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Next-Generation iPhone Prototypes Reportedly Support NFC for Mobile Payments

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MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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9to5Mac reports that it has reanalyzed the previously-obtained hardware code dump for Apple's next-generation iPhone prototypes and discovered that the code makes reference to hardware components supporting near field communication (NFC) capabilities.
We've previously been able to pull data from PreEVT iPhone 5,1 and iPhone 5,2 prototypes codenamed N41AP (5,1) and N42AP (5,2), which leads us to believe that the new iPhone will have a bigger 1136×640 display. We also detailed a lot of the hardware here but forgot one very important little bit. Further investigation into this hardware code dump leads us to believe that these iPhones also have Near Field Communication (NFC) controllers directly connected to the power management unit (PMU).
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NFC enables short-range wireless communication between devices and chip readers, with the most high-profile deployment of the technology being for contact-less payment systems.

Rumors of NFC support for the iPhone have been circulating for some time, with The New York Times giving a substantial boost to the discussion back in March 2011 with its claims that the technology would be available in a "coming iteration of the Apple iPhone - although not necessarily the next one". NFC did not arrive in the iPhone 4S released last October, and thus expectations for the 2012 iPhone and NFC have been heightened.

Apple did not directly address the topic of NFC in iOS 6 at its Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month, but the company did announce a new Passbook digital wallet app which strongly suggests that company is moving toward offering NFC services. As announced, Passbook serves as a time- and location-aware app for storing digital tickets, coupons, loyalty cards, and more.
Your boarding passes, movie tickets, retail coupons, loyalty cards, and more are now all in one place. With Passbook, you can scan your iPhone or iPod touch to check in for a flight, get into a movie, and redeem a coupon. You can also see when your coupons expire, where your concert seats are, and the balance left on that all-important coffee bar card. Wake your iPhone or iPod touch, and passes appear on your Lock screen at the appropriate time and place -- like when you reach the airport or walk into the store to redeem your gift card or coupon. And if your gate changes after you've checked in for your flight, Passbook will even alert you to make sure you're not relaxing in the wrong terminal.
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passbook_screenshots.jpg



Adding an NFC component to Passbook would be a natural step to eliminate the need to physically scan barcodes on the iPhone's screen, allowing users to simply wave their devices near readers to activate Passbook items.

Article Link: Next-Generation iPhone Prototypes Reportedly Support NFC for Mobile Payments
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/06/25/next-generation-iphone-prototypes-reportedly-support-nfc-for-mobile-payments/
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PlaceofDis

macrumors Core
Jan 6, 2004
19,241
6
wasn't the same thing said about the iPhone 4S? although it does seem to be more likely given the inclusion of Passbook, but i wouldn't hold out hope just yet because you never know with apple.
 
S

Sensation

macrumors regular
Apr 4, 2012
150
0
Another thing stolen from Google :confused: Apple may as well just try and buy Google considering all the recent things they take from them.
 
CrAkD

CrAkD

macrumors 68040
Feb 15, 2010
3,180
255
Boston, MA
Sensation said:
Another thing stolen from Google :confused: Apple may as well just try and buy Google considering all the recent things they take from them.
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Android stole their entire existence from apple. NFC has been around in other countries way before google wallet. Know your facts.
 
FSMBP

FSMBP

macrumors 68030
Jan 22, 2009
2,712
2,633
sshambles said:
Liking the sounds of this. Goodness knows what will happen if you run out of battery.... :confused:
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Not to mention that if you lose your iPhone, you just lost your money temporarily (for that night or however long until you get a new one & restore).
 
bushido

bushido

Suspended
Mar 26, 2008
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Germany
pretty obvs, they will probably announce the NFC chip along some partnerships like starbucks at the new iPhone keynote
 
nfl46

nfl46

macrumors G3
Oct 5, 2008
8,350
8,704
Yeah, I figured it. I said it probably would when they introduced Passports. It all makes sense now.
 
O

OzPeter

macrumors newbie
Dec 20, 2011
3
0
TSA will love Passbook - not

(slightly off topic) I can't the see the TSA allowing Passbook for boarding passes at airports. It would totally disrupt their procedure of stamping and/or writing on the physical boarding pass for their own reasons.

Not that I am against disrupting the TSA :D

Although it's interesting that the only boarding pass shown is from Amtrak - who told the TSA's VIPR teams to GTFO of train stations.
 
bushido

bushido

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OzPeter said:
(slightly off topic) I can't the see the TSA allowing Passbook for boarding passes at airports. It would totally disrupt their procedure of stamping and/or writing on the physical boarding pass for their own reasons.

Not that I am against disrupting the TSA :D
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you can already use your phone as a boarding card to check in. doesnt even require NFC
 
L

lixuelai

macrumors 6502a
Oct 29, 2008
958
327
Sensation said:
Another thing stolen from Google :confused: Apple may as well just try and buy Google considering all the recent things they take from them.
Click to expand...

Considering that Android came out in Sept 2008 and I remember seeing vending machines that allowed payment via cellphones in Japan well before that, I don't think Apple stole anything from Google...
 
B

Bezetos

macrumors 6502a
May 18, 2012
739
0
far away from an Apple store
basesloaded190 said:
They stole NFC from Google?
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Well nobody can say that Apple stole NFC from Google, but Google "did it first" (as in, phone wallet) and Apple will be doing it now.

Which is a good thing.

This is not about "stealing", this is about driving technology forward, something that both Android and iPhone users should understand. Unfortunately Apple is not helping by frequently claiming "how everyone is copying from them", but that's just a narcissistic statement from a narcissistic company, we got loads of those.

So yeah, Google did it first like a lot of things that Apple is introducing lately, but who cares - it's good that Apple is introducing those features too. Good ideas should be promoted, not avoided for the sake of competition.

EDIT: WOW, -13 points, this proves that there's a lot off blindly devoted Apple fanboys here... I wrote a bit of truth that actually DEFENDS Apple and I get downvoted, way to go guys, give yourself a round of applause.
 
Last edited:
jclardy

jclardy

macrumors 601
Oct 6, 2008
4,161
4,373
That would make sense, as I don't see Apple adding Passbook just for starbucks gift cards and airline tickets.
 
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