How to activate a bus card on iPhone? Here's everything you need to know

In the early morning of March 30, Apple has just officially pushed the iOS 11.3 system. After the update, users can check the battery health status in the settings, and can also manually turn off processor throttling to ensure smoothness during use; the biggest upgrade point of this update is the addition of the "Quick Transit Card" function, which means that the iPhone and Apple Watch become transportation cards.

This update also includes ARKit 1.5, four new Animoji, and added business communication functions, which complement some of the previous ecological functions. The most interesting update is the new Animoji. In this iOS 11.3 update, four new Animoji expressions are brought, including dragon, bear, skull and lion. Together with the previous 12, there are a total of 16 different characters.

"Business Communication" is software developed for direct communication with businesses. Users can talk with business representatives, schedule appointments or use Apple Pay to shop in the Messages app; the health records feature in the Health app integrates hospitals, clinics and existing health apps, allowing users to easily view personal medical data provided by multiple providers anytime, anywhere.

In addition, the expected ARKit 1.5 also arrived as expected. It can integrate augmented reality experience more realistically into the real world, while providing multiple tools needed to develop a new generation of augmented reality apps. ***Apple Music and HomeKit also have functional updates.

Of course, what makes domestic users most excited about this update is that iPhone and Apple Watch finally support the transportation card function.

On February 18, two years ago, Apple Pay launched its mobile payment service in China, and various payment services related to NFC or mobile devices have also developed rapidly in China. Nowadays, whether to bring a wallet when going out seems to be a non-issue in first-tier cities. There is only one exception - swiping a transportation card.

In the iOS 11.3 and Watch OS 4.3 version updates, Apple officially launched the "Apple Pay Quick Transit Card" function (referred to as Transit Card below for ease of understanding). The function of taking the bus with an iPhone that users have been looking forward to for many years has finally been realized. At the same time, support for Apple Watch has also been added, which is a surprise.

What devices are compatible with the "Quick Transit Card"? How to use it? Are there any discounts? We conducted actual tests in Beijing and Shanghai, and have compiled detailed answers to more than ten detailed questions for you.

A long-awaited new feature

1. Which iPhones can be upgraded to use transportation cards?

Answer: In a word, any iPhone 6 or above is acceptable.

This quick transit card function update is based on mobile devices and Apple Pay. In theory, any iPhone with NFC, which supports Apple Pay and can be upgraded to iOS 11.3, is within the scope of this function.

Specifically including: iPhone SE, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X.

Overseas iPhone users can also use this new feature, including the US, Hong Kong, and Japanese versions (the iPhone needs to be set to China).

2. Can other Apple devices be used?

Answer: Except for the first generation, all Apple Watches can be used independently, but iPads are not compatible with it.

Watch Series 1 and later models after the update to Watch OS 4.3 can use Express Transit Cards independently without an Internet connection. Detailed models include: Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2, Series 3 and the same generation of sports models, Hermès version, Edition ceramic plate, etc.

Unfortunately, the first generation Apple Watch does not support Quick Transit cards; and because it does not have NFC, the entire iPad series does not support it either.

NFC is an obvious card line requirement

In addition, because the express transit card is within the Apple Transit framework of the phone, and the iPhone 5 cannot be updated, iPhone 5 users cannot use the transit card function even if they have an Apple Watch.

3. In what situations can the Express Transit Card be used?

Answer: Beijing’s buses and subways; Shanghai’s buses, subways, maglev trains and ferries.

Currently, the first batch of rapid transit cards are available in Beijing and Shanghai. Beijing supports buses and subways; Shanghai supports buses, subways, ferries and maglevs.

Apple's Express Transit card is only limited to public transportation scenarios, and cannot be used for convenience store payments and taxi payments for the time being.

Apple did not give further details on whether the Express Transit card will be available in more cities in the future.

At present, transportation card payments between cities and countries are relatively independent, and we cannot jump to the conclusion that domestic card opening plans can be used for international public transportation card opening.

4. How to open a card?

Answer: You can only open the card through your mobile phone, and the card opening fee is 20 yuan

The functions of the Quick Transit Card are integrated into the Wallet app - add the card, pay the card opening fee of 20 yuan, and recharge (the minimum recharge fee in Beijing is 1 yuan, and in Shanghai it is 10 yuan), and you can activate it directly.

Click the exclamation mark icon on the transportation card interface to recharge.

The Quick Transit Card can also transfer the balance of the existing physical transportation card to the virtual transportation card, and can enjoy the discount of the physical card. For example, the Beijing Transportation Card will have a discount after spending a certain amount.

However, although the balance of the physical card can be transferred to the virtual card, the accumulation of discounts will be recalculated based on the activation time of the virtual card.

Transfer physical card balance to iPhone

Also, Apple Express Transit does not currently support transferring student transit cards to virtual cards, so students cannot enjoy the corresponding discounts.

5. Can I get a refund or a refund if I change my phone?

A: Yes, the card is bound to the Apple account, so you can exchange it for a new device; and the balance can be withdrawn

Apple Express Transit Card is bound to Apple ID. When users change their phones, the virtual transit card and credit limit will be transferred to the new device along with the account.

In addition, through the Beijing Public Transport Card and the Shanghai Public Transport App, you can also refund the card opening balance and the card balance to the corresponding account, which is a cash withdrawal.

