Apple is making a big change to how iPhones handle contactless payments. For years, Apple Pay and Apple Wallet have been the exclusive gatekeepers to the iPhone's NFC chip.
But with the upcoming iOS 18.1, this is about to change. Soon, developers will be able to create apps that can use the iPhone's NFC chip for contactless transactions.
This means you could use your iPhone for a variety of things beyond payments, like unlocking doors, boarding public transport, or accessing building passes.
To make this happen, Apple will provide developers with the necessary tools, but there's a catch: they'll need to sign a commercial agreement with Apple and pay fees. This move comes after pressure from the European Union, who investigated Apple's practices as a potential antitrust issue.
While this is a significant step forward, it's clear that Apple is still maintaining a tight grip on how developers can utilize the iPhone's capabilities.
