EU iPhone Users Get AirPods-Like Pairing and Notification Forwarding for Third-Party Wearables in iOS 26.5

[JSDK]

If this includes iMessage that’s fascinating and may be a first?

You can send and receive iMessages on Windows too.

 

[Abazigal]

Why EU only? Now that they've done the work, surely these features would be of benefit to everyone? And a global rollout would likely mean more testing and less bugs from having multiple different software configurations in different regions.

A company is less likely to implement a feature that’s locked to one region. Imagine trying to market a pair of headphones that pairs better for users living in the EU, and has no other benefit for everyone else.

At the end of the day, the EU is only able to legislate affairs within its borders. Nothing less, but also nothing more.

 

[ThailandToo]

I don't think that it is a real concern, I think Apple is just fear mongering to avoid implementing features that make other devices compete with the Apple eco system.

That’s why they’re acting anticompetitively, and it should be illegal. Compete on product not by locking down everything to the best customers. Props to EU for making Apple do the right thing. Wish more countries had the balls.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Props to EU for making Apple do the right thing. Wish more countries had the balls.

On the flip side. There are plenty features/ functions that are locked down in parts of the EU under the guise of privacy legislation.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

European iPhones having more features than their ROW counterparts?

Only Apple can do this!

 

[Alpha Centauri]

European iPhones having more features than their ROW counterparts?

Nope. Here's three things for example that aren't allowed in Germany:

1. Live Voicemail
2. Phone call recording
3. iPhone mirroring