Apple has rolled out a slew of updates across several of its core apps, including Apple Maps and Apple Wallet, to ensure iPhone owners are best prepared for the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. The international sports event, which begins with an Opening Ceremony on the Seine this Friday, is expected to bring 15.3 million visitors to the French capital city for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Fresh off launching the all-new Vision Pro headset, the teams inside Apple have added several new features to its services to make navigating public transport, paying at the checkout, and finding the best restaurants in Paris easier than ever before. The updates have slowly been rolling out over recent weeks, so everything is ready ahead of the Opening Ceremony.
Just like credit and debit cards, booking passes, and loyalty cards, it's possible to add the Navigo card to both iPhone and Apple Watch via the Apple Wallet app
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First up, Apple Wallet now supports Navigo cards — equivalent to an Oyster card in London, or Bee Card in Manchester — for tap-and-go entry to the Metro trains. It's treated like any other contactless card inside the Wallet app, which is preinstalled on all iPhone and Apple Watch models.
Adding a Navigo card won't alter your default payment card in Wallet.
Apple Wallet is smart enough to summon the Navigo card when you tap your iPhone or Apple Watch on the contactless sensor on the turnstiles to enter the Paris Metro network, but will still revert to your default cards — either Visa, Mastercard, or American Express — when you tap to pay in shops and restaurants. This means there's no need to keep swiping between different cards at the checkout.
Unlike the London Underground and New York Subway system, amongst others, the Paris Metro doesn't accept contactless card payments. You'll need to either purchase paper tickets or sign up for a Navigo card from the Île-de-France Mobilités iOS app, which can then be added to your Apple Wallet for the duration of your stay.
When you need to top-up, Apple has worked closely with Île-de-France Mobilités to incorporate the ability to purchase new passes directly within Apple Wallet. You can pay with any of your saved payment cards.
As always, paying with Apple Pay does not reveal your personal data and card number. Instead, the system sends a one-time, transaction-specific, dynamic security code to your bank via their payment network to approve the payment — Apple doesn't send your card number, expiry date, or security code.
Outside of the Metro system, Apple Wallet has support for SNCF train passes too — handy if you're taking the train from the airport into the city.
Elsewhere, Apple Maps now offers real-time updates for the Paris Metro, RER, Paris tramway, and RATP buses in time for the Olympic Games. With real-time transit in Maps, you'll be able to see live departure and arrival times, transit schedules, and connections to help plan your journey.
While this has been possible with a number of third-party solutions, like the popular CityMapper and Google Maps, the functionality is now baked into Apple Maps, which is installed on all iPhone models out-of-the-box.
Real-time transit information is also available in dozens of cities, like London, Berlin, and Sydney.
Apple Maps has also been overhauled with custom-designed 3D models for Parisian landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Arc De Triomphe. Apple has also created detailed, colourful models for all Olympic venues in Paris. This also includes pop-ups and temporary arenas across the city.
Designers within Apple have created custom-designed 3D models and icons for Paris landmarks and Olympic venues and pop-ups ahead of millions visiting the city this summer
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Apple has designed special icons for Olympic venues, which will make it easier to plot turn-by-turn directions for driving, public transportation, cycling, and walking around the city.
If you're an international visitor, you might want to download an offline map of Paris before travelling to France so you'll still be able to navigate the city even when away from Wi-Fi or don't want to pay for expensive roaming data. It can also help in crowded areas when 4G and 5G signals can become patchy.
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Apple Maps boasts support for Look Around — its equivalent to Streetview in Google Maps — so you can peer around interactive street-level imagery from across the French city. It also supports step-by-step walking directions in Augmented Reality (AR) with arrows pointing the way appearing to float in front of you when looking through the viewfinder on your iPhone. Just raise your iPhone to scan your surroundings and Maps will show you easy-to-follow directions in the real world.
If you want to avoid costly EU roaming charges on your iPhone, you can download portions of the city in Apple Maps. All of the usual features, including turn-by-turn directions, will continue to work without a Wi-Fi or mobile signal
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Speaking about the improvements designed to benefit millions of visitors poised to descend on Paris for the Summer Games, Jennifer Bailey, Apple Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said: "In the lead-up to what will surely be an amazing summer for the Paris region, we’re thrilled to bring Navigo cards to Apple Wallet and provide Parisians and visitors with an incredibly convenient and secure way to ride transit in Paris and explore the city.
"Users will love the safety, security, and seamlessness of purchasing passes and riding with a Navigo card in Apple Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch."
The Paris Summer Olympics takes place from July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024.
