NFC Enabled iPhones Arrive in Taiwan

[caption id="attachment_6714" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="A Taiwanese operator has released iPhone cases"]

There was a lot of talk in the run up to the launch of the ‘new iPhone’ that the next generation iPhone would feature NFC payment technology.
As is often the case with these rumors, an NFC capable iPhone 4S wasn’t launched, meaning the accessory market has had to take it in to their own hands.

This case, designed by a mobile operator in Taiwan, fits over your existing iPhone or iPhone 4S injecting it with Near field communication technology.

So what is NFC for? Well in Taiwan the technology is currently being used to allow commuters to pay for bus and subway fairs, and some of the larger fast food chains will also accept it as payment.

The hope, for NFC developers in the future is that anyone anywhere in the world will be able to use their NFC enabled electronic device, phone, tablet, watch, to use as their only means of payment!

[caption id="attachment_6713" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The iPhone 4 and 4S is handy buy really ugly!"]

The case as it stands is only available in Taiwan and will cost roughly $44, which is pretty cheap!

Although the current design will only fit the previous and current generation iPhone 4 models, there is nothing stopping manufactures from making similar NFC cases for use on Android, Blackberry, Nokia and Windows phones.

Our guess for now though, is that NFC isn’t quite ready to be put in to use as an alternative to cash or a credit card.
Although the benefits for NFC are there, especially if the technology is linked to Paypal or Google wallet, their are obvious bugs and security risks in bringing a new technology in to the mainstream.

These are more than likely the concerns Apple have had while testing NFC in their own products. Apple are notorious for leaving out features which competitors have for years, to ensure the technology is bug free and as easy to use as possible when they decide to implement it.

Via: MicGadget