Apple Expanding Digital Student IDs on iPhone and Apple Watch to More Colleges in U.S. and Canada

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced that for this coming school year, mobile student IDs in the Wallet app will be expanding to Auburn University, Northern Arizona University, University of Maine, New Mexico State University, and many more colleges across the United States.

Mobile student IDs in the Wallet app will also be expanding to Canada this year, starting with the University of New Brunswick and Sheridan College.

"We're excited to work with more schools in the US and introduce mobile student IDs in Canada to provide a secure and convenient way to get around campus with iPhone and Apple Watch," said Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay. "Students and faculty have embraced using their iPhone and Apple Watch as the best way to access buildings, purchase meals, and more."

Many colleges and universities already support student IDs in the Wallet app in the United States. At participating institutions, students can simply hold their ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch near a reader anywhere physical student ID cards are accepted — on and off campus. An optional Express Mode bypasses the need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, allowing for the quickest entry possible to buildings.

Article Link: Apple Expanding Digital Student IDs on iPhone and Apple Watch to More Colleges in U.S. and Canada

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

A nice way for the students to own an iPhone in college!

 

[CarlJ]

Huh. The linked press release simply repeats the “many more colleges” bit, but there’s no link to the actual list of currently confirmed colleges.

 

[jmh600cbr]

Lol university of New Brunswick and Sheridan college. I guess it’s a start. I will be dead by the time all the access is available to me.

 

[satchmo]

My guess is this is the beginning of the end for those no longer in school, but still buy Apple products with the education discount.

 

[4jasontv]

My campus has had every door wired with card scans years. My iPhone and Apple Watch recognizes the sensor and launches my cards. For the life of me I don’t understand the delay.

Does the school have to pay a royalty or something?

 

[fwmireault]

My campus has had every door wired with card scans years. My iPhone and Apple Watch recognizes the sensor and launches my cards. For the life of me I don’t understand the delay.

Does the school have to pay a royalty or something?

I would be very surprised. I think the principle issue is that campus don’t update their technologies very often, and are slow to do so. In my university, we have not yet any numeric version of student ID, which is a shame.

 

[_Spinn_]

I wish I had this when I was in school. I hated having another ID card to carry around.

I love hearing about more stuff coming to Wallet.

 

[Mrjetsondc]

What if someone put all these IDs in one database and created a dating app? I am willing to beta test the opportunity to meet young college women looking for older mentors like myself.

 

[hybrid_x]

No announcement yet from Sheridan College. I wonder if their IT staff even know this is coming. 😄

I'm curious as to what mechanism they will be using to distribute the digital ID, and how they will authenticate.

 

[Khedron]

A student with a $3800 food budget?

Seems legit.

 

[WaTTz]

Welcome to Slavelandia

 

[RobNYC]

I'm so old I remember when they actually put your SS # on your student ID.

 

[unknowndomain]

My campus has had every door wired with card scans years. My iPhone and Apple Watch recognizes the sensor and launches my cards. For the life of me I don’t understand the delay.

Does the school have to pay a royalty or something?

This is because both devices support 13.56Mhz NFC, not because they're ready to go but absent of a license. Apple doesn't appear to have any public information at all about how to access this feature within new Universities and Colleges.

 

[4jasontv]

This is because both devices support 13.56Mhz NFC, not because they're ready to go but absent of a license. Apple doesn't appear to have any public information at all about how to access this feature within new Universities and Colleges.

I suspect they are ready to go but since the university hasn't rolled out digital ID's it doesn't work. I think the holdup is getting the ID listed in wallet. I can't begin to tell anyone how helpful it would be to unlock doors with my watch.

 

[1nscape]

Last thing I expected as UNB student to see that lol.

 

[andrewsipes]

I'm curious as to what mechanism they will be using to distribute the digital ID, and how they will authenticate.

Most likely authenticated with the school's SSO and delivered through campus commerce iOS apps such as GET CBORD or Transact eAccount. There are a lot of schools that use these providers, so it is likely other policies and/or infrastructure issues that are holding them back.

Edit: Given Sheridan College's branding for their "One Card", it will almost definitely be through GET CBORD. This is similar branding to UNC's "One Card", which also uses GET CBORD.