In June this year, Google announced that it would allow users in Maryland, USA to store their ID cards in digital form in the Google Wallet App. Now it is allowing users in Arizona, Colorado and Georgia to store their ID cards and driver's licenses digitally in mobile wallet services and use them at any time through their mobile phones.
Prior to this, Apple announced last year that it would allow users in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah and Puerto Rico to store their ID cards and driver's licenses in digital form in the iPhone Wallet app or directly in the Apple Watch Wallet app.
This type of function mainly involves uploading personal ID cards and driver's licenses by taking photos, and providing personal information for government agencies to verify. Once completed, the digital documents can be stored in mobile phones or watches, and their effectiveness is equivalent to that of physical documents. They can even be used through NFC sensing to speed up airport security checks or road inspections.
Google has announced that it will open up digital ID functionality to more states in the United States, and plans to integrate it with more life application services. For example, it will allow users to rent cars more conveniently through online services, and the service only needs to access the user's real name, confirm whether they have legal driving qualifications, and other necessary information.
The digital ID functions provided by Google and Apple all operate in encrypted form. No one except the user himself, including Google or Apple, can access such information. Users must first verify through passwords or other methods to use such information. They can also customize which necessary information should be displayed when presenting their ID.
Currently, to use the digital ID function in areas where Google has opened such functions, the phone must be equipped with an Android 8 or later operating system version. For Apple services, it must be an iPhone 12 or later model and upgraded toiOS 15.4 or laterIf you accidentally lose your phone, both Google and Apple offer the ability to remove your personal digital ID through remote settings, or to cancel relevant verification data through state regulators that allow such features.
In addition to opening up the use of digital ID functions in more states, Google's update also allows users to store various activity pass barcodes and redemption QR codes in the Google Wallet App by taking photos with their mobile phones or taking screenshots, allowing users to more conveniently store various library rental cards, gym membership cards, etc. on their mobile phones for use.
