In an effort to ensure a “effective interoperability” with other platforms, the EU wants that Apple renders native iOS features compatible with Androidincluding AirDrop (and more).
A new document published this week by the European Commission reveals a number of ways the EU would like Apple modified iOS and its features to make them more interoperable with other platforms.
In this document, some changes to iOS itself are highlighted, such as extending the notification features to iOS as well 3rd party smartwatch and not just limiting them to Apple Watches. Likewise, the EU wants Apple to let iOS apps work in the backgroundexactly like the native ones, since over time this has turned out to be a rather widespread problem among some apps (especially those that accompany accessories such as smartwatches).
The AirDrop and AirPlay case
But there are also some iOS features that the EU would directly like Apple to open up to other platforms, including Android. Among these there is AirDropwhich currently only works between iOS and macOS devices. Which the company has already done, technically. AirPlay It's supported on some TVs and products from other brands, but the ability to actually connect to something via AirPlay is currently limited to iOS only.
Google's mirror feature, Cast, on the contrary it works on multiple platforms: Android, iOS and others. The EU wants Apple “makes available the ability for a connected third-party physical device to become an AirPlay sender”. The company responded without hiding anything veiled criticismespecially verse Metawhich Apple said would advance “more interoperability requests” than anyone else. Opening AirPlay to Meta, the company writes, would create “a new class of privacy and security concerns by providing them with data about users' homes”.
EU will hold consultations on this case until January 9EU wants Apple to open AirDrop and AirPlay to Android and other platforms
2025 and, if Apple does not comply with the order when it goes into effect, it could face heavy sanctions.
