The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Tuesday launched a consultation on proposed measures requiring Apple and Google to give app developers greater freedom over payment options and access to key mobile platform features.
The regulator said the proposals aim to boost competition by allowing developers to direct customers to alternative payment methods outside Apple and Google’s app stores, enabling them to avoid mandatory platform commissions.
According to the CMA, Apple currently prohibits such payment “steering” in the UK, while Google places restrictions on the practice. The watchdog is also seeking views on requiring any fees charged for off-platform transactions to be “fair and reasonable.”
“We think it is important to give both app developers and users more choice about how they communicate and how they transact,” said Will Hayter, the CMA’s executive director for digital markets.
The consultation also includes proposals to give third-party developers access to Apple’s near field communication (NFC) technology on iPhones, potentially expanding payment and digital wallet options.