The NFC Forum, an industry group tasked with setting global standards for near field communication technology, on Tuesday announced the adoption of a new Wireless Charging Specification (WLC) that could one day enable smartphones to juice up smaller consumer devices.
Code snippets purportedly discovered in Apple's next-generation iOS operating system suggest BMW will integrate the tech giant's "CarKey" API, an NFC-based keyless entry system that swaps out physical key fobs for an iPhone.
The sudden appearance of the 'CarKey API' may only be the beginning, as Apple is seemingly exploring how it can expand on its cryptographic-based device authentication to bring digital keys into other areas.
Apple is seemingly taking the first steps to making an iPhone or Apple Watch function as a key for a car or van, with the presence of references to a "CarKey" API within the first iOS 13.4 beta indicating it could be used to unlock or even start a vehicle.
New research from Apple details methods that iPhone or Apple Car owners could securely store their identity credentials and securely share them with governmental agencies when required.
European Union nationals wanting to remain in the United Kingdom after the Brexit process has concluded are still unable to apply for residency via an iPhone, with the government still not saying when the app will be available to use on roughly half of the country's smartphones.
Apple's Shortcuts app is exceptionally powerful, but it becomes even more useful with the iOS 13 update. It comes preinstalled rather than a post-setup download, and it also arrives brimming with new features. One of the most built-out areas is for the smart home.
Germany plans to utilize iOS 13's NFC stack, allowing users with an iPhone to serve as a user's passport or ID card — but what iPhones can be used for this isn't quite clear yet.
During the week we don't always have time to cover everything, so here are a few releases this week that went under the radar including a new iOS compatible dive computer, a futuristic Hot Wheel set, and more.
The Japanese government on Wednesday confirmed plans to develop an app capable of reading NFC tags on "My Number Cards," or Individual Number Cards, this fall, streamlining related processes like filing tax returns.
Ticketing service Paciolan on Monday announced upcoming support for contactless tickets in Apple Wallet, which will allow fans to enter college stadiums using their iPhone and Apple Watch later this fall.
After months of talks and behind-the-scenes negotiation, Apple has agreed to make iPhone's NFC stack available to a UK government app designed to confirm the status of citizens following a planned departure from the European Union.
The United Kingdom is planning to launch an app that allows European Union citizens to apply to stay in the country after Brexit next year, but while it will work with Android devices, officials are reportedly having issues running it on iPhones and iPads.
Apple has updated Core NFC, the iOS system used to perform NFC-based transactions with apps, with the change now allowing for tags that use the technology to be read by an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR without requiring the user to open a relevant app beforehand.
Instead of relying on QR or barcodes at WWDC 2018 this year, Apple is using NFC with Face ID or Touch ID authentication of the pass in the user's Wallet.
Apple at its Worldwide Developer Conference in June is expected to announce a change in NFC policies that will enable a host of new capabilities for devices with embedded chips, for example opening NFC-enabled doors with an iPhone.
Taking advantage of the more open NFC access on iPhones made possible with iOS 11, Yubico has announced that its physical YubiKey NEO authentication key can now be used to unlock compatible iOS apps.
An app for Abbott's FreeStyle Libre glucose reader is said to be the first third-party iOS title to make use of the NFC chip in Apple's iPhone, previously reserved only for Apple Pay.
Major League Baseball on Monday announced the Oakland Athletics recently trialled a contactless ticketing system that relies on Apple NFC assets to let customers enter the stadium with the tap of an iPhone or Apple Watch.
With the introduction of iOS 11, security company WISeKey's WISeAuthentic solution for brand protection will be compatible for the first time with Apple's iPhones.
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AppleInsider Staff
Mikey Campbell
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Andrew O'Hara
Amber Neely
Roger Fingas
Mike Wuerthele
