Every conceivable augmentation to the Apple Wallet

When you leave the house, you probably grab three things: your phone, keys, and wallet. The third is something that Apple and Google are aiming to eliminate together. Both firms are working to make it possible to ditch your keychain and wallet in favor of a digital wallet on your smartphone.

Apple spent a lot of time and effort transforming the Passbook app—once used for loyalty cards and tickets—into the current Wallet app found on iPhones. Apple's plan to make keys and wallets obsolete centers on the Apple Wallet app.

During the WWDC 2022 keynote, Apple demonstrated three upcoming changes to iOS 16. Starting with Apple Pay Order Tracking, customers can receive updates on the status of their packages from participating retailers as soon as they are shipped. Apple Pay Order Tracking will initially support the millions of Shopify-powered stores.

Second, Apple introduced a new installment payment plan called Apple Pay Later. Another financial service available exclusively in the United States is Apple Pay Later, joining Apple Card and Apple Cash. As a final note, Apple detailed their progress toward integrating IDs into the Wallet app. Currently, only two US states provide functionality, but eleven more will join them soon.

Thanks to my Tesla, HomeKit lock, and the Wallet app, I only need to carry three cards at all times: a credit card (for purchases over the $250 contactless limit), a provincial health card, and a driver's license. My iPhone 13 Pro and the other two fit perfectly in the Magsafe Wallet.

Now that Apple is giving the Wallet app another look, I thought it would be a good time to run down all the Canadian-specific additions you can make to your iPhone's Wallet app.

Okay, let's get down to business:

Apple Pay

For most iPhone owners, using Apple Pay is their first experience with the Wallet app. I still find it exciting to use my Apple Watch as a form of payment, even though Apple Pay has been available in Canada for years. The Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch now support Apple Pay, a mobile payment system. Users can make contactless payments using their iPhone or Apple Watch by adding a credit or debit card and then "tapping" the device in the same way they would a physical card.

People's worries about losing control of their financial information when using Apple Pay instead of a physical card are widespread. I find it fascinating that Apple Pay improves security over traditional card payment methods. To start, if you're using an iOS device like an iPhone or Apple Watch, your device can tell if a payment terminal is legitimate. When you use a regular credit or debit card, your information is constantly broadcast to any nearby device that can read the card. Second, your credit card number, expiration date, and other details are not transmitted to the Apple Pay service. Instead of sending the actual payment details, Apple Pay sends the merchant a unique identifier for the user's device.

This method prevents stores from gaining access to any supplementary information that might be contained on your actual card. It also safeguards your financial information in case the retailer suffers a data breach.

You can enroll a card in Apple Pay by doing the following: 1 It's time to fire up the Wallet app. 2 Just hit the plus sign up there on the right to add something.

3. Pay with a debit or credit card
4. Select the Continue option.
5. Place your card face-up in the image viewer, and your card information will be entered for you.

6. Select the Next button
7. Key in the three-digit CVV
8. Click the Next Button
9 - Select the Agree button
10 If asked, verify your card information.

Passes

Movie tickets, airline boarding passes, Genius Bar appointments, Apple Store online order pick-up confirmations, Airbnb booking confirmations, and countless other experiences can all be thought of as "passes." In the Wallet app, passes serve as a catchall for digital ticket confirmations to various events. In the past, customers had to print their own boarding passes and movie tickets after making their reservations and purchases online. Beginning in 2022, customers will be able to save these receipts digitally on their iPhone or Apple Watch.

Event staff can quickly verify attendees' digital passes by scanning their corresponding QR codes printed on the passes. Passes may also include time and location-specific instructions as "metadata." When you arrive at a theater or concert hall, for instance, your ticket will automatically be displayed on your iPhone's lock screen.

Adding a pass to the Wallet app entails: 1 To add something to your wallet, look for a wallet icon in a confirmation email or app.

2. Select the Wallet button.
3. Tap Add

Plastic Cards for Repeat Customers

Numerous people today carry around an excessive number of loyalty cards. We're all in it for the points, so we can use them for discounts or free stuff. The proliferation of loyalty programs, however, has led to many instances of lost membership cards.

With the Wallet app, you can keep track of your loyalty cards and other payment methods without having to carry around a bulky physical wallet. Air Miles, Scene, PC Optimum, and the Ikea Family card are just a few of the many loyalty cards that can be stored in the Wallet app.

Some loyalty cards may be added to the Wallet app via a third-party app, such as Stocard, even if they are not supported by the Wallet app directly. Using Stocard, I was able to add my loyalty cards for TJ Maxx, Moores, Global Pet Foods, and my local library to Apple's Wallet.

Put simply, to add a card that works with the Wallet app: 1 For Apple's iOS, you can get the loyalty program's app here: e In-Scene or Best Performance on Personal Computer) 2 Look for the membership card in the app.

3. Select the Wallet button.

4. Tap Add

Insurance

Some car insurers even let you store your policy information in Apple's Wallet app. Never, ever, give your iPhone to the police. When filling out paperwork or submitting a claim, however, having a digital copy of your insurance policy card in the Wallet app can save you time. How your insurance card is added to Apple Wallet can vary from company to company. When a new customer signs up for Zenith's services, they'll receive an email with an "Add to Wallet" button at the bottom.

