- The latest news on Apple’s upcoming 18.1 update reveals exciting details about NFC chip access.
- This move is set to inspire a wave of new payment apps, with Apple introducing a new fee for developers utilizing the NFC chip.
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Apple will be granting third-party developers access to its NFC chip this fall with the release of iOS 18.1.
This decision follows pressure from the DMA and Europe, prompting Apple to open up its NFC chip in iPhones to third-party apps. Previously, the chip was solely used for Apple Pay, giving Apple a monopoly on the popular contactless payment feature.
The news, announced in Apple’s Newsroom, reveals that NFC chip access will not only be limited to Europe but will also be available globally through iOS 18.1.
New Feature… New Fee…
This update is beneficial for banking apps and other payment apps on iPhone, opening doors for a variety of institutions worldwide. However, developers will need to enter a commercial agreement with Apple, pay associated fees, and request NFC and SE entitlement to implement this feature.
Expanding NFC Access
By expanding NFC access, banks can offer more contactless payment options, and developers can introduce NFC to apps for various purposes, such as car keys, student IDs, travel cards, and government IDs support in the future.
While this change may lead to a surge in new apps and real-world uses, it could also result in service providers requiring users to use their specific app for tasks, potentially complicating the user experience.
Apple’s iOS 18.1 is set to launch on Monday, October 21st, with the NFC and SE APIs becoming available to developers in select countries initially, followed by additional locations.
