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Your iPhone gets a choice: First alternative to Apple Wallet ready to arrive in Europe

By Tsveta Ermenkova

Published: May 31, 2024, 8:38 AM

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Your iPhone gets a choice: First alternative to Apple Wallet ready to arrive in Europe

The new EU law called the Digital Markets Act forced Apple to let people use different app stores on iPhones (the first one is already a reality) and to open up its contactless payment system. Basically, Apple has to let other payment apps use the same tech (NFC) that powers Apple Pay. And guess what? Those other payment apps are chomping at the bit to get started.

The first alternative to Apple Wallet is ready to launch in the EU

Reputable media The Times, out of the UK, says Apple's still ironing out some technical kinks, but once that's done, British company Curve claims it is good to go and launch its competing Wallet app right away.

The London fintech company is revving up to launch the first real challenger to Apple Wallet. It will be the first full-fledged alternative once Apple finishes the switch and lets other apps use the iPhone's NFC chip for payments, as required by the EU's law. Curve says this change will save banks millions of euros they currently fork over to Apple in transaction fees.

Here's how Curve's system will work – you need to first download the app and set it as your default payment method. Then, whenever you want to pay with a tap on your iPhone, just like with Apple Pay, Curve will be the option that pops up. Right now, the only option for tap-and-go payments on an iPhone is Apple's own system.

Curve says it will be the first to launch an alternative to Apple Wallet, but rumors are swirling that other companies are working on their own options, too, like the Nordic firm Vipps MobilePay. It's important to note that, for now, these alternative wallets will only be available for iPhone users in Europe.

However, back in March, the Department of Justice went after Apple, claiming the company created a monopoly with the iPhone. DOJ argues that Apple's dominance in the smartphone market makes it tough for others to create alternative digital wallets because they wouldn't reach many iPhone users. With such investigations into Apple's business practices heating up, we might see some changes in the US, as well.

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Tsveta, a passionate technology enthusiast and accomplished playwright, combines her love for mobile technologies and writing to explore and reveal the transformative power of tech. From being an early follower of PhoneArena to relying exclusively on her smartphone for photography, she embraces the immense capabilities of compact devices in our daily lives. With a Journalism degree and an explorative spirit, Tsveta not only provides expert insights into the world of gadgets and smartphones but also shares a unique perspective shaped by her diverse interests in travel, culture, and visual storytelling.