Whereas, Intact follows the lead of other loyalty card companies by requiring you to add your card via their app. If you want to add your auto insurance policy card to the Wallet app, you should first check your insurance provider's app or your original confirmation email to see if they support this feature.

Instructions for importing a health insurance card into the Wallet app:
Start by selecting "Add to Wallet."
Step 2: Select the "Add" button

Gift Cards

Gift cards from select establishments, including Starbucks and Apple, can be stored in the Wallet app. You can get more out of your gift cards by storing them in the Wallet app. As a first benefit, you'll have less stuff in your actual wallet. Second, unlike passes, gift cards can use your location to pop up on your lock screen when you're near a participating retailer, so you'll never forget to use them.

Third, you can put an end to guessing how much money is left on a gift card because the balance is redeemed in real time. And lastly, the Wallet app ensures that you'll never misplace your gift cards by keeping them in a secure digital vault.

Adding a gift card that can be used with the Wallet app requires the following steps: 1 There should be a QR code on the back of the card. 2 Start the iPhone's camera app. 3 To scan a QR code, hold your iPhone's camera over the barcode on your gift card. 4 Select the option to "Add to Wallet"

5. Tap Add

The Use of the COVID-19 Vaccine

Everyone has had to work hard to overcome the difficulties posed by COVID-19, and in some places, that work is far from done. Because of this, vaccination certificates may not be required by all businesses, while others may But with the Wallet app's new COVID-19 vaccination card support, Apple has made it incredibly simple to show and validate your card. Number of doses, dates of doses, your name, your vaccine insurer, and the vaccine manufacturer are all displayed on the COVID-19 vaccination card in the Wallet app. And there's a quick-reference code, or QR code, for added assurance. Instead of digging through the Photos app, I just double-click the iPhone's side button to reveal my vaccination card.

If you have a physical COVID-19 vaccination card with a QR code, you can upload it to the Apple Wallet app by doing the following:

Scan the QR code displayed on your paper or other device to verify that you have received your vaccinations. 1 Grab your iPhone and fire up the camera. 2 Simply point your iPhone's camera at the vaccination's QR code. 3 Check the yellow Health app alert box. 4 The Apple Health app will open.

5. Select Wallet & Health to Add to Collection

You can import a picture of your COVID-19 vaccination QR code into the Apple Wallet app if you already have it.

Launch the Photos app and pick the picture you want to edit. 1 To access the Health app, scan the QR code by tapping and holding on it. 2 If prompted, select the Health app. 3 Apple's Health app will open up for you.

4. Choose 'Add to Wallet & Health'

Keys

In the beginning, the announcement that the Wallet app would now support keys was met with some amusement. As a group, we laughed and said, "Keys don't go in our wallets." This is correct in the real world, but in the virtual one, keys can be stored alongside our other digital cards, such as our credit, debit, and loyalty cards. Like Apple Pay, "keys" allow you entry by communicating with a terminal device via the NFC chip in your iPhone or Apple Watch.

Students and workers alike can use the Wallet app to store their identification badges, car and house keys, and campus IDs. These keys have varying minimal device specifications, but they all require iOS 9 or later, or watchOS 3.

Keys within the Wallet app grant access to Express Mode and Power Reserve Express Mode without the need for any additional third-party apps. A user can bypass standard authentication procedures and gain immediate access to their designated building, vehicle, or residence while in "Express Mode." A simple wave of their iPhone or Apple Watch is all that's required. When the iPhone or Apple Watch battery dies, users can still access their wallets thanks to Power Reserve Express Mode. Battery life is optimized such that a user can safely return home without worrying about running out of juice.

Digital IDs for students were introduced in Apple's Wallet app so that they could be used for things like paying for meals and gaining entry to dorms. New Brunswick's University and Ontario's Sheridan College were the country's pioneers in offering students this choice. You can learn more about including student IDs in the wallet app here, though first you'll need to verify that your school supports doing so.

In the same way that students use ID cards to gain access to campus buildings, modern workplaces are increasingly adopting employee badges to do the same. However, staff members no longer need to physically wave a badge to enter the building, as they can do so with their iPhones or Apple Watches. To find out if your company offers this option, you should have a conversation with your HR department. In this Apple Support article, you can learn more about ID badges for your staff.

Apple's Car Key is an effort to streamline the car-key experience provided by your vehicle's manufacturer. The ability to enter and exit one's vehicle is made possible by car keys. As of March 2022, 18 different vehicles support the Car Key. Numerous Kia and Genesis models offer competition to BMW's extensive lineup. An iPhone XS, iPhone SE (2nd gen), Apple Watch Series 5, or Apple Watch SE with iOS 12 or watchOS 5 is required to use Car Key. In addition, you can configure Car Key by reading this Apple support article.

The Wallet app now has a brand-new key option called Home Key. With Home Key, opening a door on an iPhone or Apple Watch is as quick as making a purchase with Apple Pay. Waving your iPhone or Apple Watch in front of the lock will unlock it. Two locks that are compatible with the Apple Home Key have been released as of March 2022.

If you live in the United States, you can purchase a Schlage Encode Plus at any Home Depot, and Canadians will hopefully see it in stores soon. The Aqara A100 lock is only expected to be available in China. Electronic copies of house and car keys can be sent via text message or email. If necessary, they can be revoked from afar as well. Naturally, Apple provides a help article for you to read up on