Apple iOS 12 Wallet App Receives Contactless Student Card Support

• iOS 12 will bring support for contactless student ID cards to the Wallet app to replace physical ID cards.
• The new feature will come with “Express Mode” functionality to quickly process entries without any additional authentication.
• The feature was not announced in the original iOS 12 reveal earlier this year and was implemented on a later date.

Apple made a surprise announcement earlier today for its Wallet app. iOS 12 is bringing support for contactless ID cards to the app which will allow users to check into locations without requiring a physical copy of an ID card. Three schools in the US have already partnered with Apple to offer the functionality to their students, and more schools will be added in the future.

Duke University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Oklahoma will allow their students with iPhones or Apple Watches to check-in to their respective campuses with their digital IDs. Johns Hopkins University, Santa Clara University, and Temple University will be adding support for the new digital cards by the end of this year.

Image Courtesy of Apple

Apple VP Jennifer Bailey revealed “When we launched Apple Pay, we embarked on a goal to replace the physical wallet. By adding transit, loyalty cards, and contactless ticketing, we have expanded the capabilities of Wallet beyond payments, and we’re now thrilled to be working with campuses on adding contactless student ID cards to bring customers even more easy, convenient, and secure experiences.”

The new feature will not require any form of added authentication when using the app using “Express Mode.” Users will not need Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode. Simply activating the Wallet app’s activation button is all you need to do to enable your digital card.

The two new flagship Apple iPhones, the iPhone XS, and the iPhone XS Max will come with a new hardware feature that allows users to use their Wallet Express cards even when their phone battery is depleted. Even when the new iPhones run out of power, a ‘power reserve’ allows users to continue using their phones as an ID card.

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