6. Can I recharge my physical card via iPhone?

Answer: No, NFC can only read, not write.

We have previously confirmed that Apple's NFC can only be used for reading, but not for writing. Therefore, even if Apple implements a virtual transit card in the system, the iPhone still cannot recharge the physical card, whether it is an official or third-party application.

In short, Apple has built a virtual transportation card solution, which supports its recognition and response at major gates, as well as the transfer of balance from physical cards to virtual cards. However, since it is not a complete information transfer, it is not available in places such as student cards, taxi payments, and 24-hour convenience stores, and it is also not possible to recharge physical cards in reverse.

7. Do I need to unlock my phone to swipe my subway card?

A: Touch ID or Face ID authentication is not required.

The Quick Transit Card does not need to be awakened during use. Just place your phone close to the bus or subway gate and the phone will automatically wake up the Quick Transit Card and swipe the card to deduct the fee.

The entire process does not require any biometric encryption verification (no fingerprint or facial recognition is required). At the same time, when the mobile phone is connected to the network, the subway card swipe location and fee will be recorded.

Actual experience effect

Let me talk about the privacy issue here. On iPhone, it will record the latest 50 card recharge records, but you can manually delete each record.

At the same time, Apple will only store this data in your phone instead of Apple's cloud account.

The card swipe record will be displayed

8. Can it be used after it runs out of power?

Answer: No

The Apple Express Transit Card and Apple Pay work on similar principles, using a simulated activation signal coil; so if the phone is not turned on or has no power, the transit card function cannot be used.

9. Can I open multiple cards on the device?

A: Yes, you can open multiple cards on both iPhone and Apple Watch.

Both iPhone and Watch support binding multiple cards. For example, you can open up to 12 Beijing transportation cards on iPhone 8 or later models. You can switch which one is the main card in the app. You can also use the Beijing card and the Shanghai card at the same time and choose the main card according to different locations. For people who often travel to Beijing and Shanghai, this function can better help people manage their transportation cards.

10. Can Apple Watch be used without an Internet connection?

A: Yes, you can go out without 4G, WiFi, or a mobile phone.

Apple Watch can use Express Transit cards independently without being connected to a phone and without an Internet connection.

And the experience is better: for example, if you are watching a video, replying to a WeChat message or making a phone call on your phone, it is still awkward to use your phone to pass through the turnstile. With a watch, you only need to swipe your wrist naturally.

We simulated the situation of a watch in the sleeve in winter, and it could be recognized and passed through the gate.

This makes brushing easier

11. How to activate a card on the watch?

A: Open a card on your phone, then transfer it to your watch. If you want to use both your phone and watch to swipe your transportation card, you need to open two cards. But it doesn't make much sense. In fact, you can just open one card on your phone and transfer it to your watch when you need it.

The card activation function can only be completed on the iPhone, and then the card can be transferred to the watch through the Watch app on the iPhone. In this case, the watch will have a transportation card, and the phone will not have a quick transportation card because the card has been transferred.

Therefore, if you want to use both your mobile phone and watch to swipe the card at the same time, you need to open two cards, which means paying two card opening fees. However, most people cannot use their mobile phones and watches to swipe the card at the same time, so it is not necessary.

Secondly, payment, because there are two independent cards, the billing and recharge of the two cards are separate. For recharge, you also need to recharge directly in the wallet application interface, which is no different from using a mobile phone.

Independent recharge is possible

12. How to prevent theft after the device is lost?

A: Go to iCloud.com to report the loss.

However, since there is no biometric verification, if the device is stolen, there is a chance that the transportation card will be stolen. However, since there is no other payment environment, not much money is spent on public transportation.

Apple says that you can disable transit cards and Apple Pay on the iCloud.com website, Find My iPhone, or appleid.apple.com.

13. Does a metal phone case affect the experience?

Answer: MFi officially certified ones are fine

What we can be sure of is that there is no problem with Apple MFi-certified phone cases, but after all, anything that affects the NFC antenna may affect card swiping. As for other things, since there are so many different phone cases, you can only experiment on your own.

14. Are there any related applications?

A: You can check whether your transit card balance is sufficient in the Apple Maps app.

Currently, the Express Transit card has been linked to Apple's built-in maps. For example, when you choose a bus route, it will calculate the transportation card fee required for the route you choose, and remind you to recharge when the balance is insufficient. There is also a quick recharge button. At the same time, you can manually set the reminder when the balance is less than a certain amount.

Added calculation and quick recharge of transportation card amount

15. Does Apple have subsidies?

Answer: No.

If Apple Pay was still a "new model and new habit" that needed balance subsidies and various discounts to promote it two years ago, then mobile transit cards now seem to have become a "must-have." Therefore, we have not seen any subsidy activities (such as waiving card opening fees) at present.

Or to put it more practically, for those who want to finally go to work without having to bring a transportation card every day, this feature itself is the biggest motivation to upgrade.

The above is our actual experience with Apple Express Transit Card. In fact, as we come to 2018, mobile payment for various aspects no longer needs education, but has become a rigid demand. Including QR code ticket purchase, and even QR code progress is also being promoted. In comparison, Apple's current advantage is fast. Compared with many current Android phones, its response speed is smoother, and the experience of swiping the card on the watch is even a step higher than that of swiping the card on the phone.