Airline tech chief expects 2012 iPhone with NFC to dominate e-tickets

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
Apple's Passbook application in iOS 6 will likely be enhanced with digital wallet and ticketing services thanks to a near-field communications chip in the company's next-generation iPhone, according to an executive with an airline information technology company.

Jim Peters, the chief technology officer at SITA, a company that specializes in IT and telecommunication services for the airline industry, spoke last Thursday at the annual Air Transport IT Summit in Brussels, Belgium, according to IDG News Service. He believes NFC technology for services like e-wallets and digital airline ticketing will be widespread by the end of this year, thanks largely to the inclusion of an NFC chip in Apple's next iPhone.

Peters said that NFC adoption up until now has been held back because network operators and smartphone makers have been debating who will take a cut of NFC transactions. Wireless providers and companies like Google and Research in Motion haven't been thinking about the user, he said.

"Who is thinking of the user? Apple," he said. "They don't argue about it with anybody. They came out with Passbook last week, which is an electronic wallet that they are going to start putting stuff on."

The SITA CTO expects that Apple will "sneak up on the industry" by offering digital wallet and ticketing support with its Passbook application and the company's sixth-generation iPhone.

"They are going to get people using it (the Passbook application) and then all of a sudden they will allow credit cards to be used in there, on the next iPhone, which will include NFC," Peters said.

iOS 6


SITA is currently experimenting with NFC technology that will allow passengers to access the car park and business lounges at the airport in Toulouse, France, using NFC technology. He expects the next step will be secure boarding passes that rely on wireless NFC technology for secure authentication, and he thinks that shift will come about because of Apple.

"You need to get ready, this is coming. This is going to happen," he told airline professionals at the summit. "By the end of the year the majority of smartphones that you go and buy will have NFC on them. If in October the next iPhone comes out and it has NFC on it, it's game over."

Passbook was highlighted as one of the hallmark features of iOS 6 by Apple at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month. The software is a new native application that will come built in to the next-generation mobile operating system when it launches this fall.

Passbook features a card-like interface that presents users' personal items. In one example provided by Apple, a user might have their boarding pass saved with Passbook, and if the boarding gate for their flight changes, the ticket would be updated to reflect this and the user would be sent a notification.

Passbook will also feature geolocation technology that will automatically pull up the appropriate card for a user based on their location. In one example, a user's Starbucks store card would show up when they visit the coffee chain.

Apple has been rumored for years to include NFC technology in a future iPhone, but to date no iPhone models have included an integrated NFC chip. Competing handsets, like Google's Nexus S, have included NFC chips, but e-wallet payments have yet to take off with services like Google Wallet.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 26


    I would be surprised if the next iPhone had NFC tech.  There is no infrastructure.  Apple rarely adds features that cannot be widely used.


     


    If Apple added NFC, it would first make deals with various third parties to have working infrastructure in place, and we would have heard leaks.


     


    I doubt that Apple will add NFC until it is well established.  Then they will improve upon it and take over.  Until then, the chip would be near useless, and Apple does not add useless features to their products.

  • Reply 2 of 26
    wurm5150wurm5150 Posts: 763member
    I would be surprised if the next iPhone had NFC tech.  There is no infrastructure.  Apple rarely adds features that cannot be widely used.

    If Apple added NFC, it would first make deals with various third parties to have working infrastructure in place, and we would have heard leaks.

    I doubt that Apple will add NFC until it is well established.  Then they will improve upon it and take over.  Until then, the chip would be near useless, and Apple does not add useless features to their products.

    NFC can be used other than e-wallets you know.. On the subject of mobile payments, with carriers, credit card companies, hardware manufacturers arguing over NFC who better to get NFC moving forward than the company known to do whatever the hell they want? Apple..
  • Reply 3 of 26
    nijiniji Posts: 288member


    when he says: 


    "They are going to get people using it (the Passbook application) and then all of a sudden they will allow credit cards to be used in there, on the next iPhone, which will include NFC," Peters said."


    does he mean he thinks NFC will not be included in the model coming out this autumn?


     


    If it doesnt include NFC of some kind other than what they have announced/hinted Passbook would be, it will be an unbelievable product development mistake and market mis-read.


     


    i hope we begin to hear rumors of apple meeting with visa and american express and jcb just like we did when apple was meeting with book publishers and movie studios just before the key notes.


