Rumor: NFC chip spotted in photos of purported next-gen iPhone front assembly
New images thought to be of the front assembly for Apple's next-generation iPhone show a component never seen before in the company's handsets, prompting some to speculate the mystery part is a near field communication device.
It should be noted that AppleInsider cannot verify the unknown part's origin or intended use, and offers the following information solely for purposes of discussion.
The photos found on Sunday by Chinese site Apple.pro reportedly show a fully-assembled next-generation iPhone front assembly, and come from a Photobucket account that previously some of the first shots of the purported handset's front plate.
At first glance the images appear to be similar to those of a semi-assembled front panel published earlier this month, however closer inspection reveals more parts are present, including what could be a near field communication chip located next to the unit's front-facing camera. As noted by Japanese Apple blog MacOtakara, the square component covered by EMI shielding is in line with the dimensions of currently available NFC packages like NXP's 5 millimeter-by-5 millimeter solution.
In previous "leaked" photos, Apple was shown to have swapped the locations of the rumored handset's front-facing camera and IR proximity sensor, thus leaving a sizable space to the left of the earpiece.
Source: "meme_168's" Photobucket via Apple.pro
The NFC standard uses RFID (radio frequency identification) technology to allow two electronic devices to communicate when in close proximity to each other. A number of companies are starting to adopt the standard as a means of payment with services like Google Wallet leading the way.
By storing credit card, bank, or other digital payment information on a device, NFC can securely conduct transactions with other authorized devices. The system is already in use in countries such as Japan, but has yet to gain footing in the U.S.
Apple's intentions to utilize NFC are murky at best, but rumors have persisted that the company is looking to integrate NFC payments into the iPhone sometime soon. Fueling speculation is the upcoming Passbook app, slated to make its debut when iOS 6 rolls out this fall. On launch, the program is not expected to have transaction capabilities, and will be limited to storing data for tickets, store membership cards, and airplane boarding passes. That could change, however, if and when Apple decides to enter the mobile payment market. With millions of installed credit card holders already using iTunes, the company stands to make a significant impact if it chooses to link the online media store with an NFC solution.
While the Apple remains mum on Passbook's future, CEO Tim Cook said during the company's conference call for the third fiscal quarter of 2012 that the app is a "very key feature" in iOS, but declined to elaborate.
Also making an appearance in Sunday's photos were the previously reported protective display shielding as well as an installed home button and camera.
Apple is widely expected to unveil the sixth-generation iPhone on Sept. 12, with a U.S. release to follow on Sept. 21. Adding further evidence to the launch date rumors are alleged Verizon and AT&T employee vacation blackout dates scheduled between Sept. 21 and Sept. 30.
It should be noted that AppleInsider cannot verify the unknown part's origin or intended use, and offers the following information solely for purposes of discussion.
The photos found on Sunday by Chinese site Apple.pro reportedly show a fully-assembled next-generation iPhone front assembly, and come from a Photobucket account that previously some of the first shots of the purported handset's front plate.
At first glance the images appear to be similar to those of a semi-assembled front panel published earlier this month, however closer inspection reveals more parts are present, including what could be a near field communication chip located next to the unit's front-facing camera. As noted by Japanese Apple blog MacOtakara, the square component covered by EMI shielding is in line with the dimensions of currently available NFC packages like NXP's 5 millimeter-by-5 millimeter solution.
In previous "leaked" photos, Apple was shown to have swapped the locations of the rumored handset's front-facing camera and IR proximity sensor, thus leaving a sizable space to the left of the earpiece.
Source: "meme_168's" Photobucket via Apple.pro
The NFC standard uses RFID (radio frequency identification) technology to allow two electronic devices to communicate when in close proximity to each other. A number of companies are starting to adopt the standard as a means of payment with services like Google Wallet leading the way.
By storing credit card, bank, or other digital payment information on a device, NFC can securely conduct transactions with other authorized devices. The system is already in use in countries such as Japan, but has yet to gain footing in the U.S.
Apple's intentions to utilize NFC are murky at best, but rumors have persisted that the company is looking to integrate NFC payments into the iPhone sometime soon. Fueling speculation is the upcoming Passbook app, slated to make its debut when iOS 6 rolls out this fall. On launch, the program is not expected to have transaction capabilities, and will be limited to storing data for tickets, store membership cards, and airplane boarding passes. That could change, however, if and when Apple decides to enter the mobile payment market. With millions of installed credit card holders already using iTunes, the company stands to make a significant impact if it chooses to link the online media store with an NFC solution.
While the Apple remains mum on Passbook's future, CEO Tim Cook said during the company's conference call for the third fiscal quarter of 2012 that the app is a "very key feature" in iOS, but declined to elaborate.
Also making an appearance in Sunday's photos were the previously reported protective display shielding as well as an installed home button and camera.
