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Apple Predicted to Adopt NFC in iPhone 6 as Core Technology for Mobile Payments System
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I think you forgot the most important one. There was no use (or not enough) for NFC. Apple doesn't implement technology that costs extra money and is not useful.
But these are separate cards rather than a phone. I really wouldn't be comfortable taking out an expensive phone going into the underground.
(To be honest, I also shredded the debit card my bank sent me -- far too insecure for my taste
).Meh, they predicted NFC in the 5S. And the 5. And the 4S...
Does anyone actually use it anyway, apart from Oyster cards?
Does anyone actually use it anyway, apart from Oyster cards?
(To be honest, I also shredded the debit card my bank sent me -- far too insecure for my taste
interesting.. I feel that people who use debit cards (especially in US) have no right to whine about nfc security concerns so fair enough.
How exactly do you make payments? cash only (which is difficult without debit + ATM) + maybe a credit card? still write checks?
Besides payments, NFC is also great for some transfers
I see a lot of questions about why you would want NFC, when we already have a bunch of comm methods. Of course, that's the whole point: each method has its own purpose and strengths.
For example, I would use cellular to send to someone far away. At the same party, we might be able to set up a direct WiFi connection (if we have the same phone maker).
With NFC transfers, the purpose is to be able to send/share things with someone next to you, without knowing each other's details like email address or even phone number... or having to edit the message to send.
You simply hold your devices back-to-back or close together (depending on phone or tablet) while viewing the item you wish to transfer. A picture of what will transfer pops up and you click to confirm. Depending on what's being transferred, the receiving device may show a receive confirmation that they must click. Done.
Examples of easy transfers that my Android using kids and I do:
It's pretty handy when you're right next to someone, and it's an anonymous way to transfer stuff. E.g. someone stops you for directions, you could bring them up on your phone and touch phones to transfer. No phone number or email address or other personal info is necessary.
It's quick and easy and private. And obviously meant only for transfers to someone next to you. Otherwise, you'd use a different method that requires more setup, like Airdrop or email or texting... which also usually needs you to edit the info to send.
-- Universal transfer
Perhaps the best part, is that this kind of easy transfer can be OS agnostic, unlike Airdrop or Beam. Part of the NFC spec is that devices can support a simple protocol for sending request types. E.g. a URL, a photo, an address. It's totally up to the target device to decide what to do with that info: pop up a browser, or initiate a WiFi photo transfer, show a map, etc.
In theory, any NFC equipped device can talk to each other. In reality, some device makers have left out some transfer types. For example, I think that you can touch and transfer URLs between Android and Blackberry NFC equipped phones. PDFs or contacts? I don't know.
I see a lot of questions about why you would want NFC, when we already have a bunch of comm methods. Of course, that's the whole point: each method has its own purpose and strengths.
For example, I would use cellular to send to someone far away. At the same party, we might be able to set up a direct WiFi connection (if we have the same phone maker).
With NFC transfers, the purpose is to be able to send/share things with someone next to you, without knowing each other's details like email address or even phone number... or having to edit the message to send.
You simply hold your devices back-to-back or close together (depending on phone or tablet) while viewing the item you wish to transfer. A picture of what will transfer pops up and you click to confirm. Depending on what's being transferred, the receiving device may show a receive confirmation that they must click. Done.
Examples of easy transfers that my Android using kids and I do:
- Looking at a web page -> touch -> other phone opens browser to that page
- Looking at a map -> touch -> other phone is looking at the same location
- Navigation directions -> touch -> other phone now has same directions
- Watching a YouTube video -> touch -> video opens on other device
- Looking at photo(s) -> touch -> transfers photo(s) to other device
- Looking at a contact -> touch -> other phone gets copy of contact
- Using an app -> touch -> other phone opens to that app in the Market
- Viewing a contact-> touch -> transfers contact to other device
It's pretty handy when you're right next to someone, and it's an anonymous way to transfer stuff. E.g. someone stops you for directions, you could bring them up on your phone and touch phones to transfer. No phone number or email address or other personal info is necessary.
It's quick and easy and private. And obviously meant only for transfers to someone next to you. Otherwise, you'd use a different method that requires more setup, like Airdrop or email or texting... which also usually needs you to edit the info to send.
-- Universal transfer
Perhaps the best part, is that this kind of easy transfer can be OS agnostic, unlike Airdrop or Beam. Part of the NFC spec is that devices can support a simple protocol for sending request types. E.g. a URL, a photo, an address. It's totally up to the target device to decide what to do with that info: pop up a browser, or initiate a WiFi photo transfer, show a map, etc.
In theory, any NFC equipped device can talk to each other. In reality, some device makers have left out some transfer types. For example, I think that you can touch and transfer URLs between Android and Blackberry NFC equipped phones. PDFs or contacts? I don't know.
Hardly.
It's no different than someone using your credit card number. You are not responsible for charges you didn't make.
In fact, NFC has some big security advantages over a normal credit or debit card:
- It's really easy for a thief to copy or swipe a card number. NFC: impossible.
