According to The Information, Apple hopes that the iPhone can be used in more non-contact interactions other than the payment service Apple Pay, such as hotel door cards or virtual transportation cards.
By adding the CoreNFC framework, Apple first opened the NFC chip in the iOS 11 system. This framework allows third-party applications to use the NFC chip as a scanner for RFID (radio frequency identification) tags, allowing the iPhone to read more types of NFC tags, not only Only used for payment. However, this opening is still very limited.
The main disadvantage of the NFC API (Application Programming Interface) of the current iOS 11 system is that the application must be in the foreground, and the application must present a specific system mode table, as does the write access to the NFC chip. To start scanning.
This obviously limits the scope of use of NFC and the convenience of its functionality. According to reports from The Information website, Apple will fully open access to the iPhone's NFC chip on iOS 12 systems, iPhone users need only lightly before the hotel door lock Shake their mobile phones to get into their designated room.
This is how Apple Pay has been working for a long time. No special applications are required. When the iPhone is near a non-contact terminal, it can be automatically awakened. The Information report states that Apple has introduced these features at the new company’s Apple Park campus. Worked with identity solution provider HID Global to develop the campus security system. Apple employees can already use the iPhone to enter the Apple Park building.
Some hotels have used the Bluetooth low energy protocol to support simple 'contactless' activation of the iPhone as a room key. Due to issues such as unintended range, security is lower than NFC technology. The new arrangement may also allow third parties to embed The Secure Enclave security module inside the iPhone works together to store sensitive information. If the iPhone's NFC chip is used more widely, the popularity of this feature will increase dramatically.
In addition to the key to the room, The Information reported that Apple wants to replace the bus card with the NFC technology of the iPhone. The report said that Apple has discussed the plan with related parties. In the UK, iPhone users only need to be in a non-contact mode. In front of the terminal, shaking the phone can take the subway. The iPhone 7 joins a FeliCa chip, which can achieve similar effects in Japan's transportation infrastructure. In China, iPhone users in Beijing and Shanghai can also swipe the iPhone to take the subway.
WWDC, which is expected to be held next month at the Apple Developers Conference, will announce this news, when Apple will release the iOS 12 system and other major software platforms. It is unclear whether Apple will simply be in the SDK (software development kit) Add new APIs for use by any developer, or new NFC features will be locked and open only to some partners.