A report from The Information on Friday indicates Apple will give expanded third-party access to the iPhone’s NFC chip with the release of iOS 12.
The report says Apple is looking to expand the types of contactless interactions allowed for use with the NFC chip, first introduced with the iPhone 6. Apple envisions the devices being used as hotel keys or a virtual transit card.
As of iOS 11, Apple began offering limited access to the NFC chip by introducing the CoreNFC framework, which allows apps to use the chip to scan RFID tags. Access is quite limited. The API requires the app to be in the foreground, the app must present a specific system modal sheet to start scanning.
The Information reports the access afforded by iOS 12 will greatly expand the NFC chip’s capabilities, describing a scenario where an iPhone user could tap their iPhone on their hotel room door to gain access to the room.
iOS 12 is expected to debut next month at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.
(Via 9to5Mac)
