The planned withdrawal could give a big boost to contactless mobile payments
According to the Financial Times, Apple is collaborating with Dutch company NXP, the leading manufacturer of NFC chips, in order to incorporate this short-range wireless communication technology, which is currently used, among other things, in the field of contactless payments with cards and mobile phones, into some of the next versions of the iPhone.
Apple has ignored the NFC (Near Field Communication) protocol for years, developing its own electronic payments ecosystem with the support of similar solutions, such as iBeacon. However, the spread of NFC, which has been adopted by all manufacturers of “smart” portable devices, facilitating direct wireless communication, seems to be forcing Apple to review its strategy in this area.
Many times in the past, Apple has ignored technologies and solutions, refusing to incorporate them into its products, such as Blueray discs, considering them outdated.
If the information is true, the upcoming iPhone may be compatible with NFC. Something that has been possible until now with the addition of external cases from third-party manufacturers. This development is expected to give a big boost to contactless payments overall, since Apple device owners are considered to be faster adopters of new technologies and have higher incomes.
Source: protothema.gr
