NFC payments and Secure Element: Apple opens iPhone not only in the EU
Apple is releasing its NFC chip in the iPhone in more regions. Programming access will soon be available for the Secure Element. All this happens with iOS 18.1.
Contactless payment with Apple Pay is now also supported by Germany's Volksbanks.
(Image: dpa, Lino Mirgeler/dpa)
After Apple had to open its NFC chip integrated in the iPhone for alternative payment services in the EU due to corresponding regulation by the European Commission, the function is now also coming to other regions of the world. As the company announced on Wednesday, these are the United States of America, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Brazil and Australia.
Not only NFC, but also Secure Element
The feature is to be introduced with iOS 18.1, which is expected in October. The beta phase of this operating system is already underway, and the NFC function will be testable in an "upcoming developer seed". "From iOS 18.1, developers will be able to offer contactless NFC transactions with the Secure Element in their own apps on the iPhone, independently of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet," the company writes.
In addition to the NFC chip, there will also be an API for the Secure Element. With the SE, it will be possible to store sensitive data in a special chip directly on the iPhone, which is sealed off from the system. Apple has invested "significant resources in developing a solution that protects users' security and privacy and uses a range of Apple's own hardware and software technologies for contactless transactions", which are now available to developers.
Payment services are only one option
In practice, this means that users can either carry out contactless transactions in an app that uses these APIs or generate their own wallet, which is then accessed by the usual double-click on the side button. In addition to payment services, the new NFC and SE APIs can also be used for car keys, public transport systems with NFC support, access cards, hotel keys, loyalty cards and event tickets. ID cards are also to be added at a later date.
However, there is one hurdle: developers who want to use NFC and SE must conclude a contract with Apple and obtain the corresponding entitlements, as well as pay "the associated fees". The amount of these fees was not initially disclosed. According to Apple, the procedure is intended to ensure that users of the interfaces meet regulatory requirements and at the same time comply with Apple's security and privacy standards.
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