A man uses his cell phone while advertising iPhone outside an Apple store.
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Eight states will launch a feature that will allow users to add driver’s licenses and status identifiers to Apple Wallet for iPhone and Apple Watch for use in the security of participating airports, Apple announced Wednesday.
Arizona and Georgia are the first states to adopt the function and will follow Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah, although the company did not specify any timeline.
The news comes just months after Apple said it was working on the feature with the Transportation Security Administration at its June World Developers Conference. The feature is a crucial step in Apple’s plan to replace physical wallets and will offer more convenience to travelers looking for untouched airport trips, the company said.
Adding IDs to the Wallet app works similarly to charging credit cards and passing traffic, Apple said. Once users analyze the identification, they will also be asked to complete facial and head movements as an additional security measure.
After touching their mobile ID to airport ID readers, users must pass a TSA note using Face ID or Touch ID. The company claims that customer data is “encrypted and protected from tampering and theft” and that the owner can only see the identification.
Apple currently offers mobile student IDs that allow students to access campus buildings and make purchases without a physical card, a feature that has been expanded to other universities in the United States and Canada this summer.
The new ID feature will be available with an iPhone software update due out in late fall.