Yet again, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has elected to forgo near field communication, or NFC. Neither the iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C contain NFC chips, and based on recent additions to iOS, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) may choose to avoid using NFC technology for the foreseeable future.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s decision to ignore NFC certainly doesn’t help chipmakers that rely on the technology, but that said, it doesn’t necessarily signal NFC’s imminent death.
Using NFC, smartphones and tablets are able to easily communicate with the world around them. Samsung has been a big proponent of the technology, actually focusing much of its advertising strategy around NFC.
Samsung’s “S Beam” allows owners of Galaxy handsets to share pictures, videos and playlists. It uses NFC.
Until now, that’s one feature that the iPhone has lacked. But that will change later this month with the rollout of iOS 7. The updated version of Apple’s mobile operating system includes “AirDrop” — a feature that will, like Samsung’s S Beam, give iPhone owners the ability to easily share files. But rather than use NFC, AirDrop relies on WiFi and Bluetooth.
In fact, when Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced AirDrop, it actually took a subtle swipe at NFC, with Apple’s mobile development chief Craig Federighi noting that “there’s no need to wander around the room, bumping your phone.”
Then there’s iBeacon. Using Bluetooth, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has devised an alternative way to handle mobile payments. As Gigaom notes, stores can set up beacons that can communicate with the phones of customers at a distance of up to 50 meters. eBay‘s PayPal has devised a similar service (the aptly titled Beacon) that also has the ability to handle mobile payments with Bluetooth technology.
But NFC remains popular among Android OEMs
Yet, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) isn’t the only handset maker — far from it. Google’s Android remains dominant, taking nearly 80% of the market in the second quarter, according to research firm IDC, and Android OEMs remain big proponents of NFC.
Besides Samsung, Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) is a major fan of the technology. The Japanese electronics giant has begun to stick NFC chips in nearly all of its electronics — not just its smartphones and tablets, but also its TVs and stereos.
In fact, NFC appears to be fundamental to Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE)’s larger electronics strategy. Apple has long been famous for its software-based ecosystem, but Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) is using NFC to establish a hardware one. If an individual happens to own a Sony Xperia Z smartphone, they might be more inclined to purchase a Sony Bravia TV or Sony stereo system. At first glance, those electronics appear to be unrelated — but using NFC, Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) has managed to connect them.
