Apple in iOS 15 is taking another step toward replacing the traditional wallet, adding several new features to its digital Wallet app that will allow people to leave their physical cards and keys behind
iOS 15 Digital IDs
Within the united states, Apple is working with the state government to permit iPhone customers to feature their driver’s license or nation id card to the pockets app, which would permit virtual IDs to be used in lieu of a bodily id card.
Apple is also working with the TSA to allow digital ID cards to be used at TSA checkpoints, with the digital ID able to be shown to a TSA agent prior to boarding a plane.
ID cards stored on the iPhone are also able to be brought up on an Apple Watch.
Apple says that digital ID cards will roll out to select states first, but we don’t yet know which states. Apple has to secure agreements with each individual state to allow the Wallet to be used to store an ID card or driver’s license, and it will take some time for states to agree to the feature.
Wallet App Key Storage Feature
Apple is hoping to replace standard physical keys with digital versions that can be used right from the Wallet app With iOS 15
All of these key features require partner companies to implement support, and these are not features that will be immediately available when iOS 15 launches.
Homes
Companies that make HomeKit-compatible locks can add support for a Wallet-based house key that can be used to tap to unlock HomeKit door locks.
Offices
Corporate offices can also implement digital keys for the Wallet app, allowing employees to unlock doors with a tap of an iPhone or an Apple Watch instead of requiring a corporate badge for location access.
Hotels
Participating in hotels that use digital keys can allow customers to add those keys to the Wallet app after making a reservation, allowing them to bypass the lobby.
The digital hotel key stored in the Wallet app can be used to unlock a hotel room. After checkout, the hotel room key is automatically archived.
iOS 15 Now Support Cars
Apple already introduced a Car Keys feature that lets you unlock your car with a key stored in the Wallet app, but in iOS 15, Apple is implementing Ultra Wideband support for precise spatial awareness.
Improved spatial awareness prevents an iPhone from being locked in a car or a car from starting when the iPhone isn’t inside.
iOS 15 also adds support for locking or unlocking the car, honking the horn, preheating the car, or opening the trunk with control options that are located in the Wallet app when you’re nearby your vehicle.
BMW is the only car manufacturer that has implemented Car Keys support at the current time, and this feature needs to be adopted by car manufacturers to work.
Wallet App can Archived Passes
Expired boarding passes and occasion tickets are mechanically removed from the pockets app and housed in an “Expired” section so that you no longer want to manually take them out or address the muddle of old passes.
“Hide Expired Passes” is an option in the Wallet & Apple Pay section of the Settings app that is toggled on by default, but can also be turned off if you want to keep your passes.
Multiple-Pass Downloads
Safari lets you download multiple passes to the Wallet app in one go. If you buy movie or zoo tickets for the whole family, you can download them to Wallet all at once rather than having to do so one pass at a time.