The European Union said Thursday it will outline steps to compel Apple to open up its iPhone and iPad operating systems to competing technologies under the bloc’s tough new digital rulebook, which threatens hefty fines for breaches.
The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, said it has opened two “specification proceedings” that will spell out what Apple needs to do under the 27-nation bloc’s Digital Markets Act.
The DMA is designed to prevent Big Tech “gatekeepers” from dominating digital markets, including by breaking up closed tech ecosystems. It requires tech companies to make their systems operate with rivals, allowing consumers to switch more easily between platforms.
One proceeding will focus on how connected devices like smartwatches and headphones will have “effective interoperability” with Apple’s operating system. The other will look at how Apple deals with interoperability requests from software developers for iOS and IPadOS, which should be done in a “transparent, timely and fair” way, the commission said.
During this process, which will take up to six months, the commission will send its findings to Apple. It’s the first time the commission has used this process since the DMA took effect earlier this year. The bloc is already investigating Apple over its App Store rules for developers.
The commission’s executive vice president in charge of competition policy, Margrethe Vestager, said in a press release that the process will “provide clarity” for developers and Apple.
Apple said it has “created ways for apps in the European Union to request additional interoperability with iOS and iPadOS while protecting our users.”
“Undermining the protections we’ve built over time would put European consumers at risk,” the company said, adding it will continue to “work constructively” with commission.
Avid to acquire Wolftech Broadcast Solutions
Avid® has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Wolftech Broadcast Solutions, a company known for cloud-based multiplatform planning and publishing news production solutions. This strategic move illustrates Avid’s focus on transforming news, sports, and live production workflows.
The acquisition will allow Avid to combine its digital-first, end-to-end media solution with Wolftech’s expertise in story-centric workflow management. The integration of Wolftech and Avid is intended to enable news organizations to rapidly deliver stories through multiplatform amplification, significantly increasing efficiency and improving remote collaboration.
Avid and Wolftech are committed to openness and customer choice. Wolftech already integrates with a wide range of tools, including Avid MediaCentral, and will continue to build integrations with Avid solutions and other industry-leading platforms. With this acquisition, Avid will deepen the integration between the two toolsets while continuing to partner with a wide range of media production tools and newsroom systems. Existing Wolftech customers will benefit from Avid’s global scale for customer support and professional services.
The planned acquisition of Wolftech positions Avid to deliver a unified suite of integrated tools with unique AI-powered features that will enable news production organizations to:
--Break Down Silos: Unlock creativity and operational clarity by breaking down silos between digital, broadcast and long-form teams.
--Increase Efficiency: Get the most out of resources with sophisticated planning and analytics tools.
--Focus on the Story: Capture audiences and amplify stories faster across any distribution platform.
--Get Teams Interacting:... Read More