Apple to defend mobile payment system at February 14 EU hearing

Apple Inc will search to persuade EU antitrust regulators that it doesn’t block rivals’ entry to its know-how used for cell wallets at a closed listening to on Tuesday, individuals accustomed to the matter stated, the final likelihood for it to take action earlier than attainable hefty fines.

The listening to, which senior European Commission and nationwide competitors officers, Apple executives and complainants will attend, comes 9 months after the EU competitors watchdog accused the corporate of abusing its market energy.

The EU antitrust watchdog has stated Apple’s anti-competitive practices dated again to 2015 when Apple Pay was launched.

The Commission declined to remark. Apple referred to its assertion final yr which stated that Apple Pay is just one of many choices obtainable to European shoppers and which has ensured equal entry to its faucet and go know-how Near-Field Communication (NFC).

The firm might face fines of as much as 10% of its world turnover if discovered responsible of antitrust violations. It can be the goal of EU prices of abusing its dominance within the music streaming market in a case triggered by a criticism by Spotify. There isn’t any EU determination but on that case.

Stay on prime of know-how and startup news that issues. Subscribe to our every day e-newsletter for the most recent and must-read tech news, delivered straight to your inbox.