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iPhone 5 rumor: 'Strong NFC support'

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Jan 2012 10:28 User comments (6)

iPhone 5 rumor: 'Strong NFC support' 9to5mac has reported today that the upcoming iPhone 5 will have NFC support, and developers are already building apps.
Apparently, Apple iOS engineers are "heavy into NFC" and devs are "confident enough to bet the app development on."

What remains unclear is who Apple will partner with for its payment systems, and the report has some speculation based on recent reports and interviews.

First comes from Ed McLaughlin, the boss of emerging payments at MasterCard: "The timeline is always as rapid as it makes sense for consumers. (In regards to mass NFC adoption) That's a combination of having a critical mass of the merchants, which is what you're seeing right now, and getting devices into the hands of consumers. I don't know of a handset manufacturer that isn't in process of making sure their stuff is PayPass ready."



McLaughlin would not specifically say Apple, however except to say, "well, anytime someone with a major base moves forward, it advances what you're doing. So of course [Apple is necessary in NFC reaching critical mass]."

While the exec was sidestepping the question a bit, it is very clear even to the casual observer that Apple and PayPass would certainly bring NFC to "critical mass" in the next couple of years.

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6 user comments

130.1.2012 22:37

I would honestly switch back to the iPhone just to help NFC gain ground in america.

230.1.2012 23:49

Doesn't the Galaxy Nexus already support NFC?

331.1.2012 00:04

Now why do I see a huge SNAFU coming up with this NFC & the possibility of file sharing? You know I'm not the first to think of it & CrApple has certainly muddled it over to some degree.

Not to mention, doesn't this mimic the "Bump" app that came out some time back on the Android? That one was OK for a while, but then went flat after a while. It's entirely possible this one 'could' do the same. Or run into hazards such as identity theft with the proper fingers of ill repute going after it.

Just a thought anyway.

431.1.2012 13:41
llongtheD
Inactive

Call me old fashioned, but I still think its pretty convenient to use cash. Along with the obvious security concerns of apps like this running on your phone and your phone linked to a bank account, would I really want AT&T or Verizon tracking my every purchase? This constant tracking of information for marketing and advertising has gone too far in my opinion, and don't think for a second they won't be doing just that.
What are we trading away for all of this convenience?
For those that have their lives tethered to a "smart phone" this is yet another great feature for sure.

531.1.2012 17:57

NFC.........Phoooey!

Lose your phone and lose your identity. Oh, and for those thinking "but they check the picture associated with you/your phone"."................yeah..........like retail stores check signatures on the back of cards.

Only ignorant tards will buy into this nonsense...........the very same tards that put their banking app on their phone. If you lose it then you're sh*t up a creek.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 31 Jan 2012 @ 5:59

61.2.2012 12:19

The Nexus S from sprint has had google wallet which uses NFC and you can load money from any credit card onto your phone..

it has a built in passcode just like a credit card, and the app is stored in a secure place in your phone that is encrypted, thats why its not avalible on many phones yet.

Verizon put a block on using NFC on the galaxy nexus w/ google wallet (because they signed a deal with visa for NFC payments not google), but the boys over at XDA built a google wallet apk that works with the galaxy nexus from verizon.

so right now yes the nexus phones support NFC with google wallet, which has been around since summer 2011, now apple wants to jump in the mix, but there are so many companies wanting their share of the pie.. credit card companies, bank companies, mobile phone makers, chipset companies, transaction companies. etc. after everything they still have to make a profit, and google has been the only company to push the idea to where it is today

in NYC all yellow cabs have NFC support, not to mention almost every mcdonalds ive been to, and foot locker

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