iPhone's NFC payment function will be available from third-party apps starting with iOS 18.1 in late 2024
![](https://i.gzn.jp/img/2024/08/15/apple-iphone-nfc-third-party-app/00.png)
Until now, Apple only allowed contactless payment processing using
Developers will soon be able to offer in-app NFC payments using Secure Element - Apple (UK)
https://www.apple.com/jp/newsroom/2024/08/developers-can-soon-offer-in-app-nfc-transactions-using-the-secure-element/
![](https://i.gzn.jp/img/2024/08/15/apple-iphone-nfc-third-party-app/01_m.png)
NFC & SE Platform for Secure Contactless Transactions - Support - Apple Developer
Apple is finally going to open up iPhone tap-to-pay - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/14/24220323/apple-iphone-tap-to-pay-nfc-api
Apple is opening the iPhone's NFC chip to third-party apps with iOS 18.1 - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2024/08/14/apple-nfc-chip-iphone-ios-18-1/
iPhones and Apple Watches are equipped with NFC chips that enable contactless payments, but until now Apple has not allowed contactless payments via third-party clients for security reasons, only allowing them through Apple Pay and Wallet.
However, these regulations were considered anti-competitive by the EU and an investigation was ongoing. If a violation was found, Apple could be subject to huge penalties of up to 10% of global sales, so in April 2024, Apple proposed to the EU that it would open up its iPhone's NFC payment technology to rival companies. The EU then accepted this proposal in July 2024.
Apple avoids EU lawsuit by opening iPhone payment system to rivals - GIGAZINE
![](https://i.gzn.jp/img/2024/07/12/apple-payment-system-opening-eu/00_m.jpg)
Apple officially announced on August 14, 2024 that it will open up contactless payments using NFC chips to third-party apps starting with the upcoming release of iOS 18.1.
'Using new NFC and Secure Element (SE) APIs, developers will be able to offer contactless payments within their apps for in-store payments, car keys, transit cards, employee and student ID cards, home keys, hotel room keys, store membership and loyalty cards, event tickets, and additional government-issued IDs,' Apple explains.
Users can also set a third-party app as the default payment app via the iPhone's Settings app.
![](https://i.gzn.jp/img/2024/08/15/apple-iphone-nfc-third-party-app/02_m.png)
Related APIs for building these apps will be available in iOS 18.1 beta for developers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States, with Apple saying, 'Additional countries and regions will be available in the future.' According to Apple, developers who want to incorporate NFC contactless payments into their iPhone apps must enter into a commercial agreement with Apple to request NFC and Secure Element qualifications. In addition, they must pay the associated fees to Apple when using the service.
'These conditions ensure that only authorized developers who meet certain industry and regulatory requirements and commit to Apple's advanced security and privacy standards can access the relevant APIs,' Apple said.
Related Posts: