Apple Opens up NFC on iPhones with iOS 18.1
Aug 14, 2024, 1:46 PM by Rich Brome @richbrome
Apple is officially opening up the NFC functions of iPhones to third-party apps with the forthcoming iOS version 18.1. This will enable tap (AKA "contactless") transactions in apps other than Apple Wallet. Examples include "in-store payments, car keys, closed-loop transit, corporate badges, student IDs, home keys, hotel keys, merchant loyalty and rewards cards, and event tickets, with government IDs to be supported in the future." Users will even be able to designate an alternate wallet app as the default for tap payments, instead of Apple Pay. Apple is releasing new APIs for developers to access both NFC and the Secure Element hardware that Apple uses to store sensitive information securely. Multiple government regulators around the world have pressured Apple to open up NFC to third parties. As it has done with other concessions to regulators, Apple is restricting access to these new APIs, requiring a contract, fees, and special approval to receive an "entitlement" to use the new APIs.
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