Apple is finally opening up NFC to third-party developers

Apple isn’t just opening up Near-Field Communication (NFC) access in the
European Union; it’s offering third-party access to functions like
tap-to-pay in the US and other regions. The company posted a notice on
Wednesday announcing that third-party developers can start implementing
their own contactless transaction systems through an API in the upcoming
iOS 18.1.

Once iOS 18.1 arrives, developers can offer contactless payments (and other
transactions) using the iPhone’s Secure Element, which Apple Pay also uses.
The Secure Element is a dedicated chip designed for storing sensitive
information accessed via the Secure Enclave, which handles encryption and
biometric data.

In addition to tap-to-pay systems, NFC handles functions like digital car
keys, transit cards, compatible home locks, hotel keys, student IDs, event
tickets and retail loyalty and reward cards. Apple says government IDs will
be “supported in the future.”

https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-is-finally-opening-up-nfc-to-third-party-developers-in-ios-181-164028928.html