Apple Releases COVID-19 Contact Tracing Tool to App Makers in iOS 13.5 Beta 3

Apple has released new beta software today which includes its new COVID-19 contract-tracing tools.

Here’s what’s new for developers today:

  • Xcode 11.5 beta (11N605c)
  • macOS Catalina 10.15.5 beta 3 (19F72f)
  • iOS 13.5 beta 3 (17F5054h)
  • iPadOS 13.5 beta 3 (17F5054h)
  • watchOS 6.2.5 beta 3 (17T5600c)
  • tvOS 13.4.5 beta 3 (17L5553c)

Early installations by developers of iOS 13.5 beta 3 are now seeing COVID-19 Exposure Notifications on iPhone, as seen below (via @Sonikku_a2 and @MarkGurman).

The COVID-19 Exposure Notifications within iOS 13.5 beta 3 reads (navigate to Settings > Privacy > Health > COVID-19 Exposure Notifications):

“iPhone is using Bluetooth to securely share your random IDs with nearby devices and collect their IDs. This enables an app to notify you if you may have been exposed to COVID-19. Random IDs are deleted after 14 days.”

“Apps you authorize can notify you if you’re exposed to COVID-19. You can also choose to anonymously share your COVID-19 diagnosis,” the option further explains.

Ios 13 5 beta 3 covid 19

Apple and Google have teamed up to release this COVID-19 tracing tool. An exposé by CNBC earlier detailed how the idea was started by an Apple executive, then Google came on board in late March. An API for health authorities is expected to debut on May 1, 2020.

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