Apple’s latest iOS 26 update includes a new WLAN chip, designated N1, โpromising โคmoreโฃ efficientโค iPhone location tracking-a feature currently blocked โfor users inโฃ the european Union. The company is reportedly withholding functionality โthat analyzes routes traveled to suggest choice โคpaths during traffic congestion, โขfearing it would trigger obligations under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) to open theโค technology to competingโข app providers.Thisโค move comes as Apple refines โคits โlocation services, aiming to provide users with proactive navigation assistance. While the feature is available globally outsideโข the EU, the company’s hesitation stems from concerns thatโข enabling it within the bloc would necessitate allowing third-party map applications access to the same dataโข andโฃ capabilities, perhaps undermining its competitive advantage. The DMA, designed to fosterโ competition in โคdigital markets, requires dominant players like Apple to ensure interoperability with rival โฃservices.
According to Heise Online, Apple’s card app currently tracks visited locations and learns frequently used routes to anticipate and suggest alternative pathways when traffic delays occur.the company has so far prevented the activationโฃ of these functions within theโ EU, apparently to avoid โcompliance with theโฃ DMA’s stipulations regarding data access for other app developers.