Passbook is a new feature announced for iOS 6 that will be able to store all of your digital tickets, boarding passes, store cards and coupons in one easy-to-access app. The best way to think of it is like a Newsstand -- which keeps all of your magazine subscriptions together on an iPad -- for tickets and passes.
At the keynote address at Apple's tech fest WWDC this week, Passbook was shown accessing a whole host of apps. How complete it will be when iOS 6 is finally launched in a few months' time will depend on whether or not developers adopt it for their apps.
Take the Starbucks app, for instance. It currently has a dedicated section within it for your card, which you can use to pay for drinks and check your balance. If this, along with all of your other store cards, were kept in one easy-to-access app on your home screen, it would save you a lot of time swiping between screens and tapping on folders.
What's more, Passbook is integrated with the lock screen so if you pass a cinema, you'll be alerted by a pop-up message telling you that a ticket or reward card can be redeemed. There's also a nifty virtual shredder for when you're done with your card or voucher.
If you're taking a flight, Passbook will also be able to give you additional information, such as the gate number that you need to go to in the departure lounge, which seat you have been allocated and when the flight departs.
Again, this is dependent on third-party app developers making sure that their service works with Passbook, so don't expect all airlines to be available straight away. The British Airways iPhone app already allows you to check in using your phone, so it's a pretty good bet that we'll be seeing it on Passbook in time for the launch.
If enough third parties enable Passbook for their app, it will make for a fantastic experience, as everything you need for an event or a shopping trip will be right there waiting for you.
What do you make of Passbook? Do you think it's a clever addition to iOS 6? Let me know in the comments or on Facebook.
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Comments 16
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anonymous 19 September, 2012 18:57
How to use it? It's not friendly enough to make it work, Once the app is opened it has all the information and has one button "App Store" and it redirects to App Store and that's it! Once App Store is opened nothing about Passbook shows up. WEIRD #UserUnFriendly
anonymous 19 September, 2012 19:59
I agree. Doesn't seem to work on my phone either.
anonymous 19 September, 2012 20:52
Does not work on my Touch either....
anonymous 19 September, 2012 22:00
Can't open redirects to App Store main menu
anonymous 20 September, 2012 08:50
Installed iOS 6 yesterday and took a look at Passbook. What the hell is this for? It's completely useless. The link to the AppStore offers nothing. Living in the UK the presence if $ symbols on the home screen suggests that this will be a US centric app totally useless to anyone else.
Maps aren't as good as Google Maps either.
anonymous 20 September, 2012 09:41
Found a fix.. change iPhone's date to 2013; open 'App Store' and click 'Updates' in bottom-right (you'll get the error message); then change date and time back to 'Automatic'; Open 'Passbook' and click the 'App Store' icon.
Thing is, the only option that seems to work in the UK is Lufthansa :/
anonymous 20 September, 2012 14:24
If u download the walgreens app, then u can turn passbook on in the walgreens app. And set up your rewards card to where it will be in passbook. Its not hard ppl. U have to do it through the actual app though not passbook. So when u open passbook, it will be there.
anonymous 20 September, 2012 17:12
I gotta say ... Seems highly unnecessary and way too much work to try to figure out. Deleting it isn't an option so I just buried it in a folder until they make it user-possible.
anonymous 20 September, 2012 18:32
Installed iOS 6 yesterday, was all excited with 'Passbook' - what a load of old rubbish!!
An unusable app, directs you to the App Store and then to Lufthansa - come on Apple, if your going to release a newly developed programme can you make sure it works!!
anonymous 20 September, 2012 21:46
any ideas what businesses are joining up to Passbook in the UK then???
anonymous 20 September, 2012 22:03
I think people the above commenters aren't quite understanding the app. It is a place to hold passed/coupons/cards that will be supplied by other companies via web pages or apps. It's like buying a wallet and complaining that there isn't any money in it!
anonymous 22 September, 2012 13:48
The new map sucks. Not as good as google maps. I thought I was upgrading to iOS 6.
Turns out it was a down grade!!!!
anonymous 23 September, 2012 05:14
Great concept. But I have a TON of "loyalty cards" that I wish I could just enter(then toss put of my wallet) rather than wait till they come up with a space taking-up app for that.
anonymous 23 September, 2012 07:50
Not impressed so far. Right now, I have to download the app in order to add the coupons into Passbook. What's the point? If my coupon expires, I have to go back to the store's app to add the latest coupon into passbook. Ok so all my coupons will be in one place - really, will it take that much longer to swipe to the next screen to open the store's app which I know will have the latest coupon? As for loyalty cards, unless EVERYONE adopts this, I'll have to still carry some in my wallet, so now I have to keep track of which stores are Passbook enabled and which are not? Also most stores tie their loyalty cards to your phone number so I don't even really carry them anymore. So far, not impressed by Passbook and ios6 is so buggy, I can't believe Apple released this without fixing major issues. I am on iphone 4. Upgrade failed, had to restore. iMessage doesn't always work well. Do Not Disturb DOES NOT WORK (doesn't work on my husband's 4s either). I pre-ordered iphone5, so I guess I'm excited for bigger screen, faster data and better resolution but other than that, BLAH!!
anonymous 23 September, 2012 08:50
How hard is it to figure out people? The reason nothing happens when you open passbook is because you don't have any tickets! Go to the continental app and buy a boarding pass and go to fandango and get movie tickets, open passbook and everything is stored in one place for you.
Paul Tomes 24 April, 2013 07:49
Think of Passbook as an empty (digital equivalent) of a leather wallet that you just got given to you. It's a lovely wallet but without 'stuff' to go in it it's not very useful. So Apple have given you - within the phone and operating system - a beautiful, easy to use, convenient wallet that doesn't ruin your clothes (when you collect more vouchers, membership cards, tickets, stored value cards etc..). Now you just need to ask your favourite merchants to send you a Passbook Pass instead of a plastic, or paper coupon, or an email confirm etc..