Good news for iPhone devices who want to use NFC -based applications. Apple has announced that it will open access to the NFC chip of the iPhone, using Secure Item, to allow contactless payments made by third applications, other than Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. This functionality will be available in a future version of the iOS 18.1 and will be initially launched in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
This change comes after Apple has announced that it will open the NFC chip for third -party applications in the European Union, according to the Digital Markets Act requirements. The European Union has also asked Apple to give up the restrictions on downloading applications on the IPhone exclusively from the App Store.
Related: You will be able to install applications on iPhone and outside the App Store (iOS 17.4)
Returning to access to the NFC chip of the iPhone for third applications, in a press release announcing this news, Apple explains that the NFC chip can be used for various applications, such as payments, car keys, student cards, public transport subscriptions, hotel keys and more.
In other words, if you currently have a smart car or home access key, it can be replaced with an app that uses the NFC chip of the iPhone.
"Starting with iOS 18.1, developers will be able to provide contactless transactions using Secure Direct element from their iPhone applications, separate from Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. Using new NFC and SE (Secure Item) APIs, developers will be able to offer contactless transactions for payments in the store, car keys, closed system transport, Corporate insignias of hotel, loyalty cards of traders and events for events, and in the future the governmental cards will be borne. ”
Apple also said that users will be able to set a third-party application as a default application for contactless payments via the Settings app on their iPhones. Currently, for making payments there is only Apple Pay as a default application.
Related: How do you add bank cards to Apple Pay for Apple Watch
Apple adds: "To incorporate this new solution into their iPhone applications, developers will have to conclude a commercial agreement with Apple, request the right for the NFC and pay the associated taxes." At this time, Apple has not published details about the value of taxes and how they will be structured.
Currently, this feature is available in the iOS 18.1 beta version, on iPhone 15 Pro devices.
