NFC “Digital Wallet” In iPhone 5? Don’t Be Holding Your Breath
Posted by CharlesMoore on Sunday Aug 19, 2012 Under iPhone 5 News, iPhone 5 PredictionsiPhone fans hoping for Near Field Communication (NFC) “digital wallet” support in the iPhone 5/New iPhone are likely to be disappointed says blogger Dan Balaban at NFC Times.
Balaban notes that while rumors and speculation have been that the next iPhone will support NFC, spurred by an obscure code dump from an iPhone prototype and Apple’s acquisition of fingerprint sensor provider AuthenTec, and new patent requests from Apple, such as iTunes gifting via NFC.
However, he says that a NFC Times interview with a source at a key component supplier indicates that Apple will give NFC a pass yet again with the iPhone 5
He also cites another source observing that had Apple ordered NFC chips in quantities necessary for the new iPhone and other devices, supplies would have been noticably afected (to say the least), and said chips probably harder to come by. However, Balaban’s the source, a small buyer of NFC chips, reports that there is no such shortage or problem getting chips from NXP Semiconductors, the only supplier positioned to supply Apple with NFC technology this year.
Balaban observes that with release of the new iPhone expected within six to 10 weeks, there should be more buzz from suppliers by now if Apple were planning to adopt NFC–even with Apple’s strict confidentiality policies, but it’s not happening. He also cites an attendee at meetings writh Apple at Cupertino affirming that while the company is interested in NFC, his read is that theywon’t be ready to act on that interest until the iPhone 6.
Balaban notes that while Google has charged ahead with its NFC wallet feature in Android, there have been many problems, especially in signing up merchants to accept NFC-based payments and offers together, as well as recruiting issuers and getting enough wallet phones into the market. Apple is not in the habit of adopting half-baked technologies in its devices, and I think Balaban is correct in his deduction that there will be no NFC support in the iPhone until (at least) the iPhone 6.
iResQ – iPhone 5 and iPad Mini Repair Parts Are In!
In other news, iResQ’s Keith claims that they’ve had iPhone 5 and iPad Mini parts in hand for some time now, and have decided that to share their likenesses which show two 8-pin dock connector and headphone jack assemblies for the mini iPad, and two 8-pin dock connector and headphone jack assemblies for the iPhone 5 (or New iPhone). They say one interesting thing is that these assemblies come in either black or white, another being that the iPad mini’s headphone jack is pretty close to the Dock – further indication that the iPad mini will be more similar to the iPhone or iPod Touch than the current size iPad.
You can check out the photos here:
http://blog.iresq.com/iphone-5-and-ipad-mini-repair-parts-are-in/
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August 19th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Here in German I don’t need NFC. You can do nearly nothing with NFC here
Sure in the future it might be a nice thing but actually it would only goes onto the battery life. And we know Apple they won’t release data sharing between some devices (maybe between iDevices) and that is this only thing which I can use actually.
Personally I think about two exclusv features for the iPhone 5.
1. The new 4″ screen a probably the real thing. And Apple has maybe a reallly cool idea with the new area and build in a status bar. You could change it with some short keys like Bluetooth on/off or if you want the weather than you can make the weather, and everytime you can see the weather on your homescreen. Something like a widget on the top. But this is the more unrealistic scenario.
2. The new iPhone has great new camera functions. The reasons for this were many patents and the “revolutionary camera tool” which we learned in Steve Jobs biography. Might be that there is a panoramic function, a self starting camera ( i don’t know how you call it, if a camera make a photo of you without have to pushit at he same moment
) And a really cool feature that gives you information if you took a photo about something. For example, if you take a photo of a book, the iPhone give you nformation about it and show you the price. Or if you take a photo of flowers it open a map and shows you the nearest flower shop. Some months ago there were some rumors about it. And this would be really cool. And it would fit in some ways to Siri 
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August 19th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
I some time ago wrote that is was a dangerous strategy for Apple to cede market share to its rivals and its delays have cost it seriously as it, as I have heard, for the first time lost market share. Now NFC is a no-go which was the primary reason I was waiting for the new iPhone. I don’t think that Google should be faulted for attempting to introduce NFC because of the reluctance of merchants and issuers to embrace it; in time, they will – that is what aggressive marketing is all about. It is also why the ‘Droid has surpassed the iPhone in sales and this will likely continue. I know that Apple’s delay has cost them this customer; I purchased an Droid Razr and am extremely pleased with it. The only reservation I had was that the new iPhone5 would have the NFC built in; now I learn here that this will not happen, but, instead, it is my Android that will likely have it. I feel especially happy about my purchase now! Bye, bye, Apple, we can’t wait around forever for you.
