The Wallet app in iOS 14, with Apple Pay Cash and cards configured | |
| Other names | Passbook (2012–2015) |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Apple Inc. |
| Operating system | iOS watchOS |
| Service name | Apple Wallet (or Wallet for short) |
| Type | Mobile app |
| Website | developer |
Apple Wallet, or simply Wallet and formerly known as Passbook, is a mobile app 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, prepaid cards, and loyalty 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.
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]
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:
Several third party developers have created similar apps for other operating systems, such as Pass2U Wallet or PassWallet for Android and BlackBerry, that support importing and viewing Wallet passes. Windows Phone 8.1 also supports Apple's pass format as well, although dynamic updates are not supported.[10] Some issuers of passes also support viewing the passes through any web browser.[11]
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.[12]
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.
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.[13]
In 2015, Apple incorporated the ability to present a loyalty card in Wallet to a point-of-sale terminal via NFC.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16]
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.[17]
In 2021, Apple announced the ability to store government ID cards, resort passes, home keys, and business credentials in Wallet.
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.[18]