     


     

  • Reply 4 of 26
    kibitzerkibitzer Posts: 1,114member
    Everybody's getting all lathered up about an NFC chip when going cashless is already underway with phones and tablets through software, and, if you want to receive payments, one little plugin doohickey. It's happening. Now.

    https://squareup.com/ (NO affiliate links)

    So the obvious question is, why would Apple trail the field and NOT include an NFC chip in its next smartphone?
  • Reply 5 of 26
    geuceygeucey Posts: 2member


    I read in a Cult of Mac article that Apple might be using low power Bluetooth 4.0 instead of NFC.


     


    http://www.cultofmac.com/168259/inside-apples-secret-plan-to-kill-the-cash-register/

  • Reply 6 of 26
    gustavgustav Posts: 827member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Kibitzer View Post



    So the obvious question is, why would Apple trail the field and NOT include an NFC chip in its next smartphone?


     


    Don't know, but barcode display/scanning is more secure than NFC. NFC can be scanned by someone standing near you in a crowd. You don't have to display a barcode until you are in front of the scanner.


     


    Couple that with the fact that US Customs sometimes insists on printed boarding passes and itineraries it's not going to take off as fast as it should.

  • Reply 7 of 26
    geuceygeucey Posts: 2member


    I read in a Cult of Mac article that Apple may use low-power Bluetooth 4.0 instead of NFC.


     


    http://www.cultofmac.com/168259/inside-apples-secret-plan-to-kill-the-cash-register/

  • Reply 8 of 26
    kibitzerkibitzer Posts: 1,114member
    gustav wrote: »
    Don't know, but barcode display/scanning is more secure than NFC..

    Theoretically, but a number of security measures are already being incorporated in NFC. Facial recognition is just one.
    Couple that with the fact that US Customs sometimes insists on printed boarding passes and itineraries it's not going to take off as fast as it should.

    Hogwash, unsubstantiated speculation and FUD.
  • Reply 9 of 26
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    gustav wrote: »
    Don't know, but barcode display/scanning is more secure than NFC. NFC can be scanned by someone standing near you in a crowd.

    No it isn't and no it can't. NFC has an effective range of 6" by creating a secure local loop.
  • Reply 10 of 26
    ryukryuk Posts: 29member
    Jerryswithced26 AirPrint is a feature that apple implement that's is not widely use so I could see NFC in the next Iphone
  • Reply 11 of 26
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    ryuk wrote: »
    Jerryswithced26 AirPrint is a feature that apple implement that's is not widely use so I could see NFC in the next Iphone

    That's neither true nor an indication of anything.
  • Reply 12 of 26
    ryukryuk Posts: 29member
    (ed, this is false, see below)

    Yes it is hp printers are the only one that support AirPrint and only a select few at that
  • Reply 13 of 26
    macbook promacbook pro Posts: 1,605member
    ryuk wrote: »
    Yes it is hp printers are the only one that support AirPrint and only a select few at that

    Here is that very limited selection of Apple AirPrint compatible printers available:

    Brother
    Brother DCP-J525N
    Brother DCP-J525W
    Brother DCP-J725DW
    Brother DCP-J725N
    Brother DCP-J925DW
    Brother DCP-J925N
    Brother MFC-J280W
    Brother MFC-J425W
    Brother MFC-J430W
    Brother MFC-J432W
    Brother MFC-J435W
    Brother MFC-J5910DW
    Brother MFC-J625DW
    Brother MFC-J825DW
    Brother MFC-J825N
    Brother MFC-J835DW
    Brother MFC-J955DN
    Brother MFC-J955DWN


    Canon
    Canon MG5310
    Canon MG5320
    Canon MG5330
    Canon MG5340
    Canon MG5350
    Canon MG5370
    Canon MG5380
    Canon MG6210
    Canon MG6220
    Canon MG6230
    Canon MG6240
    Canon MG6250
    Canon MG6270
    Canon MG6280
    Canon MG8220
    Canon MG8230
    Canon MG8240
    Canon MG8250
    Canon MG8270
    Canon MG8280
    Canon MX431
    Canon MX432
    Canon MX434
    Canon MX435
    Canon MX436
    Canon MX437
    Canon MX438
    Canon MX511
    Canon MX512
    Canon MX513
    Canon MX514
    Canon MX515
    Canon MX516
    Canon MX517
    Canon MX518
    Canon MX711
    Canon MX712
    Canon MX714
    Canon MX715
    Canon MX892
    Canon MX893
    Canon MX894
    Canon MX895
    Canon MX897
    Canon MX898


