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Consider this a bold last stand.

Rather than signing up with Apple Pay, a number of Australia's largest banks are instead hoping to force Apple's hand and serve their own payment apps on Apple's hardware.

On Wednesday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) published an application from four local banks to negotiate collectively with providers of third-party mobile wallets.

SEE ALSO:Australians have an easier way to buy bitcoin after new exchange launches

Apple in particular has drawn the ire of the banks for locking out payment apps, apart from its own Apple Pay, on its smartphones and tablets. Most of Australia's major banks already have their own mobile payment solutions, and Samsung Pay along with Android Pay have launched here.

The banks in the application include Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank and Westpac. Another of Australia's large banking players, ANZ, is noticeably absent, having signed up with Apple Pay in April.

Apple has been contacted for comment.

Opening up the hardware

According to the ACCC application, mobile wallets could have great potential, but not if they're introduced in a manner that restricts "customer choice, security and transparency."

In other words, the banks are upset their access to the iPhone hardware necessary for payments is restricted by Apple. They can't offer their own apps if they require near-field communication (NFC) access for contactless transactions, for example.

"Apple's refusal to provide third-party apps with any access to the NFC functionality of its devices sets it apart from other hardware manufacturers ... and Third Party Wallet Providers such as Google, Samsung and Microsoft," according to the application.

It also notes that Apple has allowed third party access to things like the iPhone camera.

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Foad Fadaghi, managing director at technology consultancy Telsyte, told Mashable Australiathe banks' tactics were an "audacious attempt" by the industry to try and get Apple to change its hardware policies.

"It is a little bit unprecedented in that banking organisations around the world ... have not ganged up for something like this," he said. "It's difficult to say which way it will go."

It's not just about cafe or shopping transactions. A number of Australia's transport systems are considering experimenting with contactless mobile payments shortly.

"This is about providing Australians with real choice and better outcomes," Lance Blockley, senior adviser at Novantas Bank Analytics and Advisory who is working with the banks, said in an emailed statement.

In Fadaghi's view, this play is only possible thanks to the extreme concentration of banking power in Australia. "The banks are large organisations and Apple is one of the largest organisations in the world, so you can imagine this could be tied up in litigation for many years."

He predicted there would global interest in the case, given it could provide something of a precedent in terms of the hardware access manufacturers give to third party organisations.

Fighting over fees

When Apple Pay rolled out in Australia in November with only American Express on board, there were reports of serious disagreements between the tech company and the banks.

The banks were said to be unwilling to give up a portion of interchange fees, which merchants pay in order to use the bank's payment infrastructure, Fairfax Mediareported in mid-2015.

Banking officials also made noise about being unimpressed with Apple's payment solution. "There is functionality associated with Apple Pay that we have had in the market for 18 months to two years," Commonwealth Bank CEO Ian Narev said at the time.

Despite this, the ACCC application does not include a request from the banks to enter into joint negotiations on fees. Banks will still be responsible for negotiating their own deals with third party payment providers.

Ultimately, the application suggests the banks will fight to keep anything from coming between them and their customers.

"It's a fear of disintermediation," Fadaghi said. "What we were expecting was competitive forces to eventually cause the other banks to, in some ways, capitulate to Apple and come to the party for the sake of their customers.

"This seems to be the last roll of the dice to try and prevent that from happening."

TopicsApple

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