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August 19th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
@George
Not to knock Android, but the last time I checked the iPhone is still the single best-selling model smartphone. As far as overall brand is concerned, only Samsung sells more overall smartphones than Apple. Where did you see that the Droid has surpassed the iPhone in sales? I’m curious.
As far as the next iPhone not having NFC, for me it’s no biggie. Going by the rumors so far, the next iPhone will have the following features (at least);
bigger screen
1GB of RAM
thinner, lighter, & stronger (due it being unibody)
LTE
These features I’m happy with.
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August 19th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Taken from betanews.com, “Android, Google’s smartphone operating system, shipped in 107.8 million devices in Q2 2012…How does Apple’s operating system fare against Google’s Android? iOS shipments accounted for 20.3 million units sold in Q2 2011 and year over year they have grown in Q2 2012 to 26 million…” This is where, for one source. I do not deny that the next iPhone will have some excellent features, but my Droid has its own. The NFC was the main reason, again, I held up so long for the next iPhone and would like to point out that Apple, despite some excellent features in its 4s, still was running on a 3G network when the Droid and others were on 4G. At any rate, I am certain the new iPhone will enjoy a high sales volume, but the Droid platform is now the standard bearer.
http://betanews.com/2012/08/03/android-leads-ios-follows-windows-phone-shows-surprising-growth/
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August 19th, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Its too soon for NFC on any device. Too many bugs and too insecure.
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August 19th, 2012 at 10:07 pm
@George Of course the Android platform has more sales than the iPhone. There are hundreds of Android phones on the market, compared to 3 phones on the market that are produced by Apple. You can’t compare sales of an operating system to a phone. That’s like comparing apples to oranges. The correct comparison would be one particular Android phone, per say, the GS3, to the iPhone 4S, 4, or 3GS. 1:1 not 100:3
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August 19th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
I could really use a wallet attached to my phone. The other day I went to get a sandwich and I forgot my wallet….
I told the lady I had my credit card memorized but since I didnt have the card with me I couldnt prove that it was mine, and she wouldnt accept my memorized credit card numbers. Having a digital wallet in my phone would really help in times like that.
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August 20th, 2012 at 12:51 am
When they refer to the next iPhone having NFC “iPhone 6″ as they called it I assume they are talking about 2013. If so, don’t be all suprised and shocked in 2013 when apple doesn’t release the iPhone 6, because it will be the iPhone 5S. It’s called a pattern. Some people never learn.
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August 20th, 2012 at 4:47 am
It’s a cool concept, and I was looking forward to it a bit, but honestly, I don’t really think I’d use it a whole lot. Just my preference of usage though. And I agree with @ALM, it’s definitely too soon and too insecure. I interned at a firm, UBS, doing some Financial Analysis work (I’m an Economics major) and the one important thing my boss told me was this: “Never purchase the first generation or the first of anything, always give the company time to work out the bugs”. Take the iPhone for example, look how far it’s come since 2007! I was really excited for the iPhone when it came out but found that many of my friends were dealing with a couple of bugs. Apple moved on, and improved. What about the antenna issue with the iPhone 4, (although I’m not so sure if that was more hype than anything), that was fixed. This is exactly how I feel about NFC, it can be a very useful feature, I’m excited about it, but I guess I don’t really need it right away. And if Apple does implement it, I don’t think I’ll use it much right off the bat anyways, just like iCloud; I’m letting everything settle in with regards to iCloud (even if it’s been a year), just waiting for the dust to clear.
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August 20th, 2012 at 4:50 am
@Dave, “Some people never learn”.
That’s a bit inflammatory considering you are assuming the new iPhone will be called the iPhone 5 with the next being the 5S (“because it will be the iPhone 5S”).
There’s no guarentee it’ll be the iPhone 5 at all, it may well be the “New iPhone” as the latest iPad was the “New iPad” instead of the iPad3.
