iPhone users in some states will be able to add their photo ID to Apple Wallet
Thanks to Apple, the digital wallet is one step closer to replacing its bulky predecessor.
On Wednesday, Apple announced that in participating states, driver's licenses or state IDs can now be added to Apple Wallet on an iPhone or Apple Watch.
Arizona and Georgia will be the first states to adopt the feature, followed by Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah.
In a press release, Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, called it "an important step in our vision of replacing the physical wallet with a secure and easy-to-use mobile wallet."
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will accept the stored IDs as valid forms of identification in participating airports.
In a press release from Apple, TSA Administrator David Pekoske said the move would "enable a more seamless airport security screening experience for travelers."
Adding a driver's license or photo ID to Apple Wallet will be a similar process to adding a credit card. To present the identity information, customers will be prompted for authorization through Face or Touch ID.
News about when this goes into effect will be shared "at a later date" by participating states and the TSA.
Related Video: 5 game-changing iPhone hacks for 2021
Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.
