9 Apple Rumors That Could Change the Payments Industry
Published August 27, 2012 8:42 AM
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Updated August 28, 2012 8:02 AM
1 Min Read
(Image: Bloomberg News)
Adding Expertise
Speculation about payments began as far back as August of 2010 when Apple hired Benjamin Vigier , who played a key role in developing successful mobile payment applications for PayPal and Starbucks. (Image: ThinkStock)
NFC Payments
This is an old rumor (by late 2011 Apple had already been granted 31 patents on near-field communication) but it was given new life by leaked images of the iPhone's new antenna design . The updated design could finally accommodate NFC tech for contactless payments — and upset NFC initiatives at many other companies. (Image: ShutterStock )
Dock Connector
Apple is rumored to use a new dock connector for its next iPhone. Any payment-acceptance hardware that uses this connector, rather than the headphone jack, to communicate with the phone would need to change its design. (Image: ShutterStock )
Mini iPad
Many people expect Apple to announce a smaller version of its iPad , similar in size to Google's new Nexus 7 tablet. Perhaps Apple will also add an NFC chip to this version, so that it can make payments like the Nexus 7 does with Google Wallet . (Image: Bloomberg News)
Passbook
Travel Time
In early July, Apple received a patent for a theoretical iTravel application, a service for NFC-enabled phones that allows consumers to buy airline tickets and then use their phones to board. Such a straightforward use case could catch on fast with consumers. (Image: Bloomberg News)
4G
The next iPhone might have a faster 4G data connection , as the new iPad does. This would allow mobile wallets to make faster payments — if it works. 4G coverage is still spotty, and Apple even had to remove the "4G" label from its iPad in some regions to avoid misleading customers. (Image: ThinkStock)
iMessages
The next iOS operating system should greatly improve Apple's iMessages system. This update could boost the capabilities of payment technologies that rely on text messages for alerts, receipts and other functions. (Image: Bloomberg News)
Bigger Screen
The next iPhone is rumored to have a bigger screen , which could allow it to present more data to users during the payment process. It could also allow easier-to-read bar codes for mobile wallets . (Image: ThinkStock)
The Anti-Rumor
Apple's head of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, told The Wall Street Journal that the company does not intend to compete in the digital-wallet market. Don't read too much into that — Steve Jobs used to say Apple had no interest in developing a phone or a tablet . (Image: Bloomberg News)
