Apple snaps up NFC and smart sensors maker AuthenTec for $356 million

By Christian Zibreg on Jul 27, 2012

Apple has made an interesting acquisition, snapping up smart sensors maker AuthenTec in a transaction valued at $356 million, Reuters reported Friday. AuthenTec makes fingerprint sensor chips used in personal computers.

What’s more, its swipe sensors can read the live layer beneath the skin’s surface and comply with strict government standards. They also produce chips that utilize near-field communication (NFC) technology which is said to be a part of this fall’s iPhone hardware refresh… Read More

 

BGR on iPhone 5: NFC, 4G LTE, 1GB RAM, fall release

By Christian Zibreg on Jul 18, 2012

Boy Genius Report is a hit and miss when it comes to Apple predictions and today the publication’s editor Jonathan Geller posted a story which essentially recycles a bunch of separate rumors concerning the next iPhone. According to the author, final production of the iPhone 5 will start later this summer, which is what both the know-it-all Wall Street Journal and reliable Japanese blog Macotakara heard previously… Read More

 

Apple scores iTravel patent featuring NFC and Passbook integration

By Christian Zibreg on Jul 10, 2012

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) had a busy morning, publishing as much as 23 newly granted patents for Apple, one of them concerning NFC technology rumored to debut on the next iPhone and Passbook, a new iOS 6 application that Apple’s marketing honcho Phil Schiller insists isn’t a direct payment solution. The iTravel patent, as it’s been dubbed, covers travel services such as a boarding pass and express check-in, amongst other stuff… Read More

 

On Apple’s plans for a mobile payment system

By Cody Lee on Jul 7, 2012

There have been a few rumors bouncing around the Apple community for the last two years that just won’t die out. Among them is the iPhone-embedded, iTunes-based mobile payment system. Pundits believe that Apple, and its 400 million iTunes accounts, has the ability to kickstart the struggling mobile payment industry.

Apple itself added fuel to the fire last month when it unveiled its new Passbook application. It acts like a digital wallet of sorts, allowing users to store event tickets, gift cards, and even creditcards on their iOS devices. But it’s still not the end-all mobile payment solution we were all expecting. At least not yet anyway… Read More

 

NFC seen coming to the next iPhone

By Christian Zibreg on Jun 25, 2012

When a high-ranked Apple executive says Apple won’t do something, expect quite the opposite. So when Apple’s worldwide marketing chief Phil Schiller told the Wall Street Journal that Passbook, a new app in iOS 6, won’t be a direct payment product, there was more to his words than met the eye.

We’ve also heard countless rumors involving an Near Field Communication NFC chip coming to the next iPhone to provide a hardware basis for secure contactless payments on the go. Apparently, recent code dumps that broke the taller iPhone news also indicate that NFC controllers are directly connected to the power management unit of the next iPhone… Read More

 

Apple’s most underrated WWDC announcement

By Cody Lee on Jun 14, 2012

Looking back at it, there was no shortage of announcements during Apple’s WWDC keynote on Monday. An all-new MacBook model, major updates to its desktop and mobile operating systems, and a new Maps app — not bad for an afternoon.

But amongst all of the oohs and ahhs of the new products and updates, there was one particular announcement that sort of flew under the radar. According to Apple, it now has more than 400 million active credit card-linked iTunes accounts… Read More

 

Rumor: Apple developing iPay as the next iPhone becomes your iWallet

By Christian Zibreg on May 3, 2012

Yeah, I know analysts promised us flying cars many times before, but bear with me for a second. In addition to opining that the time is not right for an Apple-branded television set until 2014 due to dire economic conditions, the same credible analyst also advised clients that a mobile payment platform from Apple is to be expected.

He calls it iPay and guesstimates it’ll work with NFC technology believed to be in the cards for an upcoming iPad and iPhone hardware refresh… Read More

 

Who needs NFC when you can pay wirelessly right now using Square?

By Cody Lee on Mar 26, 2012

NFC (near field communications) technology has been a rumored “upcoming” iPhone feature for quite some time now. It was supposed to turn up in last year’s model (obviously it didn’t). And of course it’s expected in this year’s release.

What’s the big deal? Well NFC is the backbone of many mobile payment systems. And everyone is waiting for Apple to enter that space. But why wait for NFC, when you can pay wirelessly with your iPhone right now using Square? Read More

 

Apple granted key patent for ‘iWallet’

By Jake Smith on Mar 6, 2012

Many Android device manufacturers have opted to include near field communication (NFC) technology inside of their devices. NFC allows customers to transmit data between two devices. The biggest use for NFC is for mobile payments – which Google has been actively pursuing with its Google Wallet technology.

Apple has been granted a new patent for the ‘iWallet’ from the United States Trademark & Patent Office, as outlined by Patently Apple. The new patent allows for Apple to include NFC technology into the iPhone for mobile payments… Read More

 

Apple Working on Wireless Mobile Payment System

By Cody Lee on Jan 31, 2012

In the months leading up to Apple’s Fall iPhone announcement last year, we heard dozens of rumors that never materialized. Obviously the big one was that the handset was going to feature a major hardware redesign, but there were others.

