In a few months' time, your iPhone and iPad might enable you to make purchases, as Apple is planning to introduce mobile payment services by mid-2011 through near field communication (NFC) technology.
Taking a leaf from the likes of Nokia, Samsung and Google, it's now Apple's turn to foray into near field communication (NFC), with the idea of enabling its users with a hassle-free mobile shopping experience. What this means is that the next-gen iPhone and iPad users can just walk into a store and make payment using those devices instead of a credit card.
NFC is a short-range high-frequency technology for data exchange between devices. Its chip is meant for active RFID reading, and communicating with other NFC devices.
Though mobile shopping has had limited success so far, some experts believe that Apple may well turn to be a game changer. It's reportedly already working on integrating the technology in its next-generation iPhones and iPads.
Consulting firm Envisioneering Group's director, Richard Doherty shared with Bloomberg that Apple is considering to start the service as early as mid-2011. The iTunes service could be revamped to comply with the mobile payment service and thereby it would stop asking for credit card details, and instead act as a contact-less card.
With Apple entering the fray, other handset manufacturers too can be expected to join the mobile commerce party. But the important thing to watch out for will be whether the service is wholeheartedly accepted by merchants and consumers.
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