Apple Now Allows Developers to Request Access to Additional iPhone Hardware and Software Features

To comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act, Apple has introduced a new request form that allows developers of iOS apps distributed in the EU to request additional interoperability with iPhone hardware and software features.

iPhone 15 General Feature Black
Apple already offers developers more than 250,000 APIs, enabling them to access iPhone features and frameworks such as cameras, microphones, Bluetooth, HealthKit, SiriKit, and much more. Now, developers can request access to additional iPhone features and technologies for use in their apps in the EU, as they see fit.

Apple says it will evaluate interoperability requests on a case-by-case basis, and release additional APIs in future iOS versions as necessary. Apple says requests must be technically feasible and adhere to the Digital Markets Act.

It's unclear how many of these requests Apple will approve, if any.

Apple is already making the NFC chip in iPhones accessible to third-party payment and wallet apps in the EU, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, which will provide users with alternatives to Apple Pay and the Apple Wallet. This change was introduced with iOS 17.4, which is available in beta now and will be released in March.

The request form and additional details can be found on Apple's website.

Top Rated Comments

boss.king Avatar
24 months ago

Only time will show you why a sandboxed system was best for consumers. This isn’t an Xbox or a coffee machine..our lives run through our phones.
I've run my life through Apple's other (fairly open) platform, MacOS, for years now and nothing bad has come of it. Maybe your problems are your own and most people don't need coddling.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mrkevinfinnerty Avatar
24 months ago

Only time will show you why a sandboxed system was best for consumers. This isn’t an Xbox or a coffee machine..our lives run through our phones.
My life runs through my coffee machine. I ain't paying it 30% either.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
24 months ago
Incredible to think that, without a nudge from the EU, none of what we are witnessing today would have happened and Apple would continue to frame it all in a negative light, about how dangerous it all was.

Regardless of what side of the fence you’re on, it shows how much showmanship there is in their arguments and integrity.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dionte Avatar
24 months ago
It’s like the EU is poking holes in Apples condom.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
crees! Avatar
24 months ago
No turning back now as we’re well underway going down that slippery slope
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cateye Avatar
24 months ago

My life runs through my coffee machine. I ain't paying it 30% either.
I don't know why, but every time I see your user picture I can't stop laughing. Well done.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)