California will quickly begin rolling out assist for digital driver’s licenses and IDs within the Apple Pockets app on iPhone and Apple Watch, turning into the sixth state to implement the function.
Pockets app integration is a part of California’s cell driver’s license effort, which kicked off a yr in the past. Greater than 500,000 folks have already added a driver’s license or ID to the California DMV Pockets app, the place California examined the choice earlier than rolling it out to the Pockets app.
“We’re excited to be working with the state of California to convey IDs in Apple Pockets to Apple’s house state quickly, and supply residents with a straightforward, safe, and personal method to current their California driver’s license and state ID in individual and in app utilizing Apple Pockets,” stated Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vp of Apple Pay and Apple Pockets. “Whether or not utilizing IDs in Apple Pockets to breeze via journey, or to securely confirm age or identification at companies, California driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Pockets make ID presentment seamless — all with the safety constructed into iPhone and Apple Watch.”
IDs and licenses saved within the Pockets app on iPhone or iPad can be utilized for TSA screenings at choose airports and for age verification at choose shops. Proper now, California’s cell pockets assist remains to be in a pilot stage, and only one.5 million individuals are ready to enroll.
California requires folks to proceed to hold a bodily license or ID card as a result of the digital license just isn’t accepted by legislation enforcement, state authorities businesses, and most companies.
Proof that Apple Pockets integration was coming to California first surfaced earlier in August when a hidden touchdown web page on the DMV web site was found, however California and Apple are formally asserting the function in the present day.
Apple introduced a brand new Pockets app that supported digital IDs again in 2022, however states have been gradual to undertake the function. Thus far, solely Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and Ohio have carried out assist. Apple stated in 2022 that Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Utah are additionally engaged on assist.
