PKPASS is a standardised format for digital wallets, brought by Apple in 2012, yet fully compatible with Android devices as well.
PKPASS technology is used for boarding passes, coupons, loyalty cards, tickets and many more.
Digital Card/Pass means a data file package stored on the YOUR PASS server under a unique ID accessible via a corresponding URL, downloaded by the holder’s mobile phone and potentially saved in the Wallet. The pkpass format determines general characteristics of the card significantly. After the card is downloaded, it can be saved and registered in any mobile wallet type application supporting the pkpass format.
In addition to its saving in the Wallet, the card can also be displayed in a web browser as an HTML page and saved among bookmarks for further use. The card can also be saved in multiple devices at the same time. Therefore, the issuing and saving with a subsequent use of a ticket would not be necessarily affected by the potential absence of the Wallet in the holder’s smartphone.
PKPASS technology and format
Card anatomy
Button links to the back side of the card
Logo
Dynamic banner
Dynamic
text fields
Barcode
(QR, EAN,
PDF 417,)
Direct link
to a mobile app
Card
sharing
options
Direct link to a mobile app
Card
settings
Custom content
Each pass has a front and a back of the card. The basic anatomy of a pass is fixed and can only be changed to a certain degree. That is why it’s great to be aware of the format’s possibilities before creating a template.
The front side represents your brand and product in colours, images and brief, most frequently used information. You can use plain text and emojis in the text fields.
The back is much more content focused. You cannot change the background colour or include images, but you can add an unlimited number of text fields. The text fields do not have a character limit either and you can also use plain text, emoji and hyperlinks, so you can use the back to include more detailed information, contact details, links to documents, websites, map navigation etc.
YourWallet
Mobile wallet for Android
An equivalent to Apple Wallet
for Android devices developed
by YOUR PASS, fully compatible with Apple PKPASS technology.
-
only 4,9 MB app size
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no 3rd party data collection
-
ads-free
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digitizing paper / plastic cards
-
cards categorization
-
export to another device
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synchronization with Google account
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free download on Google Play Store
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users rating 4,6*
The application fully respects the privacy of the user and requires access to the most basic device features:
#1 Camera:
to scan a card QR code for download
#2 Location services: to display notifications based on the device location
#3 Device ID:
for dynamically updating a digital card
Google Pay
Digital cards are also compatible with Google Pay wallet, however there are some restrictions and differences compared to Apple Wallet and YourWallet functionalities.
For basic comparison, please visit the links below.
When use Google Pay for Passes?
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Static passes (no dynamic/real-time changes)
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Specific pass usages (tickets, flights, …)
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Low protection requirements for sensitive data
Comparison
PKPASS vs. Google Pay format
Comparison
YourWallet vs. Google Pay
Location based notifications
Location based notifications can be set based on GPS location and beacons.
For GPS, simply select the location (latitude, longitude) and choose a radius around a specific point in which the notification will show up. GPS can sometimes be less reliable so we recommend setting a bigger radius within which the notification will be triggered. We recommend using around 500 metres at least.
On the other hand beacons allow you to set a smaller, more precise radius in places where GPS tends to be less reliable, e.g. shopping centres.
Beacon is a small, energy-saving Bluetooth radio transmitter with a unique alphanumeric ID that sends information over Bluetooth several times per second. Digital cards can be set to recognize certain beacons (based on their unique ID). As soon as they meet / recognize and match, a certain predefined action is triggered: a push notification is displayed on users' devices.
Thanks to their low energy profile, beacons have a battery life of up to 2 years (depending on the manufacturer of the beacons and depending on the battery) and have a range of up to 70 meters (depending on the manufacturer of the beacons). The technology is secure and does not collect user data.
For more information on beacons hardware, we recommend to check Estimote.com
