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Apple Wallet

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Apple Wallet
Other namesPassbook
(2012–2015)
Developer(s)Apple Inc.
Operating systemiOS
watchOS
Service nameApple Wallet
(or Wallet for short)
TypeMobile app
Websitewww.apple.com/wallet/ Edit this on Wikidata

Apple Wallet, or simply Wallet and formerly known as Passbook, is a digital wallet developed by Apple Inc. and included with iOS and watchOS that allows users to store Wallet passes such as coupons, boarding passes, student ID cards, government ID cards, business credentials, resort passes, car keys, home keys, event tickets, public transportation passes, store cards, and – starting with iOS 8.1 – credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards for use via Apple Pay.[1][2] Wallet was introduced as Passbook with iOS 6 on September 19, 2012.[3] It was renamed Wallet with the release of iOS 9 in 2015. Wallet is also the main interface for Apple Card, Apple's credit card released in the U.S. on August 20, 2019.

History

Apple Passbook was announced at the 2012 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on June 11, 2012, and released with iOS 6 on September 19, 2012.[3] It was renamed Wallet with the release of iOS 9 on September 16, 2015.[4][5]

Features

Wallet displays Aztec, PDF417, and QR 2D barcodes and Code 128 1D barcodes beginning with iOS 9.[6] Each digital coupon or ticket is known as a "pass".[7] When the user launches Wallet for the first time, a brief introduction screen appears with a button inviting users to browse apps on the App Store with Wallet integration. Passes can also be distributed online via Safari, sent to the user via email, or scanned using the built-in scanner in Wallet.

Passes are synced between iOS devices using iCloud, and OS X 10.8.2 and later also support opening passes to be sent to users' iOS devices. Although the app is available in iOS 6 or later, it is only available on iPhone and iPod Touch, but not on iPad.[8]

Wallet has the following features:

  • Displays 2D barcodes of following types: Aztec, PDF417 and QR.
  • Displays 1D barcodes of following types: Code 128 beginning with iOS 9.
  • Triggered by location. Up to 10 locations can be added to each Pass. A location is programmed as GPS coordinates (longitude, latitude, and altitude) and/or iBeacon UUID. (The UUID is a Universally Unique Identifier which is a 32 ASCII character code or a code automatically generated from a name using the PassKit API.)
  • Triggered by time of pass.
  • Localisation of the pass. Up to 35 languages can be stored for each pass in Wallet.[9]
  • Pass changes can be pushed via the Apple Push Notification Service by the pass provider, or manually updated by the user themselves.

Ecosystem

Add to Apple Wallet badge
Add to Apple Wallet badge

Passes exist in a larger ecosystem, because passes are created as a package. The package is a pass template, that is created with a pass signer, along with relevant data and a private key. Passes can be updated at any time using the PassKit API and an iOS app can interact directly with passes stored in Wallet.

Passes are presented and managed by Wallet. Systems and apps interact with passes via the PassKit API.[10]

In its simplest form, an interaction (or transaction) between a pass and a system is facilitated by a 2D Barcode or the modern QR code although it requires the customer to initiate the activity.

Electronic boarding pass of an Air China flight shown in Apple Wallet on iPhone 7

In late 2014, the first known implementations utilizing the iBeacon wireless geofencing started to appear in retail locations in the US. The iBeacon solutions allowed the retailer to broadcast an unsolicited lock-screen notice onto smartphones within Bluetooth range.[11]

In 2015, Apple incorporated the ability to present a loyalty card in Wallet to a point-of-sale terminal via NFC.[12] Walgreens enabled this first with their Balance Rewards loyalty program; customers can add their card to Wallet through the Walgreens or Duane Reade mobile apps and tap their phone to the terminal when prompted for their rewards card.

In 2018, support was added for contactless student IDs for select universities. Such credentials operate in a similar manner to physical RFID cards in that they can be tapped to supported readers.[13] The power reserve feature on select iPhones and Apple Watches allows for continued use of the card even when the battery is depleted as long as Express Mode is enabled.[14]

In 2020, car keys were made available for the Apple Wallet, beginning with supported BMW vehicles. Such keys can be shared with friends and family, and permissions can be set per member, such as how fast they can go and whether or not some vehicle-specific features can be enabled/disabled or not. Such passes can also operate over UWB in addition to NFC.[15]

In 2021, Apple announced the ability to store government ID cards, resort passes, home keys, and business credentials in Wallet.

In 2022, Apple announced a new feature to track your Apple Pay orders in Wallet.[16]

Distribution

Passes can be distributed anywhere a link can be embedded, such as via email, SMS, RCS, a webpage, an app, NFC tags, or QR codes.[17]

List of commonly available Wallet Passes

The following is a list of commonly available passes to add to the Wallet app, and how to add them:

US & Canada

  • Airlines
    • Delta Skymiles: via App
    • United MileagePlus: via App
  • Hotels
    • Hilton Honors: via App
    • IHG Rewards: via App
    • Marriott Bonvoy: via App
    • World of Hyatt: via App
  • Food & Beverage
    • Starbucks: via App
  • Stores
    • Ikea Family: via Email link or Mobile App[18][19]
    • Lego VIP: via Website link

References

  1. ^ "Wallet".
  2. ^ "Use Wallet on your iPhone or iPod touch – Apple Support". Apple Support. Apple Inc. October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Trew, James (June 11, 2012). "Apple unveils iOS 6 at WWDC, launch apps with Siri, Facebook integration, Maps". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  4. ^ "Apple replaces Passbook with Wallet as Apple Pay expands to U.K."
  5. ^ Brandom, Russell (September 9, 2015). "iOS 9 will be released on September 16th". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  6. ^ What's new in Passbook with iOS 9
  7. ^ "Apple Passbook and its potential impact on the travel industry". Phocuswire. June 19, 2012.
  8. ^ "iOS What's New: Passbook". Apple Inc. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  9. ^ "PassLocales". Archived from the original on August 10, 2014.
  10. ^ PassKit
  11. ^ "Beacon marketers have new ways around app download requirement – Marketing Land". Marketing Land. April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  12. ^ Caldwell, Serenity. "How to use rewards cards with Apple Pay and the Wallet app". iMore. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  13. ^ "Apple adds support for contactless student ID cards in Wallet". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  14. ^ "Express Cards with power reserve". Apple Support. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  15. ^ "BMW announces support for Digital Key for iPhone. A secure and easy way to use iPhone as a car key to lock, unlock, drive, and share keys with friends". www.press.bmwgroup.com. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  16. ^ "iOS 16 Preview". Apple. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  17. ^ "Getting Started with Passbook" (PDF). Apple Inc.
  18. ^ "IKEA Family digital card". Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  19. ^ {{cite web|title=IKEA Apps|url=https://www.ikea.com/us/en/customer-service/mobile-apps/
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