Apple is widely expected to unveil the sixth-generation iPhone on Sept. 12, with a U.S. release to follow on Sept. 21. Adding further evidence to the launch date rumors are alleged Verizon and AT&T employee vacation blackout dates scheduled between Sept. 21 and Sept. 30.
Comments
Will this work in the UK when it's released ?
My only hope is that you can add any VISA or Mastercard by just typing in your card number and attaching the info!
Look at the top right of the chip, just behind it. You can see the edge of a wide+narrow something set into the assembly. Previous photos showed a hole in this location right up the the paint on the back of glass. Is this the fingerprint sensor? Perhaps hooked up directly to the NFC chip for added security? It seems to be the right dimensions, if you imagine it extending under the chip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rainbowofbeans
My only hope is that you can add any VISA or Mastercard by just typing in your card number and attaching the info!
Why? People already have their cards registered with iTunes. It would be easier to give, let's say passbook, the permission to use iTunes as a means of payment. All it needs is ones verification to start with.
A 10 year old NFC chip? Would they not instead use http://www.nxp.com/packages/SOT617-9.html?
NP
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluefish86
Look at the top right of the chip, just behind it. You can see the edge of a wide+narrow something set into the assembly. Previous photos showed a hole in this location right up the the paint on the back of glass. Is this the fingerprint sensor? Perhaps hooked up directly to the NFC chip for added security? It seems to be the right dimensions, if you imagine it extending under the chip.
Interesting idea, but I think the odds are against it. They probably haven't had time to integrate the fingerprint scanner yet and we don't' know for sure they are going to use it either.
Also, it's pretty much the worst location you could pick on the phone for a fingerprint scanner (at the top right by the camera lens), and the headphone jack was relocated to the bottom primarily so this sensor could be included. It would have made more sense to leave the jack at the top and put this sensor at the bottom if it was for fingerprints. Having the NFC sensor on the "pointing end" of the phone makes a lot more sense however.
The only thing that gives me pause is that this sensor looks about ten times larger than I would have expected. I thought NFC was supposed to be tiny? This thing is rather large.
FFFUUUU...the design is really growing on me, but NFC is shit. Bluetooth 4.0 LE is where it's at!
I'm going with finger print sensor also. It almost looks like there is a protective peel off membrane in the center of the square area. More so most of these sorts of sensors are in fact square. As for near field communications that would be a tiny chip possibly with an antenna near by.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazoobee
...and the headphone jack was relocated to the bottom primarily so this sensor could be included.
And to support adaptors for the new docking port.
I've read elsewhere that quite a few people think NFC is a gimmick. There are, however, millions of people in Japan that would tend to disagree...
IF it is a fingerprint reader I think it could be in the perfect location assuming the scanner is on the rear of the phone and you are right handed... If you hold your iPhone 4/4s like Steve told you not to, then place your index finger directly below the current headphone jack, there is very minimal effort required to "scan" it. Something apple would insist upon. But that's just my opinion... It might be trickier for lefties tho...
If the scanner is on the front, it's still not that hard to scan your print under the current headphone jack although placing it on the bottom would make more sense to me in that case.
Here's a pic from a youtube video showing the supposed iPhone 5 backplate with a possible "cut-out" location in the same spot as this chip...
Here's a link to original video here:
One more... A pic of the front with a small unusual cut-out in that exact location... None of this is assured and is just a guess in my opinion as all these leaked photos could be iPhoneys. They're just things I've noticed while following all the rumors.
You can edit posts after the fact (pencil button in the lower right) if you have more things to add on the same topic. Cheers!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
You can edit posts after the fact (pencil button in the lower right) if you have more things to add on the same topic. Cheers!
Thanx for the tip and sorry I missed that button (i did look for it...). I'm a newbie here...
#next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Hint: That is not a NFC chip nor is Apple utilizing NFC for their mobile payment strategy; however, the chip in question is new and the primary use is for mobile payments.
#next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Quote:
Originally Posted by MacBook Pro
#next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Hint: That is not a NFC chip nor is Apple utilizing NFC for their mobile payment strategy; however, the chip in question is new and the primary use is for mobile payments.
#next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Why is it so big compared to common NFC chips?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mstone
Why is it so big compared to common NFC chips?
If our speculation pans out... it would have extra work to do with respect to securely storing payment card info and the fingerprint reader. It would make sense to have them all in one chip, that way even with the full system compromised by hypothetical malware, your "card" data is safe. Design it such that once payment data is programmed in, the phone can never request it back from the chip, period. All the chip will do is allow the negotiation of one payment per finger scan via NFC.
btw thank you boozie, those are exactly the pictures I was thinking of.
Praze de Lawd... dis be de iPhone I wuz waitin' fo.