WWDC 2018: iOS 12’s NFC features could double iPhones as hotel room card or transit card

Apple is expected to announce iOS 12 along with iPhone SE 2, new MacBooks at the Worldwide Developers’ Conference 2018.

Apple introduced NFC on iPhones with the iPhone 6. (REUTERS)

All eyes are on Apple's annual developer conference, WWDC, which is set to begin on June 4. The five-day event will take place in San Jose, California. Apple will make software and hardware announcements, with the limelight on new product announcements like iPhone SE 2, and a new lineup of MacBooks. On the software front, Apple will possibly announce iOS 12, the new version of its mobile OS.

Considering Apple's history of keeping things discreet, everything around iOS 12 is based on speculations and reports. Even then there's quite a lot revealed about the possible features Apple could introduce with iOS 12. The latest comes from The Information (via 9to5Mac) which reports on Apple introducing advanced NFC capabilities on iOS 12.

Apple introduced NFC chips on its iPhones with the iPhone 6 which is used for its digital payment, Apple Pay. Apple is said to have further developed its NFC technology by making iPhones work as a hotel key card and even a transportation card. The functionality would be similar as that of Apple Pay where the user just taps the object with the iPhone. This usage would increase and go beyond digital payments.

The report states that Apple has partnered with HID Global, the company behind Apple Park's security system. The aforementioned features aren't entirely new to the Apple world, with two of them already in use in some places. Apple employees use their iPhones to gain access to the campus, while iPhone users in the UK and Japan can use the device to travel in subways.

In addition to this, iOS 12 is also expected to come with features focused on Augmented Reality (AR), security and a few UI tweaks. Apple could also introduce a new tool to curb smartphone addiction. This feature will possibly be similar to Google's 'Digital Wellbeing' which helps users keep a check on time spent using the smartphone, and control their usage.

According to Apple's usual schedule, following the announcement of iOS 12 the first public beta should be released by June. The stable version of iOS 12 is expected to release by September.