The iPhone 5 has yet to be released. However, speculation about what it might or might not include has been rampant. Even though the iPhone 4 is just now being made available to a segment of consumers (those on the Verizon networks), there has already been a lot of discussion about the next generation of iPhone and how the iPhone 4 version will compare to it.
Recently, the incorporation of Wave and Pay technology into the iPhone 5 model has had the cyber world abuzz. There are no definitive plans to use Wave and Pay, at least none shared publicly, but there have been rumours that it might be added to the next iPhone to be released.
Wave and Spend would be iPhone’s first venture into the mobile business market. This would acquire iPhone access to the lucrative transaction business. Wave and Pay will be made possible through the use of Close to Field Communication (National football conference) technology. This technology appears to be the catching on. There’s been talk that it will help Samsung in their brand new Android phones. Htc and Research Within Motion are allegedly set to utilize the actual technology in their cell phones as well.
Apple has the potential to carry a lot of weight in the mobile commerce market. They already have access to roughly 100 million credit card numbers. These have been made available to them from iTunes purchases. Having this many potential customers provides Apple with a great deal of influence and perhaps will result in the successful negotiation of better terms. As it stands, the average charge to retailers is about 2%. Apple could agree to a standard deal or opt not to and instead keep everything in-house. Apple is reportedly considering giving their customers the ability to choose.
Apple company is already trying out the actual wave and spend technology but on the small scale. As we speak, a few banks are providing niche cards equipped with monetary credentials that can be placed into smartphones, such as the iPhone. Google is in front of the curve in its utilization of NFC technology. They have utilized NFC technologies in their Nexus S mobile phones. Apple will likely be the following company to follow match.
Not only is Apple company rumoured to add the technologies to the iPhone Five but also to the iPad2. The actual incorporation of National football conference technology into cell phones would make it feasible for users to pay their bills through their cell phones. LG reportedly has plans to utilize a swipe system, which would make it possible for users to pay for products (at a land dependent store) without inputting a PIN number.
With the widespread use of NFC technology, individuals may soon being paying for items with their smartphones, rather than credit cards. This may be a bit surprising to some people but it ought not be. The advances in technology have been continuous and in many regards, sweeping.
As of right now, the incorporation of NFC technology by Apple, is simply rumour. However, there are many people who believe that it will happen soon. The industry definitely seems to be headed in that direction and Apple can’t afford to be left behind. The access that the company already has to credit card holders through their iTunes store, make the incorporation of NFC technology into their devices a real no brainer.
