TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The digital affairs ministry began a “Digital Credential Wallet” sandbox program on Monday, inviting enterprises, academics, and cybersecurity experts to assess the technology before it is rolled out.

The ministry said the digital wallet will safely store people’s documents and make them accessible from their mobile phones, per Tech News. It said this would make it easier to collect tickets, fill prescriptions, and apply for phone numbers, car rentals, and other things.

Digital Affairs Minister Huang Yen-nun (黃彥男) said the digital wallet will be the cornerstone of future digital developments, and new services will be created with this in mind. He said it would give people control over their credentials and strengthen data protection.

The ministry’s International Affairs Director Chuang Ying-chih (莊盈志) said he hopes the sandbox project allows people to explore the wallet’s potential through open testing. Chuang said this will identify problems and areas for improvement before the application is rolled out.

According to the application’s website, it will meet the information security standard for ID authentication and making financial transactions, though payments are not a planned feature in the short term. The application will be free, and accessed by passwords or biometric data.

The ministry said it is developing multi-factor authentication support, including physical keys, to improve security. It is also considering whether the application could be integrated with Apple and Google payment services in the future.

The ministry plans to launch a test version of the digital wallet before the end of this year.