Mobile payments could be key iPhone 6 feature
Apple’s plans to include NFC in its forthcoming iPhone 6 are starting to take shape, after yet another rumour appeared to confirm the inclusion of the touch–to–transfer tech.
Following on from reports in Wired about Apple’s plans, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber, a man known to be well connected with key staffers in Cupertino, has explained just how he thinks the iPhone 6’s NFC tech will work.
Referring to a tweet in which he suggested Apple’s iWatch September launch plans were a joke, Gruber wrote, “I’ve been working on a new joke — about NFC and a new secure enclave where you can store your credit cards, so you can pay for things at brick and mortar retail stores just by taking out your iPhone, but only if it’s one of the new iPhones — but no one seems to get my sense of humor [sic].”
That description tallies neatly with other chat about the iPhone 6’s NFC capabilities. It’s also believed that Apple will launch its own mobile wallet app, similar to Google Wallet, with security for mobile payments backed up by its Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
Every new iPhone launch comes with talk of NFC being included. However, these are the clearest indicators yet that Apple is ready to utilise tech that has been found in rival smartphones for years.
Why now? Well, contactless and mobile payments are finally taking off in a big way. EE has its own wallet service and London Underground is set to roll out contactless payments on its Tube network starting next month.
Read more: iPhone 6 release date, rumours, launch date and price
Via Daring Fireball