Samsung has announced that users of their devices will soon be able to upload their driver’s license to Samsung Wallet. This will allow apps to use the ID for age authentication in the future. The announcement was made at the Samsung Developer Conference.
Samsung has been working to catch up with Apple in terms of digital verification technology. They launched Samsung Wallet for Galaxy phones in June 2022, while Apple has had its own Wallet app and functionality for several years. Apple even started allowing users to upload their state IDs and driver’s licenses in September 2021.
The first users who will be able to add their licenses and IDs to Samsung Wallet are Samsung Galaxy phone owners from Arizona and Iowa. The company is also working with other states to expand this feature, although it is unclear when more states will be added.
Samsung is also working with the US Transportation Security Administration on a test program to accept smartphone-based IDs at select airports. Currently, 25 airports accept Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, along with state-based mobile ID apps. Only two states, Iowa and California, are listed in the TSA’s program for DMV-linked apps.
In early 2024, Samsung plans to release a software development kit for developers to integrate online age and identification information into their apps. This will allow them to use Samsung Wallet ID info to verify users.
Storing digital verification in phone “wallets” is the latest method used by device makers to store critical data for real-world use. Google Wallet, which initially launched in 2011 as a mobile payment service app, has also evolved over the years. It was rebranded as Android Pay in 2015 and later as Google Wallet at Google I/O 2022.
Overall, Samsung is making strides in digital verification technology with the introduction of Samsung Wallet and plans for future integration with apps and airports.
