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| Support for Apple Wallet ID is set to arrive at the airport in February |
When Apple launched its updated e-wallet app in June, the company said it was working to make sure it could be used to bypass airport security, and the Transportation Security Administration has now indicated when it will.
According to a business briefing from the Security Technology Alliance, the Transportation Security Administration plans to support Apple Wallet ID at two airports in February.
If the test is successful, it will be rolled out to airports in two other states next month.
Apple Wallet was the first digital ID accepted by the TSA (not to mention a special screening program like Clear). However, the plan is expected to expand to other platforms in the future.
The incident summary states: The device does not require TSA personnel to verify physical identity, manually compare the identity of a passenger's photo with his/her face, and verify flight information, but performs the process automatically. The traveler taps on the NFC reader or uses the QR scanner to start exchanging data. TSA personnel will be on site to oversee and review the verification process.
It was not clear which four airports in the United States were participating in the pilot program. The company has promised to initially roll out the feature in Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah.
Apple Wallet ID testing begins next year
During WWDC 2021 in June, the company announced plans to expand the wallet application to include traditional ID cards such as government driver's licenses, which will be encrypted and stored in a secure area during operation.
The company revealed its ambitious plan at WWDC to allow users in participating countries to store credentials in a wallet app. This function was originally supposed to be offered this year. But it has been postponed until 2022.
The new system also supports hotel keys. This was the subject of the collaboration with Hyatt Hotels earlier this month.
A state driver's license remains the most common form of personal identification in the United States. However, the integration into the Apple system has been controversial.
In November, CNBC reported on the company's contracts with states. These contracts mean a significant administrative burden on the local vehicle service and allow the company to freely dispose of key elements of the project.