No NFC in Next-Generation iPhone

[daverso]

NFC has yet to take off period anyway. Not really a deal breaker.

Primarily because the iPhone hasn't begun using it yet. In my industry we work closely with NFC concepts, and the possibilities with the technology are really vast, and somewhat scary.

Just surprising that NFC isn't in the phone with the new Passbook app.

 

[powers74]

buzz buzz

They have been experimenting with vibrator motors it seems. Maybe this is another new one.

 

[Uncle David]

NFC will not be the determining factor in my not getting the next iPhone. The fact that I have to replace several hundred dollars in peripherals due to the new mini-dock will.

 

[LordVic]

I start to dislike Apple more and more. This is not innovation. This is intentional exclusion of new things for them to be included in the next "revolutionary" release.

ohhhh, you mean like the ipad 1 did without camera and a few other nice features 😛

Made buying that ipad2 so much more welcome when they released it.

Apple is no stranger to this game.

 

[tkhan456]

sigh

laaaaaaaaame. so not only are they making it larger and less convent for a useless larger screen, but they aren't adding any significant new hardware feature. sounds like amazing.

 

[Cynicalone]

If we were to believe that article then the next iPhone will be all about catching up with competition - bigger screen, LTE, better processor. Probably the only advantage over competition will be iPhone's thickness (or should I say "thinness") - sadly I think it might be promoted as the "thinest iPhone yet".

I think that Apple will play it safe with the iPhone. A 4" screen and LTE will sale a ton of phones. They will wait for NFC till it is well established and doesn't require compromises in design. The same as they did with 3G and LTE.

Steady iteration is the Apple way.

 

[ghostface147]

I am currently using an Galaxy S3... on my 30 day trial... waiting to see what Apple brings to the table...

Google Wallet only works out of the box on Sprint. To use it on other carriers, you need to be rooted and install some hacks to get Google Wallet to run.

But... once you have it, it is pretty cool to pay for my 44 oz soda at Circle K using my phone. 😀

I have it on our on call phone, nexus S 4g. The petsmart checkout clerk was in awe when I used it to pay for some pet food.

 

[satchmo]

It does make you wonder what new features this iPhone 5 will have, other than a slightly larger form factor and uni-body construction.

 

[ScottishDuck]

Some things are just better (and safer) the old fashioned way.

I don't mind waiting for a receipt.

It's okay to calm down even in our mobile lives🙂

NFC is far more secure than credit cards.

There is a known vulnerability in chip+PIN that allows anyone to steal money from you.

So why don't people do it?

Well the answer is the same reason NFC is not dangerous, because fraud prevention exists.

If you know a purchase from your account was not you, you can flag it as fraudulent and it gets cancelled.

The only way to have money stolen from you digitally is if you willingly give up the cash and that will always be the case.

 

[zaneliu94]

I think that Apple will play it safe with the iPhone. A 4" screen and LTE will sale a ton of phones. They will wait for NFC till it is well established and doesn't require compromises in design. The same as they did with 3G and LTE.

Steady iteration is the Apple way.

I don't think Apple can quite play it as safe. Two generations of steady OS updates isn't going to help Apple set itself apart. I'm not asking for revolutionary designs each cycle but Apple does need to step up its game in recent years. As the iPhone is their biggest source of income, they need to make it a true flagship once again.

 

[ChristianVirtual]

NFC is widely used in Japan at least. It's really convenient to use. I miss that function from my pre-iPhone domestic phones. So still need to continue managing plastic cards instead.

 

[AbyssImpact]

I believe Dolby owns the patents.

P-Worm

Search Google patents NFC on google.

 

[reclusive46]

If this is the case, I will be switching to android. NFC is a very important feature for me.

 

[jclardy]

Unfortunate. Everyone not caring/not wanting your financials on your phone - You don't have to use the feature, and I probably wouldn't anyways as there are only a few places that have the scanners available, meaning you still have to carry your wallet. Plus what do you do at a sit down restaurant? Hand the waiter your phone?

But anyways the reason I want NFC is for super simple device pairing. Hold devices up to each other and tap a button on the screen. Then you can share information (Contacts, photos, notes, etc. could be anything).

