Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is reportedly looking into using NFC beyond Apple Pay mobile payment. Other uses for NFC range from secure access to buildings to check-in at the airport or enabling/disabling your home alarm system.
The news first reported by The Information citing Apple representatives talking to technology partners like HID Global obviously to integrate their technology in the Apple iPhone.
Apple Pay rejected by retailers
The newly launched Apple pay which uses NFC was rejected by major US retailers to save money on credit card fees charged by credit card companies and banks.
The NFC reader for Apple pay was disabled by two major pharmaceutical chains namely Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) and CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS).
Apparently, retailers led by Wal-Mart and Best Buy, are working on their own mobile payment system called CurrentC. According to Bloomberg, this new payment system cuts out Visa, MasterCard and American Express all of which support Apple Pay.
NFC has huge potential
By using NFC beyond Apple Pay, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will be able to expand its NFC services for more revenue. Users can use their iPhone as an access badge at work, start their cars or even enable their home alarm. This means that all you need is your iPhone, no wallet, no access badge and no airline paper ticket.
Is Apple lagging in the use of NFC
NFC is not a very new technology, other players have already used it in their devices many years ago. in September 2011, HID®, the Trusted Source for Secure Identity Solutions, announced plans to support the company’s iCLASS® digital keys and mobile secure identity on NFC-enabled BlackBerry smartphones.
In 2012 BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) was selected by Canadian carrier joint venture EnStream to handle secure credential management for SIMs used in both Android and Windows smartphones as well as its own BlackBerry NFC devices.
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Wallet was first used in 2012 and then came Windows phone using NFC as well. It’s not clear why Apple is so late in this technology, but it could just be choosing the right time and moment.
