The New York Times is reporting NFC capabilities are coming to a future iPhone, but not necessarily the next iteration. Near-field communication would allow iPhones to make payments digitally by just tapping your phone.
According to sources familiar with the matter:
According to two people with knowledge of the inner workings of a coming iteration of the Apple iPhone — although not necessarily the next one — a chip made by Qualcomm for the phone’s processor will also include near-field communication technology, known as N.F.C.
…It is unclear which version of an iPhone this technology would be built into.
One person familiar with the new Apple feature said the phone’s credit card information would be tied to information currently used on iTunes, which would make it simple for customers to set up the new mobile payment method on the iPhone.
With the way technology is evolving with smartphones, it’s inevitable that NFC would be implemented into the iPhone. The issue is not when Apple will make this feature available–but when retailers will offer NFC as an option for paying. That seems light years away at this point, but as NFC options become more popular I can see further adoption by businesses.
Apple also hired an NFC expert last year, in Benjamin Vigier, plus filed patents that show how the system would function on the iPhone. We’ve heard rumours of NFC coming to the next iPhone (including reports by Bloomberg), and also being delayed to the ‘iPhone 6’. Also, Visa is apparently testing an ‘iWallet’ system in Europe.
Would you welcome NFC to the iPhone?
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Someone explain to me how having NFC tied to my iTunes account is a benefit and how it would work? Wouldn’t it just be tied to my credit card or debit card and deduct from there? How does Apple as an interloper taking even another cut (which would cost the merchant even more, or cost VISA/Mastercard something, or both) provide a benefit to anyone, not to mention having two companies then process my payment – first the Apple, then the credit card company? Maybe there is some type of loyalty program involved? Maybe Apple is going to launch a credit card?
In Toronto you can find NFC payment systems pretty much everywhere.
Hopefully Apple supports these MasterCard/Visa systems… But yea cost would be something too. Apple likes their share of everything so hope that something works out between all parties involved. Would hate it to by like Amex where many small retailers don’t accept it.