.

That's true though to me non-macs feel more open.

 

[axantas]

It is mainly about the Swiss payment system "TWINT". This is used for direct money exchange between TWINT users and for payments in shops. Same as for instance "Tikkie" in the Netherlands. They have to use a separate app, so it is always two steps to use it.

There are also discussions about the fees. Twint has high fees. Some shops do not accept it, just because of that. I use ApplePay and my Credit/Debit-card. They are accepted everywhere. TWINT tries to enter that direct way as well. Nothing egainst that, but they still do charge far higher fees than Credit/Debit-cards. So I stick with the ApplePay solution or I just one of my cards directly.

 

[cyanite]

🤓☝️ Ackshually, you own the hardware but only a license to the software that makes it work, bestowed upon you by our benevolent lord Apple. So yes, Apple did choose who gets to access all that stuff that you ostensibly paid for, and they chose you! You should feel blessed to have such a privilege and honor!

I think I'm gonna be sick from writing that

That’s how it necessarily is with all software it doesn’t make sense to own something that can be copied essentially for free and is identical to the original. Instead what you own is licenses to use it.

This applies to software you have. There is of course also services.

 

[Oblivious.Robot]

Maybe you’re in a pilot. Ads in the settings app?

But more often than not it’s for Apple Music or even iCloud +

 

[sputnikv]

it's wild how you could invent something and then be slapped with investigations and fines for not accomodating non-existing competitors on your platform

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Another European money grab

 

[justanotherdave]

Swiss banks are probably still angry after opposing FATCA and CRS (financial reporting) and basically being forced to adopt them.

It’s now much harder for tin-pot dictators and other criminals to hide/move their money using Swiss banks like they used to.

I’m betting this is a small form of payback for them having to abide by FATCA/CRS—forcing Apple to open up their system.

Except Apple isn’t facilitating criminals with Apple Pay like the Swiss banks were.

 

[BuffaloTF]

Correction. They (seem to) know that they do differ from the EU conditions:

“The Secretariat is now conducting a preliminary investigation to determine whether the terms and conditions for granting access – which differ from those applicable in the EEA – comply with Swiss antitrust law”

https://www.esa.admin.ch/en/newnsb/egoLzxP2rT6G265nJvqnA

Without knowing what those conditions actually are, I suppose they follow Apple’s usual modus operandi of malicious compliance: Feigning compliance by intentionally setting a fee/commission structure that makes third-party usage economically non-viable.


By costing less.

Costing less? So using Apple Wallet, then. They conform to each and every feature that results in lower interchange rates. Example: Using a token, 10 basis points off the interchange.

 

[AppliedMicro]

Thats ridiculous. Apple is a minority player in Germany

Not necessarily for mobile advertising.

Secondly, there are other monopolies that are far more egregious than going after Apple for not allowing people to be harassed all over the internet via tracking

As I said already: The antitrust watchdog isn’t concerned about “harassment through tracking” - they’re going after anticompetitive business conduct. Having a high market share or monopoly isn’t illegal - but leveraging it in anticompetitive ways is.

MSFT Windows, Google Search and YouTube are right there.

And they very much are subject to antitrust laws, regulations and enforcement.
Google’s search marketshare isn’t illegal - and neither is their related ad business. As long as they’re a equal-opportunity creeps.

There's at least several dozen competitors if not more, google and apple certainly dominate the US market but that's not true in every region

If expect to be able to conduct mobile payments with their smartphones, Apple and Google are certainly “gatekeepers” in the Swiss market, that stand between payment providers and consumers in providing such services. At least if they want to do it through NFC (as, again, consumers expect).

 

[AppliedMicro]

Costing less? So using Apple Wallet, then. They conform to each and every feature that results in lower interchange rates. Example: Using a token, 10 basis points off the interchange.

…were it for the additional money charged by Apple as middlemen.

I suppose you’re quoting a U.S. (or some some other market’s) interchange fees though, because “10 basis points off” would be quite a lot (too much), given the low interchange fees that Europeans pay (due to laws/regulations that cap them, ultimately benefiting consumers).

 

[I7guy]

View attachment 2587203


But more often than not it’s for Apple Music or even iCloud +

Haven’t had them or haven’t noticed them. Either way I count it as as a no. 👍

 

[turbineseaplane]

it's wild how you could invent something and then be slapped with investigations and fines for not accomodating non-existing competitors on your platform

What is the thing that Apple "invented" here?

"Major mobile payment platforms like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and Samsung Pay leverage NFC technology to enable users to tap their devices on payment terminals for quick and easy transactions."

The History of NFC - Tragging

Near field communication or NFC technology was originally developed in the late 1800’s when Thomas Edison was experimenting with radio. Its roots goes back to radio-frequency identification (RFID). Itcan be defined as a short-range wireless communication technology. Near field communication...

tragging.com