Apple Opens Up NFC: iPhone Users Finally Get "What Everyone Else Has"

Apple Opens Up NFC: iPhone Users Finally Get "What Everyone Else Has"With the release of the new iOS 18 at this year's WWDC developer conference, Apple has brought a new feature that, while not as talked about as Apple Intelligence, will deeply impact iPhone users' daily routines. After the launch of iOS 18

Apple Opens Up NFC: iPhone Users Finally Get "What Everyone Else Has"

With the release of the new iOS 18 at this year's WWDC developer conference, Apple has brought a new feature that, while not as talked about as Apple Intelligence, will deeply impact iPhone users' daily routines. After the launch of iOS 18.1, developers will be able to utilize the secure element (SE) inside the iPhone to offer NFC contactless data exchange within their apps, without relying on Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.

This change brings a more convenient mobile lifestyle for iPhone users. In the future, users can use their phones for common tasks like car keys, building access, and smart door locks. Furthermore, this update will support ID card recognition, expanding its use cases to things like hotel keys, corporate badges, student IDs, and event tickets.

For iPhone users, NFC functionality has always been "what everyone else has." Despite supporting NFC since the iPhone 6, Apple has always restricted its use cases, limiting it to internal system calls like Apple Pay's built-in card swiping function. Third-party apps could not utilize this functionality, leaving many iPhone users disappointed.

Now, after ten years, Apple has finally opened up NFC, bringing more convenient experiences to iPhone users. But a question arises: is this functionality free?

The answer is no. Apple has stated that developers need to sign a commercial agreement with Apple, apply for NFC and SE authorization, and pay associated fees to use this new functionality within their iPhone apps.

This news has caused concerns among users: will these fees ultimately be passed on to the users?

While the final pricing structure is uncertain, it's safe to say that Apple opening up NFC is not completely free developers will have to pay to utilize this feature.

Currently, NFC and SE APIs are available to developers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, and the US via the upcoming iOS 18.1 developer resources. More regions will be supported in the future. This means that users in China will have to wait a while before they can experience this functionality. However, given that Apple has opened up NFC restrictions, it shouldn't be too long before it's available in China.

For Android users, NFC functionality has been integrated into various daily operations. As Apple opens up NFC for iPhones, NFC will cover a wider range in the future, bringing more convenience to users.

Overall, Apple opening up NFC is a long-awaited breakthrough for iPhone users. It opens up more possibilities for phone functionalities and will further change users' lifestyles. With time, NFC will gradually become more widespread, offering a more convenient and intelligent mobile experience for users.