With the official release of iOS 13 quickly approaching we are starting to see new app announcements built around iOS 13 enhanced Core NFC Read/Write functions. This is the first time that the full range of iPhone NFC Read/Write has been unlocked for developers. In Japan this is especially important because there are so many FeliCa transit cards out there, almost everyone in Japan has one or more Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, TOICA, etc. There are also the ‘My Number’ Japanese Individual Number Card which is evolving into a national identity card. The Japanese government already supports Android and has announced iOS 13 support.
People need to have an easy way to read card information but for iPhone users this meant buying a separate FeliCa NFC reading device and software for Mac or PC, or borrowing an Osaifu Keitai Android smartphone.
The great thing about iOS 13 on iPhone is that a separate NFC/FeliCa reading device is no longer necessary. iOS 13, iPhone, an app are all you need. Two Japanese FeliCa iOS 13 apps were announced yesterday on Twitter: IC Card Reader and Japan NFC Reader. These are focused on transit IC cards and other FeliCa stored value cards like WAON and nanaco. This is what most people need because there is so much FeliCa plastic out there. People want to know how much balance is left on the card when out and about. Hopefully these and other apps sure to follow, will blossom into full fledged apps that support reading My Number cards and much more.
UPDATE: the first FeliCa NFC read/write app using iOS 13 Core NFC arrives on JP App Store, IC Card Reader by Money Forward. Check it out, it’s slick.
IC Card Reader on the JP App Store 
It read my old PASMO, very handy
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