Students at three universities will now be able to use their iPhones and Apple Watches as their campus ID, through the updated Apple Wallet feature of iOS 12.
Apple has promised that iOS 12 will support contactless campus ID cards ever since it unveiled the latest version of the mobile operating system. The feature is finally here, though it might take a while before it rolls out to all schools in the United States.
Apple Wallet Student ID Feature: Here's What It Does
Apple revealed that starting now, students from Duke University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Oklahoma will be able to use their iPhones and Apple Watches as contactless student ID cards.
The move is an offshoot of Apple's vision for Apple Pay, which looks to replace the need for physical wallets by enabling payments through iOS devices.
"By adding transit, loyalty cards and contactless ticketing we have expanded the capabilities of Wallet beyond payments, and we're now thrilled to be working with campuses on adding contactless student ID cards to bring customers even more easy, convenient and secure experiences," said Apple VP of Internet Services, Jennifer Bailey.
Once their information is set up in their Apple Wallets, students will be able to use their iPhone or Apple Watch as their digital ID to gain access to campus facilities such as dorms, libraries, gyms, and dining halls. It can also be used to pay for goods and services such as bookstore supplies, laundry, and meals.
When Will All Students Use iPhone And Apple Watch Student ID Cards?
In addition to the three universities where it is already available, Johns Hopkins University, Santa Clara University, and Temple University will support Apple Wallet's campus ID feature by the end of the school year.
However, there is no word yet on when the feature will be rolled out to other universities in the United States. The implementation of the system is partly dependent on the institutions, as they will need to install NFC readers around campus, so it remains unclear when students of particular universities will be able to go to school without their wallets.
