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A man uses his cell phone as he walks past an iPhone advertisement outside an Apple store.
Philippe Fong | AFP | Getty Images
Eight states will deploy a feature allowing users to add driver’s license and state credentials to Apple Wallet for iPhone and Apple Watch for use at security checks at participating airports, Apple said Wednesday.
Arizona and Georgia are the first states to adopt the feature and Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah will follow, although the company has not specified a timeline.
The news comes just months after Apple said it was working on the feature with the Transportation Security Administration at its global developer conference in June. The feature is a crucial step in Apple’s plan to replace physical wallets and will provide more convenience for travelers seeking contactless airport travel, the company said.
Adding credentials to the Wallet app works the same as downloading credit cards and tickets, Apple said. Once users have scanned the ID, they will also be prompted to perform face and head movements as an added safety measure.
After typing their mobile ID on identity readers at airports, users must approve a TSA note using Face ID or Touch ID. The company claims that customer data is “encrypted and protected against tampering and theft” and that the ID can only be viewed by the owner.
Apple is currently offering Mobile Student IDs that allow students to access campus buildings and make purchases without a physical card, a feature extended to other universities in the United States and Canada this summer.
The new ID feature will be available with an iPhone software update slated for release later this fall.
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