- Credit cards usually have high purchase limits. NFC: usually requires a PIN above say, $20.
- Credit cards can be used over the internet or phone. NFC: no.
Then you don't even know what to look for. Any place that takes mastercard paypass or the similar systems of other credit card venders takes NFC. Tons of places have these.
Just yesterday I used NFC payments at three different places. Rite Aid, Wegmans, and Quik Chek.
How about this then: Apple is supposedly going to update it's POS devices in their stores from iPad based to iPhone5S in a sled that does NFC. Why would they so this if the iPhone6 is going to have NFC built in?
Interesting, didnt know that. I'd argue that is a reason For their implementation of NFC in the iphone, rather than against.
Before people complain about stores, lots of stores have the hardware, just not activated....Ahem...Walgreens, Walmart, Target.....
The NFC reading hardware is under the screen, and when activated, the screen will show a tap to pay sign, like Whole Foods
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Merchants have more stringent security standards, and must use specialized equipment to be PCI compliant. An iPhone by itself won't read regular Mag Stripe, chip & PIN, or provide a PCI compliant encrypted PIN pad...also, no laser barcode scanner.
The new POS sleds are Verifone PayWare units readily available for any store to purchase and implement.
The NFC reading hardware is under the screen, and when activated, the screen will show a tap to pay sign, like Whole Foods
----------
Merchants have more stringent security standards, and must use specialized equipment to be PCI compliant. An iPhone by itself won't read regular Mag Stripe, chip & PIN, or provide a PCI compliant encrypted PIN pad...also, no laser barcode scanner.
The new POS sleds are Verifone PayWare units readily available for any store to purchase and implement.
That a silly idea. Apple is proud enough of their company to believe that they can turn whatever XYZ technology is into gold. As far as costs go, that's why I talked about waiting until NFC was integrated into other chips (but that's not really about costs, but board space).
Also, even were Apple to roll out some kind of payment system, without support from merchants, banks, and credit card companies, it would be a no go.
I hope that;s not true because I don't wear watch 90% of the time. I would like to have a universal, industry standardized, payment method in my phone.
…..Anyways, if the iPhone got NFC just now, how would they explain it at the unveiling? It may be a bit difficult to explain at this point in time. "We noticed that many of our competitors have NFC, so in order to compete we have included NFC in our phone."
All sarcasm aside, my guess is more something along these lines: "Now that the technology has matured to the point of being ready for wider adoption, and more merchants are willing to invest in the needed infrastructure, we've decided that the time is right for…..blah, blah, blah".
If, and that's a big if, Apple adopts it, NFC is sure to get a much needed shot in the arm towards wider adoption.
Hmmm.
Here's the real reason we'll finally see NFC (or something similar):
http://rt.com/business/china-nfc-mobile-payment-698/
Whereas Jobs would never give what public wanted, Cook will give what the (Chinese) public wants. If we get NFC (or anything else, for that matter) in the next iPhone, we can thank China.
Insert
"Apple will never adopt NFC"
"NFC is dead technology"
"NFC is a fad"
More like...
2010: "Apple will never adopt NFC"
2011: "NFC is dead technology"
2012: "NFC is a fad"
2013: "analysts...I should get paid to know nothing"
2014: "OMG, NFC in iP6! Apple take my money!"
2015: "WTF, Samsung? Apple should sue you for stealing NFC"
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And if it does happen, Apple claiming "we didn't do it first, but we did it better".
Interesting. Yes, the new sleds will have RFID and chip & pin.
As for using older phones, Apple used older devices (4th generation or earlier) for their previous POS terminals, didn't they?
That said, new card readers nowadays apparently often come with both chip & pin, and NFC. No choice about it. (*)
So it's quite possible that the new sled simply comes in no other configuration, and just having NFC does not indicate any particular Apple intent, even though they'll be physically ready to accept such payments.
(*) I've read that the US might leapfrog Europe when it comes to NFC, ironically because of the US being so late to the chip & pin world... since all the late upgrades to card terminals will automatically come with NFC capability as well.
Most supermarkets are moving to them in the UK. A lot of coffee shops already have. Although a maximum amount of £20 is in place.
I'm sorry you're too late. sir1963nz already won five internets. However, I do believe we can enjoy our football and chicken together.
BLE does not require pairing-- you're confusing it with Bluetooth Classic.
NFC takes 100ms to connect, BLE takes 6ms. Given that, BLE allows longer range, lower power and higher data rates. Win-win-win.
Longer range is not a liability-- you can make a long range device shorter range, but not the other way around. As I remember a nuclear physicist saying "we already know how to make a low yield nuke-- we just make a high yield nuke badly." If it's too long range for your taste, turn down the output power.
What we care about for these kinds of transactions is security and power. BLE wins on power because it uses similar amounts of power for a shorter time due to its higher data rate. It uses less power for more data because far field communications fall power is related to distance squared while near field is related to distance cubed.
If you're relying on short range for security, ie. security by obscurity, you're making bad decisions-- nothing is shorter range than a mag strip and look how well that's turned out.
I have yet to see a sound technical reason to use NFC. Cultural, maybe.