From Apple:
"iPhone and Apple Watch have brought us into a new era of mobility, helping to transform everyday experiences," said Jennifer Bailey, Apple's vice president of Internet Services. "When we launched Apple Pay, we embarked on a goal to replace the physical wallet. 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."With access to the dorm, dining hall, gym, library and campus events using only their iPhone or Apple Watch, students can now leave their physical wallets behind. Paying for supplies at the bookstore, for laundry or off campus for a meal has never been easier. Simply hold iPhone or Apple Watch near the reader anywhere physical student ID cards are accepted on and off campus.
Apple's been testing this, in part, at Apple Park for employee badges and I got a chance to see it in every-day use during the event (it even made it into the Tim Cook Mission Impossible intro of the event video).
It doesn't seem like magic the way tap-to-pay did because we've already gone through the era of cards. What is seems like is incredibly more convenient and secure magic because you no longer need the card. The watch or phone you always have with you, protected by your own biometrics, has replaced the card.
I'm guessing this will be a huge win for accessibility as well, since they'll gain all the benefits of all the years of technological investment Apple's made — something no non-smart card system could ever deliver.
I'd love to see Apple open this up not just to schools but to public and private institutions of all sizes and kinds. I want my watch to not just buzz me into my office but my home and hotel room.
Hopefully, this is the beginning of that. (And the beginning of Apple opening up CoreNFC to all sorts of strange and wonderful developments.)
