Do you use AirDrop regularly? In that case we have bad news, because Apple may stop with AirDrop in Europe. This is going on.
Airdrop
Do you have an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or MacBook? Or do many friends in your area have an Apple device? In that case, AirDrop is one of the most convenient functions for sharing and receiving files. With AirDrop you can share and receive photos, videos and files in the highest quality, without the need for an internet connection. AirDrop is only available on Apple devices, but the European Commission does not agree with that.
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) has been in force in the European Union since 2023. This new legislation must ensure that the digital market remains fair and competitive. Because of the DMA you can now install alternative web stores on your iPhone and the NFC chip from Apple is open to third parties. According to the European Commission, that is not enough, because Apple also has to open AirDrop for competitors.
European Commission
According to the European Commission, Apple must open certain iOS functions to give competition a fairer chance. One of those features is AirDrop, which is why the European Commission Apple has obliged to open AirDrop for third parties. If this happens you can use AirDrop on many more devices, even if it is not an iPhone, iPad or Mac (book). In that case, for example, it will also be possible to use AirDrop on an Android device.
Apple does not agree with that, so that the company appealed against the ruling of the European Commission. For the time being, Apple refuses to open AirDrop for third parties. The legal battle between Apple and the European Commission is now continuing, whereby it is still unclear whether Apple is ultimately obliged to make AirDrop available to competitors. There is little chance that the company will still admit it.
Apple stops AirDrop
Does the European Commission decide that Apple Airdrop should still open to competitors? In that case the company has a number of options. AirDrop can indeed be made available for third parties, but Apple can also choose to stop AirDrop within the European Union. For European users, AirDrop can no longer be used at all, as is now also the case with a number of functions of Apple Intelligence.
It is quite possible that Apple opts for the second option, because the company AirDrop regards as an exclusive function for the iPhone, iPad, Mac (book) and the Apple TV. That would mean bad news for European users, who would have to do without AirDrop. Other functions such as iPhone Mirroring and certain parts of Apple Intelligence also do not work here, where AirDrop would then be added. It remains to be seen the fact that it actually comes. Do you not want to miss the development of Apple? Then register for our newsletter!
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