    EPSON
    EPSON Artisan 730
    EPSON Artisan 837
    EPSON EP-804A
    EPSON EP-804AR
    EPSON EP-804AW
    EPSON EP-904A
    EPSON EP-904F
    EPSON ME Office 940FW
    EPSON PX-1600F
    EPSON PX-1700F
    EPSON PX-504A
    EPSON PX-B700
    EPSON PX-B750F
    EPSON Stylus NX430
    EPSON Stylus NX530
    EPSON Stylus NX635
    EPSON Stylus Office BX535WD
    EPSON Stylus Office BX630FW
    EPSON Stylus Office BX635FWD
    EPSON Stylus Office BX935FWD
    EPSON Stylus Photo PX730WD
    EPSON Stylus Photo PX830FWD
    EPSON Stylus SX440W
    EPSON Stylus SX445W
    EPSON Stylus SX535WD
    EPSON Stylus TX435W
    EPSON Stylus Photo TX730WD
    EPSON WorkForce 545
    EPSON WorkForce 645
    EPSON WorkForce 7510
    EPSON WorkForce 7520
    EPSON WorkForce 845
    EPSON Workforce WF-7011
    EPSON Workforce WF-7511
    EPSON Workforce WF-7515
    EPSON Workforce WF-7521
    EPSON Workforce WF-7525
    EPSON WP-4010
    EPSON WP-4011
    EPSON WP-4015
    EPSON WP-4020
    EPSON WP-4023
    EPSON WP-4025
    EPSON WP-4090
    EPSON WP-4091
    EPSON WP-4095
    EPSON WP-4511
    EPSON WP-4515
    EPSON WP-4520
    EPSON WP-4521
    EPSON WP-4525
    EPSON WP-4530
    EPSON WP-4531
    EPSON WP-4533
    EPSON WP-4535
    EPSON WP-4540
    EPSON WP-4545
    EPSON WP-4590
    EPSON WP-4595
    EPSON XP-400


    Hewlett Packard
    HP Deskjet 3050A J611
    HP Deskjet 3054A J611
    HP Deskjet 3070A
    HP Envy 100 e-All-In-One D410
    HP Envy 110 e-All-In-One D411a
    HP Envy 114 e-All-In-One D411a
    HP LaserJet P1102w Printer
    HP LaserJet P1606dn Printer
    HP LaserJet Pro 100 color MFP M175nw
    HP LaserJet Pro 300 Color MFP M375nw
    HP LaserJet Pro 400 Color M451nw-M451dn-M451dw
    HP LaserJet Pro 400 Color MFP M475dn-M475dw
    HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fn Color MFP
    HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fnw Color MFP
    HP LaserJet Pro CP1025nw Color Printer
    HP LaserJet Pro CP1525nw Color Printer
    HP LaserJet Pro M1212nf MFP
    HP LaserJet Pro M1213nf MFP
    HP LaserJet Pro M1214nf MFP
    HP LaserJet Pro M1216nf MFP
    HP LaserJet Pro M1217nfw MFP
    HP LaserJet Pro M1536dnf MFP
    HP Officejet 4620 e-All-In-One
    HP Officejet 6100 e-Printer H611a
    HP Officejet 6500A e-All-In-One E710a
    HP Officejet 6500A Plus e-All-In-One E710n
    HP Officejet 6600 e-All-In-One H711a
    HP Officejet 6700 e-All-In-One H711n
    HP Officejet 7500A Wide Format e-All-In-One E910a
    HP Officejet Pro 8100 e-Printer N811a
    HP Officejet Pro 8500A e-All-In-One A910a
    HP Officejet Pro 8500A Plus e-All-In-One A910g
    HP Officejet Pro 8500A Premium e-All-In-One A910g
    HP Officejet Pro 8600A e-All-in-One Printer N911a
    HP Officejet Pro 8600A Plus e-All-in-One N911g
    HP Officejet Pro 8600A Premium e-All-in-One N911g
    HP Photosmart 5510 e-AiO B111a
    HP Photosmart 5514 e-AiO B111h
    HP Photosmart 6510 e-AiO B211a
    HP Photosmart 7510 e-AiO C311a
    HP Photosmart e-All-in-One D110a
    HP Photosmart eStation C510
    HP Photosmart Plus e-All-In-One B210a
    HP Photosmart Premium e-All-In-One C310
    HP Photosmart Premium Fax e-All-In-One C410a
    HP Photosmart Wireless e-All-In-One B110—Europe and Asia-Pacific
    HP TopShot LaserJet Pro M275


