The Apple Watch Also Stores Student Cards

Earlier this month, Apple introduced a set of new features along with their recent Apple Watch update. On this occasion, partnerships with US universities were also announced: a way for them to show that these connected devices can also store student cards, and to expand their scope for action.

Latest addition for the Apple Watch in watchOS 5: the ability for these tools to replace student cards/IDs. A partnership is already in place with some universities in the US.

This option will launch this fall with support from Duke University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Oklahoma. Apple’s connected watch will allow students to access on-campus areas including dormitories, dining halls, gyms, libraries and even laundries.

These universities will also be able to propose easier access to these Apple Watch users for some events. Three more universities are expected to support this program by the end of the year.

Comments – Apple Pay gaining traction with help from university campuses

According to different sources, Apple would have been working on these partnerships for a year. Besides the Apple Watch, paperless student IDs should also be made available from their iPhone. This launch is another step towards dematerialising passes, means of payment (see Garmin Pay example with Caisse d’Épargne Île-de-France and Natixis Payment Solutions) and other identification documents.

More technical means are now available to achieve this shift as highlighted by these use cases for the Apple Watch, and their Apple Pay wallet. They already enable customers to pay for and validate transport tickets with many network operators in several towns worldwide (Moscow, London, Chicago, several towns where Suica is accepted in Japan, etc.).

These partnerships are opportunities for Apple to improve adoption rates for their connected watch, since it has been having trouble winning users regardless of their market leadership. Just like Lydia, which managed to enter m-payment market in France via relying on universities, Apple could have found a way to increase use levels for their smartwatch, and for Apple Pay, too. These partnerships should then be considered as strategic especially if more agreements end up being announced.