Apple is reportedly planning to include NFC in the iPhone 6 for secure wireless payments using chips sourced from a Dutch company called XNP, the Financial Times reported today. It’s not the first time this rumor has cropped up before an iPhone launch, but other recent reports seem to indicate that this year it might just be happening.
In fact, earlier this year Apple was said to have reached a deal with China UnionPay, the nation’s only domestic mobile payment processor, to include NFC support at countless retailers in the next iPhone. What’s perhaps even more interesting is that the technology may not be limited solely to the handset itself…
A patent uncovered by Patently Apple earlier today seems to indicate that Apple is considering a similar system that could be implemented in its wearable device as well. The technology in the patent is listed as a potential wireless charging system, but the same hardware is said to be able to work with NFC equipment. Others have also speculated recently that Apple’s upcoming wearable could support some type of wireless payment system.
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Wireless charging and making payments with the NFC seem like major selling points for the iWatch. Just wonder if Apple has plans for two different iWatches, one as more of an iPhone accessory and one as a more stand alone device.
Apple using NFC to leverage it’s massive number of credit cards from iTunes and wireless charging at the same times seems like a winner. No mention of Passbook at this years WWDC to me was a major hint they were working on a mobile payment system.
Wireless charging is great for a watch but it’s absolutely worthless for a phone, until it can be charged at a distance of a meter, at least. Placing your phone on something in order for it to charge is an absolutely horrifically bad idea and gimmick. Not only will it charge slower, but you won’t be able to use it effectively while it is charging. It is worse than having wired charging in multiple aspects.
What needs to happen is Apple getting that 1 meter magnetic charging patent to products. Imagine placing a small disk shaped wireless charging module under your mattress. It would be wired via USB to the wall, and when you’re laying in bed on your iOS devices they’d be constantly charging, and while sleeping your watch would be charging on your wrist so you’d never have to take it off, and it could remain tracking your sleep effortlessly throughout the night. That is when wireless charging becomes revolutionary.
As for iWatch being an accessory, I think that’s be a failure. Every device category needs to function on it’s own for it’s main intended purpose. The iWatch should be able to track your biometrics and organize that information on the watch for you to use it as a stand alone device. Will it complement the iPhone greatly? Of course… but it would be sad if it were only an accessory. The Apple TV is essentially an accessory, and I think that will change once they release the next version. It will have a function which will make it useful without any other iOS devices, and that likely will be transforming the TV experience into something amazing.
The only thing that scares me with this, is the long term ramifications of low frequency radiation. We know with microwave radiation, it increases the likely hood of cancer (and it is how your wifi, and phone to cell towers all connect). I just fear all of that energy cannot be good for us. Do you agree?
I’m totally on board with everything though :P
@shezamo – You’re incorrect about microwaves – you’re confusing frequency with radiation. Microwaves are radio waves that accelerate water molecules in the food, creating steam and that cooks the food. You’re alluding to “nuking” the food – ionizing gamma radiation – which this is not.
I personally still see the small disk and usb cable to be redundant. I think Apple would rather wait and have a solid 2-3 meter range for the wireless charging, and forego the design you’ve mention for more of a dongle style. I envision something incredibly similar to the current iPhone/iPad power adapter. Simply plug it into an outlet near your bed and presto!
typo in the company name, first line.
:)
NFC.. again.. Really?
Could we stop this nonsense now? Apple has Clearly stated that NFC is too week, too bad, too insecure.. it’s called iBeacon folks!!!
Too week? as in, in two weeks the iPhone will have NFC?!
They also said over 4″ screen was too big. Things change.
@Jakob Peterhänsel – When did they clearly state those things? (Serious question – I may have missed it).
I don’t know what is possible at a technical level in terms of iBeacon vs NFC for payments. But wireless payment, TouchID authorisation and electronic receipts – would be sweet.
THANK YOU!!
If anyone has setup an AppleTV with their iphone then they know the future is in Bluetooth. Not NFC. Unlock device. Tap. Pay. Cheaper to implement. Faster to connect. Further distance supported. Less battery usage.
Not sure where people are getting this confused. iBeacons/BLE4.0 is how this will work. And it will change the payment game as merchants scramble to implement.
Looking at NXPs site, it seems like to me they are also make bluetooth and other longer distance communication chips, not just NFC (correct me if I’m wrong). Could it be that Apple is adding a second Bluetooth LE chip, which is specifically made to work “shorter” distances (max 1-2 meter) but also be higher security? Apple has said in the past that NFC is not good, and adding a specific secure bluetooth chip could be similar how the A7 has a secure compartment for touchID data.
I like that thought. I just looked at their website as well, and it does appear apple has a few options to choose from in terms of what tech they implement from NXP. I agree Apple has repeatedly said (even laughed at) the idea of NFC is not good enough, and “a dead end”.
The idea of a second Bluetooth option would be great for both Mobil payment, but also in conjunction with an iWatch. It would take less power, and could be set to higher security like you said above.
I’m excited! The 9th can’t get here soon enough!
Yup.
More secure. Easier on battery life. Bluetooth is how this is happening.
They already do it with AppleTV.
If they do finally include it, and they likely will, there’s a good reason for it. It won’t be a gimmick, but a game changing feature.
Payments via the iWatch? Sign me up! My Pebble can pay at Starbucks (via an app that shows a barcode onscreen) and it’s the easiest thing in the world. Pay-by-watch makes too much sense not to do.
NFC is used for payments and is currently in a large number of payment card readers, see photo ion the article. It inherently more secure because it has to be very close to the device it is communication with (the “near” in NFC). NFC serves different purposes than BT or WiFi. Note: NXP is the co-inventor of near field communication (NFC) technology along with Sony and supplies NFC chip sets which enable mobile phones to be used to pay for goods, and store and exchange data securely.[
Arrgh here we go again. Blah blah ibeacon blah blah nfc. Stop being so centred in the USA. Nfc is used all over Europe and Asia for small transactions such as public transport and many card readers in shops are equipped with nfc as are bank cards. You do not want ibeacon or anything with any range to avoid accidental payment. Just tap.and pass through. Simple and secure. This is what apple has to react to. If it looked at the needs of consumers outside the borders of the USA then it would have included nfc on the iPhone5.