At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the tech giant revealed an upgrade for its Apple Wallet app that will allow users to use their iPhone as identification at US airports.
As one of the updates to iOS 15, iPhone users will be able scan their driver’s license or other approved state ID into their Wallet.
The ID will be encrypted and stored in the same secure element as users’ credit cards, transit passes and airline boarding passes.
As part of a pending partnership with the TSA, users will be able to use their iPhone as identification at participating states’ airport security checkpoints.
‘Later this year, customers in participating states in the US will be able to add their driver’s license or state IDs to Wallet,’ Apple said in a statement. ‘The Transportation Security Administration is working to enable airport security checkpoints as the first place customers can use their digital Identity Card in Wallet.’
Hotel key cards are also in the works for Apple Wallet, with the tech giant working with Hyatt and other major chains to support the feature.
Scroll down for video
Apple is working with the TSA to allow driver’s licenses scanned into the Apple Wallet app to be used as identification domestic US airports
Car keys were the first to be supported by devices equipped with Apple’s U1 chip, which is shipping later this year.
Next up for the company’s Ultra Wideband technology with spatial awareness will be digital house and office keys.
In 2020, Apple filed patents for ‘a device implementing a system for using a verified claim of identity,’ Apple Insider reported.
Last year, 5 percent of card transactions worldwide were conducted via Apple Pay and that percentage is expected to double by 2025, according to research firm Bernstein, Quartz reported.
In 2020, Apple filed patents for ‘a device implementing a system for using a verified claim of identity.’ Now, with iOS 15, iPhone users will be able to use a digital copy of their approved ID to speed through security at the airport
Apple also used WWDCC to announce several changes to FaceTime coming with iOS 15, including bringing the video-calling app to the Web so it can be used by folks with Android devices and Windows PCs.
The upgrade will also add noise reduction, wide spectrum mode, and spatial audio, Engadget reported, so ‘your friends’ audio streams will sound like they’re coming from the side of the screen they’re on.’
At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the company announced several upgrades to FaceTime with iOS 15, including noise reduction and grid view
There will be a number of visual updates to FaceTime coming in iOS 15, too, including a new grid view option and ‘portrait mode,’ which allows users to blur out everything but their face.
The additions are believed to be an effort to make FaceTime more competitive with Zoom, which became the de-facto videoconferencing app during the pandemic.
Another new feature called SharePlay allows groups to create virtual watch parties, by streaming the same song, video, episode or movie simultaneously.
Apple has already inked deals with Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max and other streaming services to support SharePlay.
