Google has begun beta testing “driving license” support in the Wallet app on Android phones. The tech giant said on its support page that “users running Android 8.0 (or higher) who participate in the Google Play Services beta program (specifically, version 48.22) are eligible for this feature.”
The company has begun beta testing support for digital driver’s licenses and state ID cards, starting in Maryland. According to a report from The Verge, when adding a new card to the Google Wallet app, users will see a new option for “ID Card (Beta)” after enabling Bluetooth on nearby devices.
Google emphasizes that digital IDs are saved locally on a user’s phone and can only be saved on one device when it comes to privacy. The app or myaccount.google.com > Personal Info > Digital ID > Manage > Delete, can be used to remove it at any time. However, users won’t be able to access the digital ID if they are offline for longer than 30 days in a row.
Android Wallet App
According to 9 to 5 google, if you meet the conditions mentioned above, “ID Card (Beta)” will be listed next to payment cards, public transport cards, loyalty cards and credit cards. offer and “Add to Wallet” from Google Wallet. Google Wallet for Android offers three features that support a national ID or driver’s license:
- Simply: tap, scan and confirm at the TSA checkpoint to continue. Privacy: You decide how much of your ID can be shared and who can see it.
- Secure: You only have access to your ID as it is stored on your device and encrypted.
As per the 9to5google report, this feature was revealed during Google’s annual developer’s conference I/O keynote in May. During the presentation, a slide showed US State of Maryland as the first state for testing this upcoming feature.
