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Three US universities now let students use iPhone and Apple Watch as their campus ID card

From today, Apple is announcing the first partners for its new contactless ID card features introduced in iOS 12 and watchOS 5. Students at Duke University, University of Alabama and University of Oklahoma, can now add their ID card to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch.

By using contactless NFC readers, students can use their digital ID card to access dorms, dining halls, library and the gym. You can also use it to pay for bookstore supplies, laundry usage and restaurant meals.

Apple has slowly been expanding the capabilities of Apple Wallet beyond contactless payments at retailers. It has expanded to offering Apple Pay on the web, Apple Pay transit cards, store loyalty cards and now, student ID cards.

Apple Wallet automatically knows what to do when scanned, automatically associating the activity with the student’s account. The user can enable Express Mode for their student ID cards, which means that Face ID and Touch ID authentication is not required. You just hold your device near the reader to unlock the door.

These features were first announced back at WWDC in June. Any iPhone or Apple Watch owner can take advantage of these features, but they require partnerships with the campuses. The service launches today with Duke, Alabama and Oklahoma universities.

Apple says it will expand to the Johns Hopkins, Santa Clara and Temple universities by the end of the school year.


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