The EU warns Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) to open up the iPhone and iPad operating systems or face hefty fines.

The EU has warned Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) to open up its highly protected iPhone and iPad operating systems to competitors, or face the threat of hefty fines under EU digital antitrust regulations. EU regulators announced under the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) that Apple Inc. must comply with new strict regulations to ensure its operating system is fully compatible with other technologies. The EU regulators have given Apple Inc. a six-month deadline to comply with the regulations, or face the threat of future penalties. Although this announcement is one step away from formal adjustments, the EU's goal is to force Apple Inc. to redesign its services to allow competitors access to the iPhone and iPad operating systems. One of the goals of the DMA is to ensure that other developers can access key functions of the iPhone, such as Siri voice commands and payment chips. If Apple Inc. fails to comply with the DMA, the EU may subsequently decide to launch a formal investigation, which could ultimately result in fines of up to 10% of its global annual turnover. Margrethe Vestager, the EU Commissioner for Competition, stated in a press release, "Today is the first time we have used the enforcement procedure under the DMA to guide Apple Inc. to effectively comply with its interoperability obligations. Effective interoperability, such as the interoperability of smartphones and their operating systems, plays an important role in this regard." Apple Inc. has stated that the company has created ways for developers to increase interoperability with the iPhone and iPad operating systems while protecting user safety. The company added that over time, compromising the built-in protections of its systems would pose risks to European consumers. It's worth mentioning that in June, Apple Inc. stated that certain features, including Apple Intelligence, iPhone mirroring, and SharePlay screen sharing, will not be launched in the EU due to the requirements of the DMA for operating system compatibility with third-party applications.