Apple Announces Support for In-App NFC Transactions Independent of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet with iOS 18.1
On August 14, 2024, Apple announced that starting with iOS 18.1, developers will be able to use NFC for contactless transactions within iPhone apps. These transactions will utilize the Secure Element (SE) on the device, independent of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. Through the new NFC and SE (Secure Element) APIs, developers can offer in-app contactless transactions for in-store payments, car keys, closed-loop transit, corporate badges, student IDs, home keys, hotel keys, merchant loyalty and rewards cards, and event tickets, with government IDs to be supported in the future.
To ensure users’ security and privacy, Apple has designed this new solution to provide a secure way for developers to offer NFC contactless transactions within their iOS apps. These NFC and SE APIs leverage the Secure Element—an industry-standard, certified chip designed to store sensitive information securely on the device. Apple has invested significant resources in designing this solution, which utilizes multiple proprietary hardware and software technologies during a contactless transaction, including the Secure Enclave, biometric authentication, and Apple servers. Users can directly open apps utilizing these APIs for transactions or set the app as their default contactless app in iOS Settings, and double-click the iPhone side button to initiate a transaction.
To integrate this new solution in their iPhone apps, developers need to enter into a commercial agreement with Apple, request NFC and SE entitlements, and pay the associated fees. This ensures that only authorized developers who meet specific industry and regulatory requirements and commit to Apple’s ongoing security and privacy standards can access the relevant APIs. The NFC and SE APIs will initially be available to developers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S. in an upcoming developer seed for iOS 18.1, with additional locations to follow. Developers and users will continue to have access to the convenient, secure, and private experience of Apple Pay and Wallet.