They already exist Two types of iPhone: one for Europe and one for the rest of the world. Apple has made several changes to iOS due to European regulations and, according to new requests from the maximum continental succession, it seems clear that the differences between the territories will go more.
In the last hours, the idea that Airdrop could disappear from the iPhone. Although, in reality, this is not the only option that Apple offers if you want to comply with the laws of the old continent.
Previous. In March of last year, the DMA (Digital Markets Act) entered into force with which the European Commission intends to avoid the abuse of the dominant position of large companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon or Objectif. Consequently, in iOS 17.4, he made historical changes to the European iPhone, such as the arrival of alternative stores to the App Store.
500 million dollars. It was the first sanction that the European Commission imposed on Apple after several months to investigate whether or not they respected the new regulation. The maximum continental field had already informed the company to violate the law, declaring that there was no “interoperability” between its systems and third -party products and services.
Confirmed changes. Due to the sanction and the threat to which they go more, Apple has already confirmed more changes that will arrive in the coming months to comply with the regulations:
- Complete compatibility of the iPhone with watches in the third part, allowing access to all Apple Health measures. He will arrive at the end of the year.
- Give access to headphones third by part to advanced functions such as automatic change in devices that already have AirPods. It must be ready before 2026.
- Permission to third parties to integrate communication systems and send similar files to Airplay and Airdrop. It must be ready before 2026.
“They limit our ability to innovate.” Addressing 9TO5mac, Apple has come forward against the taxation of the European Commission claiming that, although they respond to requests, this implies in its judgment a limitation of its capacities to provide new technologies to the iPhone. In fact, this is the reason why some news announced a year ago without reaching the old continent.
What about Airdrop. John Gruber, one of the analysts with the best sources of Apple, carried out an analysis of the company's declarations and showed the possibility that, if these indications of Europe, Apple ends up deactivating the tickets of the European iPhone. In fact, this is not the only option that the Californian company has according to the commission requests:
- Accept the entry of other systems similar to Airdrop, either to send files between Apple devices, or to send them from an iPhone to an Android or Windows PC Mobile.
- Allow third parties to access the Ardrop system and adopt it on their devices as if it were up to you.
- The disappearance of Airdrop, which we see which is not the only option, is not something that discharges. If Apple eliminates it from Europe, it will also be used to comply with legality, because they could not ask to open a service that does not offer.
What about confidentiality. It was (and remains) another argument that Apple made to demonstrate against some of these changes. In Airdrop's, for example, they believe that it could compromise user safety by allowing third parties to access sensitive information in data transmission.
Cover image | Rawpixel photography assembly
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