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iOS for many years did not expose generic NFC functionality. I don't know if it is properly available even now? This meant that it was impossible to have the sa

iOS for many years did not expose generic NFC functionality. I don't know if it is properly available even now? This meant that it was impossible to have the same user experience on iOS and Android - a serious problem for any product that would have NFC a key interaction targeting both these platforms (as most western things do).

petepete 7y ago
To be honest I bought a Galaxy Nexus in 2011 with NFC and the promise of payment functionality, but I only got Android Pay (here in the UK) in 2017 when my bank, NatWest, decided to add support.
- martin_a 7y ago
  German Banks are somewhat behind on this, too. So I added a PayPal account and put my bank information there. Works like a charm.
mpclark 7y ago
This is IMHO the most correct answer. Apple. From experience lots of folks wanted to implement NFC but as soon as they got their idea to the C-suite all the execs whipped out their iPhones and it was game over. Add to that the years of shenanigans as mobile operators tried to make sure they were the gatekeepers for any sort of serious NFC usage (by controlling access to the SIM-based secure element) and the fact that QR can be implemented in an afternoon by any developer who fancies it without reference to anyone else and, well, here we are. But the NFC world is becoming a more hospitable place, and we will now see NFC gradually supplementing then replacing QR in many use cases (though not all, as some are much better suited to one or the other tech; they are not 100% interchangeable)
maxgashkov 7y ago
It's still not there yet. There are APIs now available for developers, but there is no way to react seamlessly to NFC tags in background. For example, it's impossible to put an NFC tag on a nightstand and run some automations when you put your phone there before sleep. You will have to tap a button to authorize the action. I do understand security implications that lead to that decision, but it makes the whole process really cumbersome to use for wide range of applications.

petepete 7y ago

To be honest I bought a Galaxy Nexus in 2011 with NFC and the promise of payment functionality, but I only got Android Pay (here in the UK) in 2017 when my bank, NatWest, decided to add support.

martin_a 7y ago
German Banks are somewhat behind on this, too. So I added a PayPal account and put my bank information there. Works like a charm.

mpclark 7y ago

This is IMHO the most correct answer. Apple. From experience lots of folks wanted to implement NFC but as soon as they got their idea to the C-suite all the execs whipped out their iPhones and it was game over. Add to that the years of shenanigans as mobile operators tried to make sure they were the gatekeepers for any sort of serious NFC usage (by controlling access to the SIM-based secure element) and the fact that QR can be implemented in an afternoon by any developer who fancies it without reference to anyone else and, well, here we are. But the NFC world is becoming a more hospitable place, and we will now see NFC gradually supplementing then replacing QR in many use cases (though not all, as some are much better suited to one or the other tech; they are not 100% interchangeable)

maxgashkov 7y ago

It's still not there yet. There are APIs now available for developers, but there is no way to react seamlessly to NFC tags in background. For example, it's impossible to put an NFC tag on a nightstand and run some automations when you put your phone there before sleep. You will have to tap a button to authorize the action. I do understand security implications that lead to that decision, but it makes the whole process really cumbersome to use for wide range of applications.