The next iPhone could contain near-field communication (NFC) technology, or something very similar to it, thanks to a patent issued to Apple this week.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the company a patent over "techniques for triggering a process within a portable electronic device that identifies itself for purposes of establishing communications with another device that is in proximity."
Apple is finally catching up, on its own terms
Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, doubted NFC as a solution to any of today's problems just last month after the iPhone 5's unveiling.
Instead, he touted Passbook as an alternative, even though it can't process payments at NFC terminals. He could still be right that NFC isn't in Apple's future, as the company does look as if it's technically going with an NFC alternative.
Apple has a history of striking out on its own, from bypassing USB Micro for its own Lightning cable, to developing DisplayPort Mini instead of using HDMI or HDMI mini, to sticking with FireWire instead of being completely sold on USB.
Apple's patent for a NFC alternative is joined by a biometric iPhone patent that would allow iOS users securely unlock their devices with their fingerprint, eyes or face.
All of the patents will of course have to wait for new hardware, like the iPhone 6 and iPad 4, arrive from to Apple.
Via Patently Apple
