Apple has announced that developers will soon have the ability to enable near-field communication (NFC) contactless transactions through their own apps on iPhones. This new feature will allow developers to provide in-app contactless transactions for a variety of uses, including in-store payments, car keys, transit passes, loyalty cards, and more.
The NFC and SE APIs will be accessible to developers in select countries with additional locations to follow in the future. To utilize these APIs, developers will need to enter into a commercial agreement with Apple, request the necessary entitlements, and pay associated fees. However, both developers and users will still have access to the secure and private experience of Apple Pay and Wallet.
Apple emphasized the importance of user security and privacy in implementing this new solution, which leverages proprietary hardware and software technologies such as the Secure Enclave and biometric authentication. Users can initiate a contactless transaction within an app by either opening the app directly or setting it as their default contactless app in iOS Settings.
This development highlights Apple’s commitment to providing innovative and secure solutions for developers and users alike. By expanding the capabilities of NFC technology, Apple is further enhancing the convenience and security of contactless transactions on iPhones.
