Overview
Apple VAS (Value Added Services) is a technology designed by Apple to provide NFC-enabled passes (nonpayment Apple Wallet items) on Apple devices, such as iPhone and Apple Watch. Organizations seeking to implement NFC-enabled passes collaborate either directly with Apple to acquire the necessary permissions or partner with a provider capable of issuing such passes.
When an NFC-enabled pass, such as a digital ticket, is stored in Apple Wallet, it enables easy access and utilization of the pass, granting users flexibility and convenience. To use the NFC pass, the user aligns the NFC antennas between their Apple device and a certified Zebra mobile computer. The devices detect the NFC signal, automatically activating the pass stored in Apple Wallet. The pass is read and validated by the mobile computer application using its integrated NFC reader.
The application is developed using Zebra VAS SDK, an Android library built on top of the existing Android NFC APIs and Apple VAS protocol. This SDK is designed to build an application with the following capabilities:
- Connect a certified Zebra mobile computer equipped with an integrated NFC reader and the Apple device to read the NFC pass
- Extract data from the NFC pass stored in the Apple Wallet on the Apple device
- Retrieve the extracted data into the Android application on the Zebra mobile computer
This guide discusses the APIs available from the Zebra VAS SDK.
Important Notes:
- Zebra VAS SDK does not provide any of the capabilities or functionalities to create Apple Wallet passes. NFC pass creation is outside of the scope of this SDK and this guide.
- For NFC antenna alignment:
- On the iPhone, the NFC antenna is typically located on the back of the device.
- On the Apple Watch, the NFC antenna is typically located on the top of the device.
- On Zebra mobile computers, refer to the device product manual in the Zebra support portal to identify the location of the NFC antenna for the device.
Requirements
- Apple device that supports Apple Wallet/VAS capabilities, for example:
- iPhone
- Apple Watch
- Certified Zebra mobile computers (with integrated NFC reader) for Apple VAS devices, see the Zebra Support Portal for supported devices