Instead, we have to rely on iMessage/email/dropbox/etc. and upload things to the internet and back.

Just think, to share a contact with an acquaintance you just met all you have to do is touch your phones together and hit "share contact". Now you both have to open the phone app, go to contacts, add contact, type in name, phone, email, etc. Or you both have to have a contact sharing app, or share via email.

If this iPhone doesn't have it then it means the tech will take another year before propagating to the majority.

NFC allows BT 4.0 to be useful for data transfer. Without it then it only remains useful for headsets.

 

[TheStoof]

NFC has yet to take off period anyway. Not really a deal breaker.

It hasn't taken off because there aren't any phones to really push it. Scratch that. Carriers such as AT&T are preventing it from happening because it's a USEFUL feature.

Example:

Galaxy Nexus has NFC, and so does Bold 9900.

On VZW, Google Wallet doesn't exist.
On AT&T, Google Wallet doesn't exist. (For this example, see Galaxy S3)
On Sprint, Google Wallet EXISTS.
On GSM Unlocked, Google Wallet EXISTS.

I just paid for my gas using my phone. I typed in my PIN, and Google sends a virtual MasterCard #...it masks the VISA that I have.

In short, VZW and AT&T want to offer their own app for NFC payments. I'm enjoying Google Wallet wherever I can.

 

[MVallee]

I don't know about in the US but here in Canada our debit and credit cards have "chips" where you have to insert the card instead of swipe, then wait for it to read the card, then enter a pin (even for credit cards). It takes time and alot of the chip readers are slow. The grocery store I frequent has NFC (Visa PayWave and Mastercard PayPass) I've used it a few times and its instant. Way faster. I'm always looking for a way to lighten my pockets and if I could stop carrying a wallet and pay faster with my phone, that would be awesome. If its not in the version, hopefully the next one.

 

[o0jelly0o]

Wow lol. NFC is an amazing technology, it's just not ready yet, it's simply not here yet. Not only in security, but in the fact that businesses do not have it available in their stores. In another year or two, NFC will make a great Smartphone feature, currently, it is a gimmick to sell phones to idiots that like seeing new features.

 

[TheStoof]

If this is the case, I will be switching to android. NFC is a very important feature for me.

Galaxy Nexus, buddy. /donepromotingandroid

 

[bdavis89]

I had the same feeling, also. Although I will say with the S3, when Samsung limited S-beam to sending to between two S3's, they severely limited its functionality.

Apple will surely do the same when the time comes.

 

[TheStoof]

Wow lol. NFC is an amazing technology, it's just not ready yet, it's simply not here yet. Not only in security, but in the fact that businesses do not have it available in their stores. In another year or two, NFC will make a great Smartphone feature, currently, it is a gimmick to sell phones to idiots that like seeing new features.

Any place that has the MasterCard PayPass uses NFC. All you need is an app, such as Google Wallet, to prevent access to ANY information via a PIN #. If it's locked, no one can steal it without you inputting a PIN first. And if they steal any info, Google Wallet gives them a MasterCard # that cannot be used online. Hell, not even the user knows the MasterCard. It's masked for everyone except Google.

 

[bbeagle]

No NFC. I'm all for it. Anything to keep the Dallas Cowboys off my phone is okay with me.

 

[o0jelly0o]

If someone said the world was going to end and they had that guy quoted as saying 'Yep' would MacRumors believe it? Apparently that guy is like god.

 

[Allenbf]

Doesn't matter to me. While I'd have used NFC a bit, I doubt I'd use it much due to privacy/theft issues or worries. That's my personal opinion.

I figure Apple will lead consumers into this by using the Passbook app for a bit, then introduce NFC or something like it with the AuthenTec hardware, probably in iOS 7 and the iPhone 5s/6/whatever they call it.

Just my .02

 

[tbone0726]

They didn't want to get sued by Google. They patented that already.

I believe NFC tech is licensed not patented by android!

 

[entatlrg]

whats funny is the fanboys say its overated and not taking off if its not in the next iphone, but if it is they will be going on and on about it how its the best thing since sliced bread

Yiping off with crap like this is getting really old. Grow up, get a life.