iPhone users in Europe will no longer have to use Apple Pay for mobile payments

Apple has agreed to allow rivals access to contactless payments technology on iPhones following pressure from European regulators. This move opens up competition in mobile payments and means that users will no longer be limited to using Apple Pay. The European Commission announced the changes, which will remain in force for 10 years across the 30 countries in the European Economic Area. Third-party mobile wallet developers will now have free access to near-field communication (NFC) technology used for contactless payments on iPhones. Apple will also allow iPhone users to choose their preferred mobile wallet as the default option. The changes must be implemented by July 25.