Apple plans to expand access to Near Field Communication, or NFC, in iOS 18.1 for third-party developers. Update to allow the execution of contactless payment systems via API by developers. This comes after Apple’s settlement with the European Commission to bring itself in line with EU regulations. The issue is concerns it was squeezing rival mobile wallet developers.
With iOS 18.1, Apple will let the developer community leverage an iPhone’s Secure Element for contactless transactions. That chip safely stores this information; it’s the same one that Apple Pay uses. That’s where the Secure Enclave takes care of the encryption and biometric data in a secure way.
More than just tap-to-pay, NFC will support a wide array of features like digital car keys, transit cards, or even home locks. Updates coming shortly will add support for government IDs, therefore bringing increased convenience to users.
Apple is making developers sign a commercial agreement for access to NFC. This will necessitate requesting an entitlement to both NFC and the Secure Enclave, along with the associated fees for the latter. Apple Pay and Apple Wallet will coexist with third-party systems.
It will be available in the US, EU, and several other regions including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand. It also allows developers to be able to integrate their systems into the iOS settings for seamless user experiences.
