Apple Hires Near Field Communications Expert Benjamin Vigier

Apple has hired Near Field Communications expert Benjamin Vigier as Product Manager of Mobile Commerce.

Near Field Communication or NFC, is a short-range high frequency wireless communication technology which enables the exchange of data between devices over about a 10 centimeter (around 4 inches) distance. The technology is a simple extension of the ISO/IEC 14443 proximity-card standard (proximity card, RFID) that combines the interface of a smartcard and a reader into a single device. [W]

NearFieldCommunications World reports the Vigier has been in the field since 2004.


Most recently Vigier was product manager for mobile wallet, payment and NFC at US mobile payments specialist mFoundry. There he conceived and managed both the PayPal Mobile service and Starbucks' barcode-based mobile payments service and was also responsible for the development of mobile wallet applications for two top US mobile network operators and an NFC wallet application for a top three US bank.

This technology could bring new functionality to the iPhone. For example, you could use phone as an electronic wallet, easily transfer data between two side by side devices, or even use the phone as a security pass, etc.

Read More [via MacRumors]