Sam OliverCiting sources with "several" mobile operators in the U.K., The Independent reported Monday that Apple recently held meetings in which it disclosed it will not include NFC technology in the next iPhone. The inclusion of NFC technology like radio-frequency identification, or RFID, can allow mobile devices to serve as an electronic wallet, letting users authorize transactions without using their credit card.
In January, it was claimed that Apple was finalizing NFC technology for both the iPhone 5 and iPad 2. But the iPad 2 arrived last week without any support for NFC.
Apple allegedly told British mobile operators that it is concerned that there is a lack of a clear standard across the mobile industry for e-wallet payments. The report also indicated that Apple still hopes to include NFC technology in the supposed iPhone 6, expected to debut in Apple's annual summer timeframe in 2012.
While the iPhone 5 will reportedly not include NFC technology, Google's flagship Nexus S, released late last year, did include a NFC chip for short-range wireless data transmission. However, its use has failed to gain any mainstream traction.
As recently as this January, Apple has been looking to hire experts on RFID and mobile payments, adding to numerous rumors that Apple plans to add NFC support to the iPhone. But that interest is not new, as it was reported in 2009 that Apple was already testing RFID technology in a prototype handset.
Malcolm Owen
Amber Neely
Mike Wuerthele
Christine McKee
William Gallagher
22 Comments
Wouldn't Apple's inclusion of NFC helped make it a standard??
I can see them not including support for it in software for a while, until people can agree more on a way to go about it, but there's no reason not to include the hardware chip for now, so that in the future it can be enabled.
Apple allegedly told British mobile operators that it is concerned that there is a lack of a clear standard across the mobile industry for e-wallet payments.
Presumably if they introduce their own system using iTunes credits instead they make a commission on every transaction rather than give it to Visa/Mastercard/etc. Maybe this is what the new data centre is for.
Maybe one day my iPhone will also replace my car/door keys. Now that would be cool.
it was claimed that Apple was finalizing NFC technology for both the iPhone 5 and iPad 2.
On the iPad? Waving your iPad in front of a payment terminal would be even more silly than holding it up to take a photo/video with the rear camera.
I can see them not including support for it in software for a while, until people can agree more on a way to go about it, but there's no reason not to include the hardware chip for now, so that in the future it can be enabled.
Apple almost never does things like that. They'll withhold the technology so you have a reason to upgrade to the iPhone 6 (or whatever) which includes the technology. Why sell you one future-proof product when they can get you to buy two as an incremental upgrade addiction.
If this isn't in the iPhone 5 what can they do to make me buy one? I'm perfectly satisfied with my 4 in every way, including size, weight, gb, and cameras. If it's a faster processor so I can use GarageBand on my phone I'll pass, and it would be the first time ever that I haven't upgraded to the new iPhone.
What else could the iPhone 5 deliver that would be compelling?