Apple will reportedly add NFC (Near Field Communication) support to iOS in 2012, according to a DigiTimes report.
Microsoft and Apple are both said to be enabling support for the standard that allows for simplified transactions, data exchange, and wireless connections between two devices that are in proximity to each other.
With both companies on board the proportion of NFC-enabled smartphones could quickly increase from less than 10% currently to over 50% in two to three years, according to other smartphone makers.
SIM-based NFC promoted by the GSM Association has won support from 45 mobile telecom carriers around the world, including AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Orange, Vodafone, Telefonica, Deutsche Telekom, Korea Telecom, Bharti Airtel, China Mobile and China United Network Communications, to become the mainstream NFC standard, the sources pointed out. This affords a clear direction for handset vendors and developers of applications to move toward applications of NFC functions, the sources indicated.
"Microsoft and Apple are both said to be enabling support for the standard that allows for simplified transactions, data exchange, and wireless connections between two devices that are in proximity to each other."
Isnt that what Bluetooth does?
"Nearly" with the bluetooth 4.0 specification on the iPhone 4S.. But I think they will be having yhe NFC chip on the upcoming iPhone 5-6-7-8... next summer.. We will see.. Yeah..