Apple Opens iPhone NFC Chip to Third-Party Developers in iOS 18.1

New APIs will enable secure, in-app contactless transactions for payments, keys, IDs, and more across several countries.

Developers can integrate NFC for in-store payments, digital keys, transit passes, and loyalty cards.
The Secure Element chip ensures sensitive data is stored securely on the device.
Users can set third-party apps as default contactless payment options in iOS Settings.
Apple requires developers to enter a commercial agreement and pay fees to access the NFC and SE APIs.
Initial rollout includes the US, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand.