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The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has compelled numerous companies to modify their operations to align with these regulations. Although the GDPR primarily focuses on Europe, consumers globally have benefited from its ripple effects. A notable result is Apple’s decision to allow third-party access to its NFC technology, which has led to the introduction of the first alternative to Apple Pay on the iPhone.
Vipps, a company based in Norway, is the pioneer of a tap-to-pay system on the iPhone, in addition to Apple’s own service. Currently, this solution is available only for Norwegian banks, but it is expected to expand to include other payment providers throughout Europe in the future.
This shift comes amid Apple’s ongoing legal challenges in various countries, including allegations of anti-competitive practices in India, echoing similar lawsuits in the European Union. Yet, it is evident that this evolution has been in progress for quite some time, and the opening of payment solutions to third-party developers is not confined to Europe alone.
Those testing the iOS 18.2 beta can already designate a default contactless payment application, a feature that is likely to persist when the full version of iOS 18.2 launches. While Apple Pay remains an extremely efficient app, having more choices is always better for users.
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Vipps has expressed plans to expand its services to Denmark, Finland, and Sweden next year. This launch marks just the beginning, and it wouldn’t be surprising to witness numerous alternatives appearing in the coming months, particularly if backed by banks or other financial entities.
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