    Lexmark
    Lexmark C734
    Lexmark C736
    Lexmark C746
    Lexmark C748
    Lexmark C792
    Lexmark C925
    Lexmark C950
    Lexmark E460
    Lexmark E462
    Lexmark OfficeEdge Pro4000
    Lexmark OfficeEdge Pro4000c
    Lexmark OfficeEdge Pro5500
    Lexmark OfficeEdge Pro5500t
    Lexmark Pro715
    Lexmark Pro915
    Lexmark S315
    Lexmark S415
    Lexmark S515
    Lexmark T650
    Lexmark T652
    Lexmark T654
    Lexmark W850
    Lexmark X460
    Lexmark X463
    Lexmark X464
    Lexmark X466
    Lexmark X548
    Lexmark X652
    Lexmark X654
    Lexmark X656
    Lexmark X658
    Lexmark X734
    Lexmark X736
    Lexmark X738
    Lexmark X748
    Lexmark X792
    Lexmark X860
    Lexmark X862
    Lexmark X864
    Lexmark X925
    Lexmark X950
    Lexmark X952
    Lexmark X954


    Samsung
    Samsung ML-1865W
    Samsung ML-1865WK
    Samsung ML-1866W
    Samsung SCX-3205W
    Samsung SCX-3205WK
    Samsung SCX-3206W


    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4356
  • Reply 14 of 26
    kingkueikingkuei Posts: 137member
    ryuk wrote: »
    Yes it is hp printers are the only one that support AirPrint and only a select few at that

    That's factually incorrect. There are a lot of AirPrint capable printers from multiple manufacturers.

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4356
  • Reply 15 of 26
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Oh, good. I was going to post that list, but you've saved me the time.
  • Reply 16 of 26
    quinneyquinney Posts: 2,528member


    What is the estimated cost per phone for adding this NFC chip?  Anyone know?

  • Reply 17 of 26
    macbook promacbook pro Posts: 1,605member
    Oh, good. I was going to post that list, but you've saved me the time.

    Sorry for posting the entire list but logic suggests that anyone too lazy to type three words in a search engine then choose the very first link is too lazy to click on a hyperlink. Then again said person might be too lazy to read such a large list of Apple AirPrint compatible printers.
  • Reply 18 of 26
    cvaldes1831cvaldes1831 Posts: 1,832member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by quinney View Post


    What is the estimated cost per phone for adding this NFC chip?  Anyone know?



     


    Probably pennies per handset. After all, the Japanese and South Koreans have been using NFC-enabled phones since about 2005.


     


    Note that there are already plenty of NFC chips out there (transit cards, some credit cards, etc.). My American Express Blue card used to have the contactless PayPass chip in it (oddly, the most recently issued card does not).


     


    There's also a good chance that the NFC functionality would be part of a feature set in another chip. It is likely that there are multiple ways for Apple to implement NFC functionality, with different levels of complexity and integration.


     


    We won't really know until someone like iFixit or iSuppli tears down a handset after the release and itemizes the components.

  • Reply 19 of 26
    sockrolidsockrolid Posts: 2,789member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by JerrySwitched26 View Post


    I doubt that Apple will add NFC until it is well established.  Then they will improve upon it and take over.  Until then, the chip would be near useless, and Apple does not add useless features to their products.



     


    I see your point, but NFC hardware and software are relatively cheap and risk-free to develop and deploy.  And Apple does tend to start many technology trends, and mobile contactless payments could be next.  400 million active iTunes Store accounts with credit cards could go a long way toward convincing retailers, airlines, theaters, stadiums, etc. to go with Apple's (eventual) solution.


     


     


    "The best way to predict the future is to invent it."


    - Alan Kay


  • Reply 20 of 26
    sockrolidsockrolid Posts: 2,789member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by cvaldes1831 View Post


     


    Probably pennies per handset. After all, the Japanese and South Koreans have been using NFC-enabled phones since about 2005.



     


    And they've been using NFC-enabled credit cards since the early 1990s.

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