NFC iPhone conjecture ongoing

iPhone NFC conjecture ongoing, Apple could struggle if it passes on NFC

It isn’t going to be long until we know one way or the other whether the iPhone 5 has NFC (near field communications) technology built in. We already know that Apple have developed  a lot of apps to potentially use NFC inside and outside of payments, so a formalized NFC payments market isn’t required for the iPhone to have success using NFC. Day in, day out here at NFC Rumors we share uses for NFC that extend far beyond payments and it is hard to believe that Apple doesn’t realize this and want to capitalize on the capabilities that the Cupertino company could bring to the technology.

Rumors are circulating that the iPhone is going to be available on Sprint (the only non-Isis carrier in the United States) and that the screen is of the sub 4-inch variety. See the BGR photo below that shows BestBuy is expecting a Sprint iPhone next month. Yet of late the expectancy of NFC being included in the iPhone has been quiet with most assuming that the issue has been put to bed and the expectations have been set that Apple will not support NFC this time around. However more so, now more than ever the iPhone is facing increasing competition and the iPhone 4 is no longer competitive on specifications or features that are offered in Android and other handsets. With Nokia banding together with Microsoft, the competition is about to get more ferocious than ever. Apple could sue every single handset maker out there and it still wouldn’t dull the consumer demand for more convergence and higher specified phones one bit.

With the departure of Steve Jobs as CEO of the company the eyes of the world will be on Apple at its launch event for the iPhone 5. Those eyes will be assessing whether Apple without its true and trusted leader is still relevant and still delivers products that Mr. Jobs would want in his pocket. Other rumors have suggested that the iPhone 5 will work on and support LTE networks and this is a step in the right direction. Over the next year NFC’s relevance in handsets is set to explode, and if Apple’s offering doesn’t provide these capabilities for their consumers, those outside of the loyal and early adopters could chose to look elsewhere for their next NFC wonder phone.

It was Apple who extended mobile phones to not concentrate on calls. It was Apple who showed the world how convergence could be encapsulated within a mobile device and now the pressure is on Apple to come up with the next iteration of communications technology that is both novel and expands upon mobile devices capabilities.

If Apple embraces NFC it could rule the technology

If Apple embraces NFC, it could well change everything again. More than any other company Apple has the ability to tie NFC in to immersive experiences. Apple has the weight in the industry to spur a whole host of accessories to be built that supports NFC and Apple could make NFC the must-have technology with one announcement. Better cameras are great and expected, but iPhones already have good cameras so this won’t wow the general populace. iPhones already have great screens so another bump would be welcome but wouldn’t make the iPhone stand out. LTE is an important feature whatever way you look at it, but NFC is a new feature with new functions. It opens the iPhone to new possibilities, adds more revenue channels for Apple and keeps the iPhone relevant in the market.

A few months ago we wrote quite a bit about the likelihood of an NFC iPhone and have been quiet about it since. However, the invites for the Apple event are probably going to start appearing during the next couple of weeks for the world’s tech reporters. What we want to know is whether you will still buy an iPhone if it doesn’t have NFC and would be happy to pass on the Droid Prime (Nexus Prime) that will probably have superior specifications. Or would you pick one of the other NFC phones that are due to be released this fall? Assuming that Apple will not support NFC in the iPhone, have they shot themselves in the foot? From our perspective NFC needs Apple, and Apple needs NFC, but we want to hear your thoughts below in the comments to see whether you feel Apple could be impacted negatively if it doesn’t support NFC this next time round in the iPhone 5.