Apple is finally expected to announce its entry in the mobile payments arena alongside the "iPhone 6" at a media event on Tuesday in Cupertino, and rumors suggest that the new system will be based around tokenization for enhanced security. AppleInsider took a look at what that means for users.
Apple fans clamoring for the anticipated 5.5-inch version of Apple's "iPhone 6" may not have to wait long, as a new report claims that the "phablet" model will launch alongside the 4.7-inch version on Sept. 19, though quantities could be limited at launch
With Apple widely expected to introduce the "iPhone 6" in two different screen sizes on Tuesday, a new rumor claims the 4.7-inch model will be given the basic moniker, while the larger 5.5-inch variant will allegedly be known as the "iPhone 6 Plus."
With just over a day to go before Apple's highly anticipated media event, a slew of new videos from China claim to again show off functioning 4.7-inch "iPhone 6" units, complete with a new credit card toting Passbook icon. And yet another video offers a peek at a 2,915 mAh battery expected to power the jumbo-sized 5.5-inch iPhone.
Two separate "leaks" out of China on Saturday supposedly show operational versions of Apple's next-generation iPhone, including images of what appears to be credit card or mobile payments support for Passbook.
Apple is reportedly securing dates for its upcoming fall shipments, expected to include new iPhone and iPad models, and the number of devices coming out of China is so large that major shipping companies are delaying orders from other device makers.
Less than one week before Apple is expected to announce a new iPhone, and possibly "iWatch," at a special event on Sept. 9, a report on Friday claims the company has inked partnerships with CVS and Walgreens for a rumored mobile payments system debut.
In looking at the potential options for Apple in launching a mobile payment platform, one analyst believes the company is most likely to start small and safe with a "proxy" approach — a strategy that wouldn't make Apple much money, but would help lock users into the company's iPhone ecosystem.
Adding to rumors regarding Apple's supposed mobile payments solution, a report on Thursday claims the Cupertino tech giant has managed to negotiate lower transaction fees from five credit card issuing banks.
As hype builds for Apple's Sept. 9 announcement, yet another report chimes in with alleged details, saying the company's wearable "iWatch" will sport a flexible screen and wireless charging, while the company's larger iPhone models will apparently offer a one-handed mode for ease of use.
Samsung this week made a slew of announcements, most notably its next-generation big-screen Galaxy Note 4 smartphone, but none of the products were enough to impress analyst Brian White, who doesn't think the South Korean electronics maker is well positioned to compete with Apple's anticipated fall product lineup.
With less than five days to go until Tim Cook takes the stage at the Flint Center in Cupertino, Apple has begun promoting the event — at which the iPhone 6, iWatch, and perhaps second-generation iPad Air will be unveiled — on its homepage with a countdown timer to the live stream.
Rumors that mega-popular rock band U2 have struck a new partnership with Apple to release their upcoming album on the so-called iPhone 6 and could participate in next Tuesday's media event in Cupertino are without merit, a U2 spokesperson said on Thursday.
Yet another publication chimed in on Thursday to say that Apple's next iPhone and its anticipated wearable "iWatch" will support near-field communications technology to enable wireless payments, while the "iWatch" is also said to sport a curved OLED display.
Not too far from Apple's Campus 2 project, a temporary structure is rising for the company's September 9 event, and new aerial shots captured by an amateur photographer using a flying camera drone offer a closer look at the mysterious white box that has generated considerable buzz.
Apple's "iPhone 6" will not feature a scratch-resistant sapphire screen cover, but both the 4.7- and 5.5-inch versions will come with new higher-capacity options of 128 gigabytes of storage, a barometric pressure sensor, and a programmable power button, according to one well-connected insider.
Bits of circumstantial evidence set the Apple rumor mill churning on Wednesday, with reports hinting U2 is somehow connected with the company's Sept. 9 media event expected to bring word of a new iPhone lineup.
Apple's upcoming product releases will lay the groundwork for an aggressive leap into the mobile payments sector that could eventually erode PayPal's firm foundation, according to one research analyst.
While Apple prepares for its Sept. 9 media event, enthusiastic fans are already lining up at the company's flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York, hoping to be one of the first in the world to nab an expected next-generation iPhone.
Consumers in Japan — now one of Apple's most important markets — are excited by the prospect of a larger iPhone and the increased screen size could be a key driver of sales to new customers in the Asian nation, according to new survey data released this week.
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Shane Cole
Neil Hughes
AppleInsider Staff
Mikey Campbell
Sam Oliver
Daniel Eran Dilger
