We’re now just three days away from the iPhone 6 announcement that we’ve all been counting down to, and with leaks upon leaks already having spoiled some aspects of the big unveiling, one feature that we’re still largely in the dark about it mobile payments.
Apple has been looking in from the outside while the likes of Google have tried to make NFC payments ubiquitous, and with so many credit cards already tied to Apple IDs for music, video and app purchases, letting users tap their iPhones against a receiver in order to pay for things has been argued as the next logical step for a while, and it looks like it may come to fruition this time around.
While rumors have already been swirling that Apple has agreed, or is in the process of agreeing feels with the likes MasterCard, VISA and American Express in order to bring mobile payments to iOS, it is now being reported that Walgreens and CVS will allow punters to buy groceries and drugs from their combined 15,000 locations using nothing but their smartphones.
Google is already working with both companies and has its own Google Wallet payment system in place, and if Apple does use NFC as the carrier for its payment system then we would imagine that adding support for the firm’s offering would be a relatively painless experience for the two large retailers. Of course, if the credit card companies are indeed on board as has already been intimated, then the need for store-specific deals is greatly reduced. Still, having the Apple logo front and center at checkout can never be a bad thing for the company, especially during the initial marketing phase for a new, high-end smartphone.
We’re now merely hours away from finding out all the answers to the many questions that still remain about the iPhone 6, and once we do know what’s what then the rumors will inevitably turn to iPads, so don’t get too comfortable!
We’re expecting Apple to announce two new iPhones along with a wearable device – dubbed as the iWatch – and both are expected to come equipped with NFC on board.
(Source: Re/code)
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