The latest Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) report indicated the upcoming iPhone 6 could feature NFC (Near Field Communication). This rumor comes from a BrightWire report.
Apple could branch out into NFC technologies
The same report also claims Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) teamed up with China-based UnionPay to combine the company’s services with Passbook and other elsewhere.
Brightwire elaborated, “Apple is likely to incorporate a Near Field Communication (NFC) payment function in the next generation iPhone and has reached an agreement with China UnionPay on a mobile payment service, according to a source close to the matter. …In addition to NFC payment, the two companies will also work together on another mobile payment solution that can be used for purchases in Apple Stores, added the source.”
If this rumor turns out to be true, it would be a surprising move for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), especially considering how marketing lead Phil Schiller claimed NFC wouldn’t provide a solution to any problem. This was back in 2012. However, just last month, Ming-Chi Kuo (analyst for KGI Securities) claimed Apple would integrate these chips into the upcoming iPhone.
Apple looks for executives to help with NFC technology
Recent news also shows Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) hopes to continue with plans to launch a mobile payment service and NFC could help. Late last month, the Cupertino-based tech giant started looking for senior payments industry executives. The company already has millions of customers with personal accounts with credit card info stored into iTunes. The company’s interest in mobile payments was rumored for several years but didn’t really take off until early 2014. That was when the Wall Street Journal made the claim Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was working on a mobile payment service which would enable iOS users to use their iPhones to make purchases for physical goods in applications, on the internet, and retail stores.
There have also been rumors that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was in talks with PayPal for a possible partnership.
