*Since November 2023, the "AusweisApp2" has been operating under the new name "AusweisApp" and is available for download in all app stores.
Bremen, September 26, 2019
The federal government's AusweisApp2* is now available in the App Store for iOS 13.1. This means that the online ID function of the ID card or electronic residence permit can now also be used with iPhones (version 7 or higher) without an additional card reader. A video tutorial explains how it works.
With the release of iOS 13 last week, Apple enabled access to the NFC interface and thus created the basis for the direct use of the online ID function on iPhones. With the early release (originally announced for 30.09.2019) of version 13.1, a few more bug fixes followed the night before yesterday and, as of now, the federal government's AusweisApp2 for the online ID card is available in the App Store. This means that the AusweisApp2 is available on the smartphones of all major manufacturers; the release for Android already took place in 2017.
"We are very pleased that we can now also make the AusweisApp2 available to iPhone users. The demand has grown steadily over the past few years. The opening of the NFC interface by Apple and, last but not least, the good exchange with our client, the Federal Office for Information Security, have made this possible," says Dr. Stephan Klein, Managing Director of Governikus GmbH & Co. KG, which develops and continuously maintains the AusweisApp2 on behalf of the federal government.
The AusweisApp2 for iOS has the same range of functions as the Android version. This means that the data required for online ID on an iPhone 7 and up can be read directly from the ID via NFC and used in the online services. In addition, the iPhone can act as a card reader for use with a desktop PC or tablet. Of course, PIN management is also available for setting or changing the ID card PIN. "We expect a lot of downloads of the AusweisApp2 from the App Store in the coming days," Klein continues.
In from the start - rapid response enables release within three months
As early as 2015, the AusweisApp2 for iOS was tested as part of extensive field test studies and continuously developed further. Initially with an external Bluetooth card reader, from 2017 also with an Android smartphone as card reader. The aim of the development was to involve service providers and end users as early as possible in order to take into account the needs of all user groups and to enable timely optimization for mobile use.
On June 3, 2019, Apple announced at its developer conference that it would open the NFC interface with iOS 13. Direct use of the online ID function on the iPhone was thus within reach.
One month later, the third iOS 13 developer beta was already able to perform the first successful readout process, followed by two intensive months of development for further adjustments to the NFC interface, the specific controls and innovations to operating system version 13, and the implementation of the "iPhone as card reader" feature.
Contact person for press contacts:
Governikus GmbH & Co. KG
Petra Waldmüller-Schantz
University Ring 4
28359 Bremen, Germany
Tel: +49 421 204 95-54
E-mail: redaktion@governikus.de