NFC (Near Field Communications) compatibility is another rumor that never panned out. The iPhone 4S launched without any sign of NFC chipsets. But that doesn’t mean that the next iPhone won’t feature the technology… Read More

 

Patent Reveals That Apple Does Have Interest in NFC

By Cody Lee on Nov 19, 2011

In the months leading up to Apple’s Fall iPhone announcement, there were several rumors that claimed Apple’s next smartphone would feature NFC technology. Competing devices have had the wireless payment tech for years, but it’s only recently started to gain traction.

Obviously, the gossip didn’t materialize, as there isn’t any kind of NFC chipset in the iPhone 4S. But that doesn’t mean that Apple is ignoring the technology. The company was recently awarded a patent regarding Near Field Communications in mobile devices… Read More

 

Apple Stores Looking to Enable Self-Checkouts Via iOS App

By Cody Lee on Oct 31, 2011

Apple Stores are already considered trendsetters in the retail space. From their awe-inspiring architecture to their product-focused environments, the Cupertino company’s world-wide chain has other retailers turning green with envy.

Now it seems like the Mac-makers are looking to start another fad: self-checkout. No, we’re not talking about those big machines at your local Walmart. We’re talking about customers paying for items using their iPhones without the help of a sales clerk… Read More

 

Google Introduces Mobile Payments for Smartphones with Google Wallet

By Alex Heath on Sep 19, 2011

Google has finally unveiled its public service for mobile payments called Google Wallet. The NFC-based technology will initially work with select Android devices and participating merchants to give customers the ability to pay with their smartphones.

Short of a South Korean carrier offering an NFC-equipped iPhone case to customers, mobile payment technology has yet to make its name known on the iOS platform. Apple is expected to unveil an iPhone with an embedded NFC chip next year… Read More

 

Did a Samsung Executive Just Confirm NFC for the iPhone 5?

By Cody Lee on Sep 19, 2011

In the interesting Korea Times article we mentioned earlier today, a Samsung executive was quoted in saying that the company was looking to ban all iPhone 5 sales in Korea once the new device launched.

He claimed that Samsung was going to take Apple to court over its violation of the company’s patents related to wireless technology. But thankfully, the senior level executive didn’t stop there with the information…
Read More

 

Certified iPhone NFC Case and Service Launched by South Korean Carrier

By Alex Heath on Sep 19, 2011

With circulating rumors that Apple will eventually introduce an iPhone with NFC technology, South Korean carrier KT Telecom is taking matters into its own hands. KT has launched the iCarte 420K NFC case for the iPhone 4.

Developed by Canadian company Wireless Dynamics, the $63 iCarte gives the iPhone Near Field Communications capabilities with the carrier’s online payment service/digital wallet and South Korean credit card companies. Read More

 

Study Shows Apple Users More Likely to Use Mobile Payments

By Oliver Haslam on Aug 23, 2011

A new study suggests that iPhone owners are the most likely to be open to the idea of mobile payment systems, according to GigaOM.

The study, conducted by UK firm YouGov, reported that 46% of UK iPhone owners would be willing to pay bills using their handsets, while 62% would happily transfer funds. 69% would check their balances, with 45% keen on using their iPhone to pay other people… Read More

 

Give Your iPhone 4 NFC Capabilities

By Cody Lee on Jul 29, 2011

NFC technology seems to be taking the mobile phone industry by storm. Not only do multiple Android and Nokia models sport the feature, Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5 has even been rumored to contain the tech.

But if you’re tired of waiting for Apple to make a next-gen iPhone announcement, and you don’t plan on leaving iOS anytime soon, we’ve come across a way for you to enjoy NFC technology in your current device. All you need is an iPhone 4 and a bit of an adventerous side… Read More

 

Bluetooth 4.0 to Replace NFC in Next iPhone?

By Cody Lee on Jul 24, 2011

NFC has been a popular topic of discussion in the tech world over the last several months. Near Field Communications technology has already been introduced in several Android devices, and has been rumored to appear in the next iPhone.

While imbedding an NFC chip in Apple’s next smartphone would help standardize the technology, ItProPortal thinks Apple has a different plan in mind for the iPhone. Have you ever heard of Bluetooth 4.0? Read More

 

Google Unveils Google Wallet, Apple Sits and Learns

By Sebastien Page on May 26, 2011

Earlier today, Google unveiled yet another product: Google Wallet. Very simply said, Google Wallet is the result of a partnership that will allow Google to have NFC (Near Field Communication) built in most of upcoming Android devices.

For those of you who don’t know, NFC is a wireless technology, which among other usages, will allow you to replace your credit card with your smartphone. Sounds awesome, doesn’t it? Read More

 

Square Introduces “Card Case” to Revolutionize Mobile Payments

By Alex Heath on May 24, 2011

We’ve told you about the revolutionary mobile payment system for iOS, called Square. As a creation by  Twitter’s co-founder, Jack Dorsey, Square aimed at bringing mobile payments to the iPhone and iPad in a way that’s never been done before.

As was unveiled yesterday, Square has introduced the next step in its path towards dominance of the mobile payment industry, called the Card Case. Instead of paying with a physical credit card or cash, why not just use an app and your own name? Read More

 
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