It seems Apple has found yet another way to drive a wedge between Windows and iOS. Turns out, Apple has been buying up patents for an alternative to NFC technology. While Apple is still expected to explore NFC, they have been developing their own version. In my opinion, developing an alternative to NFC can only slow down the growth of the industry. Now, businesses must be equipped to handle two forms of mobile payments, one to support NFC and the other to support people with an iPhone, which is roughly 30% of people who use smart phones. The whole idea behind this technology is the ease of use. Complicating the technology in any way can only hinder its growth.
If anyone has ever tried to work with both, they know that short of being a computer engineer, it is near impossible for these two systems to get along. Android utilizes Flash. IPhone uses Quicktime. Android uses Windows media player to listen to music. Everyone knows Apple uses itunes. A different NFC communication would halt the transfer of data between Android and iPhone users. Say your friend wants you to send him that new playlist you put together on your Android smartphone. Wait, he’s got an iPhone? Sorry friend, looks like your on your own. The same goes for videos. How am I supposed to send my friend a link to the internet’s latest adorable cat video via NFC if I’m running Flash and he’s using Quicktime?
At the end of the day, NFC has built itself up on a platform that is almost entirely based on how easily it works. Apple creating an alternative version for iPhone users can only serve to keep the technology out of everyday life.
Tx Systems, Inc. has invested heavily in the future of NFC applications. We believe that NFC is the future as it is a proven way to conduct secure contactless transactions. It would be a tragedy to see this technology kept out of the mass market because Apple overcomplicated it.
You can read the source article and more about Apple’s plans here:
-Zac
