Johns Hopkins tapped to bring student IDs to Apple Watch, iPhone

While announcing new features to developers at WWDC this week, Apple put Johns Hopkins University up on the big screen.
That’s because Hopkins is an early adopter of the tech giant’s effort to take student ID cards digital. The Baltimore institution is one of six universities where Apple is piloting a new feature in the watchOS 5 operating system. It allows the Apple Watch to replace a student ID card, both to get access to buildings and pay for items. Apple Vice President of Technology Kevin Lynch indicated the feature will also be available on iPhone.
“You’re going to have the ability to add your student ID card to Wallet on your iPhone and Apple Watch,” Lynch said. “This works by simply holding your watch near a reader anywhere you can use student ID cards on and off campus.”
According to Apple, the feature will be implemented for the fall semester.

“Johns Hopkins University is delighted to be working with Apple to make it easier and more convenient for our students and faculty to access and make payments at locations on and around campus with J-Cards in Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch,” a Johns Hopkins spokesperson said in a statement. “We look forward to bringing this to students by the end of this calendar year.”

The other schools getting first access are Temple, Duke, University of Alabama, University of Oklahoma and Santa Clara University.
Watch Lynch announce the feature on stage: