Apple has launched a blistering attack on three of Australia's big banks, saying their request to collectively negotiate over digital wallet access to the iPhone will compromise the handset's security, reduce innovation and blunt Apple's entry into the payments market in Australia.
In a sign of growing acrimony between the world's largest company and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank and Westpac Banking Corp, Apple told the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that "allowing the banks to form a cartel to collectively dictate terms to new business models and services would set a troubling precedent and delay the introduction of new, potentially disruptive technologies".
The three large banks made an application in late July with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank seeking authorisation to collectively negotiate with the technology giant, which has locked the banks and other third-party providers of digital wallets off the iPhone platform in favour of its own Apple Pay.
In a pithy, three-page submission to the ACCC, Apple says providing access to the phone's transmitter to allow bank applications to facilitate contactless payments would compromise the security of Apple's hardware.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 11 2016, @06:31AM
Hahaha, Apple is the cheaper option. What rock are you living under?
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Demena on Thursday August 11 2016, @08:47AM
Well, the moon is a big one but it's about a light second away. I've done my sums and had my experiences, brought 3 kids an 2 parents into computing. Since I have been supplier and service to all of them and I value my time I know that Apple has been invariably the cheapest option even at Australian premium prices. That is simply as it is, not opinion or religious belief. It is and always has been "horses for courses".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 11 2016, @07:53PM
Hahaha, Apple is the cheaper option. What rock are you living under?
AC said that Apple is cheaper than a banking cartel. That doesn't mean that Apple is cheap, it's more likely that Apple is "expensive" but the banks are "holy shit, that's so expensive it's fucking ridiculous".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 12 2016, @02:19AM
Except you are both missing the whole point that Apple just plain isn't any cheaper.
Show us the part where it's cheaper for the customer, or the merchant.