Starting with iOS 18.1, developers will have the opportunity to integrate contactless NFC transactions directly into their iOS apps using Secure Element on iPhone, independent of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. This represents a significant change in the way users can manage their payments and access to various services, bringing increased flexibility and new possibilities for mobile applications.
By using the new NFC and SE APIs, developers can offer a wide range of contactless transactions, including in-store payments, car keys, closed-loop transit, corporate badges, student IDs, home keys, hotel, loyalty cards and merchant rewards, as well as event tickets. In the future, Apple plans to expand support for government IDs as well.
Apple places great emphasis on the security and privacy of its users. The solution was developed to provide a secure and efficient method to perform NFC transactions from within iOS applications. The NFC and SE APIs use Secure Element, a standard certified chip that stores sensitive information securely on the device. Apple has invested considerable resources to develop a solution that protects user data through a combination of proprietary hardware and software technologies, such as Secure Enclave, biometric authentication, and Apple servers.
Apple Announces Unprecedented Decision for iPhones
To perform a contactless transaction, users can open the app directly or set it as the default contactless app in iOS Settings. The transaction can be initiated by double-clicking the iPhone's side button.
Developers who wish to incorporate this solution into their applications will need to enter into a commercial agreement with Apple, request NFC and SE rights and pay related fees. This process ensures that only authorized developers who meet Apple's security and privacy requirements will have access to these APIs.
The NFC and SE APIs will be available to developers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States in an upcoming seed for iOS 18.1, with expansion to other locations to come. Both developers and users will continue to benefit from the secure and private experience provided by Apple Pay and Wallet.
This initiative underscores Apple's commitment to constantly innovate and improve the security and privacy of its users, while providing developers with new tools to create more versatile and functional applications.
