Digital ID
During the pandemic, we saw more people opt to use their phones to pay for products rather than touch dirty buttons and screens using a traditional card. As a result, the popularity of digital wallets is growing, and soon, you’ll be able to add your licenses and IDs.
Apple said Wednesday that customers would be able to add their driver’s licenses and state IDs to their Apple Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch to use during security at selected airports.
Arizona and Georgia will be the first states to use the new feature, followed by Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah, though Apple did not provide a timeframe.
The announcement comes only months after Apple said that it was working on the functionality with the Transportation Security Administration at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The upgrade is an important step in Apple’s ambition to replace physical wallets, and it will make it easier for travelers who don’t want to get their hands dirty.
Adding IDs to the Wallet app will be as easy as uploading your credit cards and travel tickets. As an added security step, users will be requested to perform facial and head motions after scanning their ID.
In countries like Asia, particularly China, physical wallets are a thing of the past. Instead, people have everything they need on their phones, scanning QR codes to pay for goods and services. So, will physical wallets soon be a thing of the past in America? And do you prefer physical or digital wallets?
I am not a financial advisor and my comments should never be taken as financial advice. Investments come with risk, so always do your research and analysis beforehand.