Apple is working to improve the near-field communication (NFC) chip in the iPhone to allow users to more securely unlock doors, said a person familiar to the matter.
Presently, the NFC chip; first introduced in the iPhone 6 and Apple watch, only allows for phone-based payments in store via Apple Pay.
While the iPhone can unlock some smart locks via Bluetooth, the NFC is considered more secure and will allow for a wider range of uses like paying transit fares and opening car doors.
People familiar with the matter say, employees at Apple’s new campus in Cupertino, California are already using their iPhones to access buildings and offices; suggesting that the technology is being employed there.
Apple has been talking to HID Global, who made the campus’ access control system, about enabling such access control on the iPhone using NFC since 2014 to say the least.
This change is expected to be announced at the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference on June 4 along with the launch of the iOS 12, the latest version of the iPhone’s operating system.
