BRUSSELS – Apple settled a European Union investigation into its Apple Pay service, ending one antitrust case as it battles EU regulators on other fronts.

"I do not consider it a peace deal," Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager told a press conference. “I considered it a solution on a very specific problem that you do not have choice when it comes to what wallet you want to use” on Apple devices.

Apple will allow payment rivals to access the technology that Apple uses for its own "tap and go" payments. Banks and other payment providers have long complained that the tech giant hampered them from using the iPhone's near-field (NFC) communication chip.

In return, the European Commission will end a four-year investigation without imposing a fine. Apple can be fined if it breaches any of the commitments it made as part of the settlement.

Vestager told reporters that "we have not seen a change in behavior on Apple’s side” and it remains to be seen how other cases into Apple's potential non-compliance with digital rules will go.

Today's settlement prevents Apple from excluding other mobile wallets from the iPhone’s ecosystem, the Commission said in an email statement. That should allow payment providers to compete with Apple Pay for mobile payments made via Apple's iPhone. It won't cover Apple Watch which only "a rather small number of people" use for payments, Vestager said.

Apple's pledge will for 10 years allow payment providers access to NFC on Apple devices free of charge without having to use Apple Pay or Apple Wallet. This will be done via host card emulation mode that can secure payment credentials. Payment rivals can also authenticate transactions via FaceID facial recognition service, the double click, touch ID or a passcode.

The company had to improve its settlement proposal after feedback from rivals earlier this year to extend how payments can be made at terminals. It wil now also pledge to keep the access methods up to date and to enable a new payment default with only few clicks. It also removed a requirement for developers to be licensed as a payment service provider.

Apple will also set up a dispute settlement mechanism for developers who don't get permission to use some features.

Apple spokesperson Julien Trosdorf said European developers could now offer contactless transactions "for car keys, closed loop transit, corporate badges, home keys, hotel keys, merchant loyalty/rewards, and event tickets."

"Apple Pay and Apple Wallet will continue to be available [...] for users and developers, and will continue to provide an easy, secure and private way to pay, as well as present passes seamlessly from Apple Wallet," he said.

The EU fined Apple €1.8 billion last March. It is also investigating Apple for failing to comply with Digital Markets Act rules.

The Commission also closed the probe it opened in 2020 into online restrictions and alleged refusals of access to Apple Pay.

Aude van den Hove contributed to this article.

This article has been updated with additional comment from the competition commissioner.