So the new iPhone 5, despite the lackluster (by Apple standards) reception at its unveiling, seems to be the be greatest consumer electronics device in history. With five million sales in its first weekend, the iPhone 5 is on course to shatter sales records. This is all despite not being the most technologically advanced handset on the market - with no NFC chip, Apple has chosen to forego a technology that many had expected as a given.
For starters, NFC stands for near field communication. It allows devices to transfer data simply by nearing each other and interacting, via motions like bumping. The concept allows for wireless payments with NFC-enabled devices, and the ability to interact with objects such as smart movie posters with NFC chips that would allow people to download movie times to their electronics device with a flick.
But is it a big deal for Apple that they didn't include it when many popular Android smartphones come equipped with the technology?
Apparently not.
Brett King from HuffingtonPostTech wrote an article titled, "Why No NFC in the iPhone Hurts Banks More Than Apple," in which he explained that the lack of an NFC ecosystem made it impractical. Furthermore, implementing such a system of payment systems that would allow for a smooth NFC-based economy would be expensive and take long. So in the end, perhaps Apple just chose to pick its battles.
While the initial report that the iPhone 5 wouldn't be NFC-compatible was seen as a blow to NFC technology, it doesn't have many developers that worried. NFC should continue to grow, and like King said, Apple will most likely 'jump in' rather than kickstart the technology while Android phones help make it go mainstream.
"If we think about the market forces right now, Android smartphones are going extremely strong, and NFC technology has got endorsements from technology vendors. I'm not too concerned, especially with bridging technologies available," said Datacard director of mobile solutions business development Sebastien Tormos at a conference in Australia according to ZDNet.