4 ms·

Has Apple declared it doesn't have NFC? Couldn't this be a 'software enabled upgrade' in due time? A number of chipsets do 802.11ac + NFC/RFID + (wifi,etc) in

Has Apple declared it doesn't have NFC? Couldn't this be a 'software enabled upgrade' in due time? A number of chipsets do 802.11ac + NFC/RFID + (wifi,etc) in the same package. I suppose we won't know until teardowns begin appearing...

jrockway 14y ago
Which chipset does 802.11 and NFC? And even if there is a chipset that does both, NFC requires a flat antenna about the size of a contactless card somewhere near the surface of the phone.
- mkhattab 14y ago
  There's a new chipset that does 802.11, NFC and Bluetooth. According to the date of the press release below, this chip was released sometime in June 2012, so obviously not enough time for Apple to integrate in the new iPhone. http://www.marvell.com/company/news/pressDetail.do?releaseID=2421 http://www.marvell.com/company/news/pressDetail.do?releaseID...
  - stevenrace 14y ago
    Correct, but NXP, TI (w/ WiLink[1]), Broadcom, Qualcom, Intel,... are shipping similar products. As someone working in the 'Internet of Things' space, I wasn't so much disappointed with the lack of NFC - as Zigbee/802.15.4. Again, thanks to integrated radios, NFC and Zigbee can be done on the same chip. The (mass adopted) future will have to wait for another product/hype cycle. [1] Feb. 2012 - http://www.ti.com/general/docs/wtbu/wtbuproductcontent.tsp?templateId=6123&navigationId=12870&contentId=146147 http://www.ti.com/general/docs/wtbu/wtbuproductcontent.tsp?t...
    - jrockway 14y ago
      I too would like more Zigbee support. As it stands the modules are overpriced but quite useful.
brackin 14y ago
They didn't but seems unlikely. Would be good if they could.
herval 14y ago
Historically, this is not something Apple has ever done. It doesn't even make sense, since their main money maker is selling new devices - not software-activating features on older models...
- lumisota 14y ago
  While I accept the premise of your comment (that Apple won't do this), I have to note that they released a software update to enable 802.11n, costing $1.99.

jrockway 14y ago

Which chipset does 802.11 and NFC? And even if there is a chipset that does both, NFC requires a flat antenna about the size of a contactless card somewhere near the surface of the phone.

mkhattab 14y ago
There's a new chipset that does 802.11, NFC and Bluetooth. According to the date of the press release below, this chip was released sometime in June 2012, so obviously not enough time for Apple to integrate in the new iPhone. http://www.marvell.com/company/news/pressDetail.do?releaseID=2421 http://www.marvell.com/company/news/pressDetail.do?releaseID...
- stevenrace 14y ago
  Correct, but NXP, TI (w/ WiLink[1]), Broadcom, Qualcom, Intel,... are shipping similar products. As someone working in the 'Internet of Things' space, I wasn't so much disappointed with the lack of NFC - as Zigbee/802.15.4. Again, thanks to integrated radios, NFC and Zigbee can be done on the same chip. The (mass adopted) future will have to wait for another product/hype cycle. [1] Feb. 2012 - http://www.ti.com/general/docs/wtbu/wtbuproductcontent.tsp?templateId=6123&navigationId=12870&contentId=146147 http://www.ti.com/general/docs/wtbu/wtbuproductcontent.tsp?t...
  - jrockway 14y ago
    I too would like more Zigbee support. As it stands the modules are overpriced but quite useful.

brackin 14y ago

They didn't but seems unlikely. Would be good if they could.

herval 14y ago

Historically, this is not something Apple has ever done. It doesn't even make sense, since their main money maker is selling new devices - not software-activating features on older models...

lumisota 14y ago
While I accept the premise of your comment (that Apple won't do this), I have to note that they released a software update to enable 802.11n, costing $1.99.