Apple Wallet will support IDs and driver's licenses in iOS 15
Apple is vastly expanding the types of cards and documents that can be added to Wallet, including IDs and driver's licenses in certain states and more types of keys.
Credit: Apple
The Cupertino tech giant unveiled the iOS 15 Wallet updates on Monday. The most significant new feature is the ability to add information from an ID card in certain supported U.S. states to Wallet on iPhone. Apple says it is working with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to support the digital identities at airports.
All of the information in Wallet will be stored in a secure and encrypted fashion. Like an actual ID, it will include a person's legal name, date of birth, photo, and Real ID status.
In addition to the support for IDs, Apple is also expanding the types of keys that users can add to Wallet. That includes keys to a smart home lock, keys to hotel rooms, and work badges that can be scanned to gain entry to a workplace.
For example, Hyatt is rolling out its support for digital keys in Wallet to more than 1,000 properties later in 2021.
Follow all of WWDC 2021 with comprehensive AppleInsider coverage of the week-long event from June 7 through June 11, including details on iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, macOS Monterey and more.
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Credit: Apple
The Cupertino tech giant unveiled the iOS 15 Wallet updates on Monday. The most significant new feature is the ability to add information from an ID card in certain supported U.S. states to Wallet on iPhone. Apple says it is working with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to support the digital identities at airports.
All of the information in Wallet will be stored in a secure and encrypted fashion. Like an actual ID, it will include a person's legal name, date of birth, photo, and Real ID status.
In addition to the support for IDs, Apple is also expanding the types of keys that users can add to Wallet. That includes keys to a smart home lock, keys to hotel rooms, and work badges that can be scanned to gain entry to a workplace.
For example, Hyatt is rolling out its support for digital keys in Wallet to more than 1,000 properties later in 2021.
Follow all of WWDC 2021 with comprehensive AppleInsider coverage of the week-long event from June 7 through June 11, including details on iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, macOS Monterey and more.
Stay on top of all Apple news right from your HomePod. Say, "Hey, Siri, play AppleInsider," and you'll get the latest AppleInsider Podcast. Or ask your HomePod mini for "AppleInsider Daily" instead and you'll hear a fast update direct from our news team. And, if you're interested in Apple-centric home automation, say "Hey, Siri, play HomeKit Insider," and you'll be listening to our newest specialized podcast in moments.
Comments
- State support (could easily take years)
- How a grocery store clerk will accept / validate
Our state has established it for official use. We're ready. Just need the tools to catch up.
Anyways, the value is not needing to carry your ID, and that requires every possible use-case to be covered (bouncer at bar, grocery clerk validating alcohol purchase, police officer, etc.) … going to take a hot minute.
It’s a great step, but this one is going to be slow.
But yes, LAWallet will be made obsolete when Apple (and later Android I'm sure) bring it to the OS. And...? The state will implement it, just like the state implemented Apple's COVID19 contact tracing. Apps fill the gaps until the OS makes official solutions. The value-add of a solution that works in multiple states is obviously better positioned that every state producing it's own app which doesn't even show up in Wallet and requires unlocking the device.
I agree with everything you said -- just asserting that it'll be 5+ years before you can legitimately leave your plastic ID home.
Nothing I saw indicated that was how to you would hand over your device.
When I toured Eastern Europe in 2017, the Apple Watch worked everywhere, where in the US, there was no support anywhere. Where there is little legacy, one can start fresh; with a legacy system, it takes time.
The old legacy systems must continue to exist. Not everyone has access to new systems, and many don't trust the new way of doing things -- and I'm not sure they should. We've certainly seen many weaknesses exploited in recent months. But, that won't likely slow the transition down by much.
The transition simply can't be stopped -- at minimum, it's as sexy has hell -- if not convenient for many. And, there is plenty of money to be made in the industry. Nobody is going to say no to that. There is no state that will be immune to that pressure.
The ISO spec for mobile drivers licenses (mDL), ISO 18013–5, allows for a variety of means to transfer data (WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.), and leverages the OpenID Connect protocol so that the ID holder can grant access to specific pieces of information (similar to to how you can choose what to share when you use “Connect with Facebook”).
What I’m specifically curious about is whether Apple will provide an app that acts as the “Requestor” — the thing that initiates the request to Apple Wallet that prompts you to share (or not share) information. This would be super helpful with the transition, because it would give hotel receptionists, club bouncers, rental car agents, etc. the means to “accept” these Digital IDs.
Every system that is built to take an optical scan of an ID’s barcode (and decode the data therein) will have to be phased over to also support this new data exchange.
Also, what happens when you have to show your digital license in another state?
I saw this on the news this morning. Everything else at WWDC was ignored on the news.