As for the “pattern”, it has just been broken by the iPad and with corporations, unless they directly acknowledge the pattern then it remains as fluid as their management decides.
I get your point about the naming conventions, but perhaps it’d be friendlier to hold back on implying other posters’ stupidity when you make some potentially shaky assumptions yourself.
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August 20th, 2012 at 9:40 am
With regards to NFC, I don’t really care. There are places over here where I could use the technology, but in all honesty I don’t know if I trust the technology. I’d rather stick to my chip and pin card. I know chip and pin is not exactly great for security for your cash, but it is a lot more secure that just swiping a card (or phone) across a sensor.
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August 20th, 2012 at 9:49 am
There is something I learned when I was a kid from my grandfather:
Never mess with two things, someone’s spouse, and someone’s money.
Here’s how I’d do NFC…
First, have a retail partner to work with, like Target or Walmart. Someplace where enough people shop, and someone you trust to work with you if things go haywire. Work with them to install all the hardware needed to make it work. Try it out at a few stores… get the bugs out.
Next, I’d have it, like someone else posted, where you buy a card and have the cash on it, or link it to a credit card account, so there is an interim stop between the users’ bank account (where they buy groceries, gas, utilities, and pay rent/house payment), so if things do go horribly wrong, they have the credit card protections. Then, as the bugs get worked out, allow it to be attached to a bank account.
Just my 2 cents…
(and no, I’ve never messed with either. Opi is very wise in these matters.)
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August 20th, 2012 at 9:49 am
So the mini iPad rumours seem to be gaining some traction?
I’d be in the running for one if it’s at a low enought price point vs the iPad.
Something between an iPhone, an iPad and laptop would be quite useful but not if it’s closer to the price of the full sized iPad.
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August 20th, 2012 at 9:51 am
Oops, on the trusted partner thing… Try it at a few stores, then go nationwide, and let them have exclusivity for a month, and then have a team ready for the big rollout.
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August 20th, 2012 at 10:04 am
Just curious, where can you use NFC now? Since it is available on some android models, you would think it would be displayed at checkout registers. I don’t remember seeing it anywhere to date. My ATM card has “paypass” built into it & i have used it at a few stores. It is not faster than swiping your card, you have to confirm the purchase amount, do you want cash back, ect. It’s not a quick swipe and go. Hopefully NFC is improved upon otherwise the adoption rate will be slow.
It’s not an issue for me if its not included in the IP5.
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August 20th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Hey guys…is invitation from apple out yet? Somebody got the invitation leak out, I dont know if this is legit or not? here it is……
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9996/iphone5invitation.jpg
Enjoy!
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August 20th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
@ Eric: I don’t think that is has rolled out nation wide as of yet. I do remember hearing about it being tested and or used in a couple markets. Isis, a mobile wallet that supports/uses NFC, was to be piloted in Austin, TX and Salt Lake City, UT. The pilot program was to start this summer. I have not kept an eye out on it or have even followed up on this data. However, you can see the stores that are participating in the pilot program here at nfcworld.com. Look at the “Hot Topics” banner and click “ISIS”. It will tell you about the pilot program. But the site in general has a wealth of information about NFC in general. Hope this helps.
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August 20th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
@bisayan
)))))))))))
it looks legit
i dont care for NFC,is useless in Romania.
dual core 1,5…1GB ram…4inch retina…better camera front/back…
and please,make that bezels smaller.
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August 20th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Hey everybody correct me if I’m wrong, but if the iPhone 5 announcement was indeed on September 12, wouldn’t the event already be known to the public? It’s only 3 weeks away and still no invitations
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August 20th, 2012 at 7:36 pm
@bisayan I don’t think that’s real. Look at the dock on the screen of the iPhone. It’s the old dock they used in iOS 1-3.x
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:25 am
@Random123
They’ll probably send out the invites to the select few about a week before the event.
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August 21st, 2012 at 5:02 am
The fact that the event is so small makes me think that the new iPhone will be another refresh, those “leaked” images are starting to seem more like an unfortunate reality
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:43 am
@Darren, I hope not.
It’d be a bitter pill to swallow after the 4S being a “refresh” of the iPhone4 if the next iteration was a refresh of the 4S.
I still think the next iPhone will be more than a refresh or a “stretch” of the 4S, it’ll be a totally new phone design. I may be clutching at straws but that’s the way i see it going.
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