Neil HughesNXP Technology spoke this week about its own NFC products at the Computex show in Taiwan. And while Android-powered handsets are planning to take advantage of the new Google Wallet service, Apple's commitment to NFC technology is still a mystery, according to Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White.
NXP reportedly indicated that Google Wallet will include partners such as itself, Citibank, MasterCard, First Data and Sprint. Initial trial rollout cities are expected to be New York and San Francisco.
And 80 percent of the smartphone market has reportedly committed to NFC technology thus far, including Nokia and Research in Motion. But the major player absent is Apple, as NXP said the Cupertino, Calif., company's "plans for NFC are unknown."
"Keep in mind, the opinions on whether the next-generation iPhone will include NFC have varied widely this year," White said, "as we believe Apple carefully evaluates this new technology and how to optimize it within the company's digital ecosystem."
In March, The New York Times reported that Apple was planning to include an NFC chip from Qualcomm in a future iPhone, allowing the handset to be used to make e-wallet mobile payments. The report said it was "unclear" whether the NFC feature would appear in Apple's fifth-generation iPhone, which is expected to go on sale later this year.
White said that at Computex, he gathered more data points to "confirm" that the next-generation iPhone will launch in September, and will continue to use IPS technology for its high-resolution Retina Display. Numerous rumors have pointed toward a later than usual launch for the new iPhone this year.
Whether or not the fifth-generation iPhone does include NFC technology, there is plenty of evidence of Apple's interest in an e-wallet-style system. They include hirings, patents, and even claims made by in-the-know mobile executives.
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23 Comments
seriously? this is a news story? "sources confirm: who knows?!"
seriously? this is a news story? "sources confirm: who knows?!"
This is a rumor site. They report rumors. Get over it.
This is a rumor site. They report rumors. Get over it.
I have no problem with rumors. That's why I read this site. It's not a rumor, though... It's a "nothing new to report"... Seems like they should have skipped this one, is all I'm saying. Wait for the next actual rumor.
I have no problem with rumors. That's why I read this site. It's not a rumor, though... It's a "nothing new to report"... Seems like they should have skipped this one, is all I'm saying. Wait for the next actual rumor.
I agree. This isn't even a rumor, it's a fact. Just a boring fact: no one who really knows what, if anything, Apple has planned for NFC payment is talking. I doubt the local news will be running with this story tonight.
I have no problem with rumors. That's why I read this site. It's not a rumor, though... It's a "nothing new to report"... Seems like they should have skipped this one, is all I'm saying. Wait for the next actual rumor.
I agree that this isn't any big story, however we do have an executive at an NFC-chip manufacturer discussing the future of the technology, including how Apple is the only major player not sharing their plans. It's worth a quick mention, which is all this article aimed to do.