WeWork wants to turn iPhones into office keys for its buildings

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In some lighting, the Sierra Blue iPhone 13 Pro looks OK. In others, not so much.
You could soon enter WeWork locations using your iPhone
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

WeWork is working on turning your iPhone or Apple Watch into access keys for its buildings. References to the company working on Apple Wallet integration have been found in the latest version of its app.

Your iPhone could soon act as keys to WeWork locations

MacRumors spotted hidden code and image assets in the WeWork app code with options like “add to wallet button tapped.” This indicates the company is working on taking advantage of the Office Key feature in Apple Wallet.

The integration will allow you to use your iPhone or Apple Watch to access WeWork locations with one-tap access. You can even use your iPhone or Apple Watch as keys for WeWork locations, even when the device is out of battery power.

WeWork currently offers subscribers Bluetooth Low Energy-based mobile keycards for easy access to shared office spaces. However, it only works in a handful of locations. It is unclear when the company plans to officially roll out Office Key support in the Apple Wallet app, but it would make accessing WeWork locations easier.

Apple added office key support to the Wallet app in iOS 15

Apple first debuted support for corporate badges, office, and hotel room keys with the updated Wallet app in iOS 15. The feature allows you to add your corporate access badge to the Wallet app. Then using your iPhone or Apple Watch, you can access locations wherever the corporate badge is accepted by just tapping the device at the door.

Similarly, it is possible to add your hotel room keys to the Wallet app and directly enter your room without going to the reception lobby.

While many hotels have been quick to add support for Apple Wallet, the adoption has been slow among corporates. Apple recently also rolled out the ability to store your digital driver’s license and IDs in the Wallet app in select US states.

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