With the introduction of iOS 18.1, Apple is opening up the iPhone’s NFC chip to third-party apps, which means a significant expansion of the possibilities for using this chip. This new feature allows developers to perform NFC-based transactions in their apps that are no longer limited to Apple Pay or Apple Wallet. The change affects a wide range of applications, including contactless payments, car keys, hotel access, student IDs and more.
Key features of the NFC chip:
- Third-party apps can make contactless payments and other NFC transactions.
- Support for car keys, hotel cards, company ID cards and more.
- Users can set third-party apps as the default for NFC transactions.
- Security and privacy are ensured through the use of the Secure Element.
Extended NFC functionality for developers
The opening of the NFC chip comes at a time when Apple is increasingly adapting to the requirements of global tech regulations, particularly in the EU. With iOS 18.1, developers will have access to APIs that allow NFC transactions to be carried out directly within their apps without having to rely on Apple Pay or Wallet. Apple has now revealed this in a press release. This opens up new possibilities, for example for contactless payments in stores, use as a car key or for closed payment systems such as public transport tickets.
However, developers must meet certain requirements in order to gain access to these new NFC functions. These include signing a commercial agreement with Apple and applying for permissions to use the NFC and Secure Element APIs.
These features will first be available in countries such as the US, UK and Japan before being rolled out to other regions. Germany and Central Europe will get this feature later and not right at the launch of iOS 18.1.
Focus on security and privacy
Apple emphasizes that security and the protection of user privacy were top priorities when developing these new NFC functions. The NFC chip uses the Secure Element, a specially certified chip that stores sensitive information securely. In addition, Apple integrates further security mechanisms such as the Secure Enclave and biometric authentication for contactless transactions. Users can use simple settings in iOS to set a third-party app as the default app for NFC transactions and make contactless payments by double-clicking the button on the side of the iPhone.
Conclusion
Opening up the NFC chip to third-party apps is a significant development that makes the iPhone even more versatile and useful. This should be of particular interest to developers and users looking for flexible solutions for payments, access authorizations and identity management. The exact launch schedule and regional availability will be announced with future updates.
