Amid a bucket full of anticipated features, iOS 17 is stirring up interest due to its exploration of a familiar component: the iPhone 6’s near-field communication (NFC) chip. This older tech is now enjoying its overdue limelight with Apple’s latest update.
Unearthing old potentials: Pay to play
The NFC support on iPhone goes back to the iPhone 6 era, nearly a decade ago. Its prime utilization so far has been with Apple Pay, introduced simultaneously. Although third-party app developers gained limited access to NFC within their apps three years later, it was only last year that Apple permitted third-party payment apps to use NFC for transactions.
In spite of its age, NFC’s application remained restricted primarily to payment procedures. Apple’s endeavor to unlock the iPhone’s potential as a key for cars, homes, hotels, offices, etc., required substantial input from other companies, resulting in a sluggish adoption. Therefore, NFC didn’t extend much beyond mobile payments until now.
NFC’s surprising resurgence: Just dropping in
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference sprung a surprise by launching three new features—NameDrop, NFC support for initiating AirDrop transfers, and SharePlay sessions—leveraging the NFC chip. NameDrop, allowing exchange of contact information between iPhones in close proximity, particularly grabbed attention.
Apple’s innovative usage of NFC focuses on inter-device interaction instead of relying on third parties. Given almost a decade of NFC adoption, almost any iPhone, especially those capable of running iOS 17, support this technology. This certainty enhances user experience, removing any apprehensions about feature compatibility.
Everything old is new again
Nearly a decade later, NFC is once again set to become a crucial technology in the iPhone. It’s clear that sometimes older features can reemerge as trendsetters. Interestingly, this sudden surge of NFC-based features seems to correspond to an easing of pandemic restrictions and a possible increase in close-proximity interactions.
However, challenges persist. The primary concern with such features is their discoverability. After years of iPhone users not having access to proximity-based data transfer features, their adoption of these new functionalities remains to be seen.
Table: New NFC Features on iOS 17
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| NameDrop | Enables sharing contact information with another iPhone in close proximity |
| NFC support for AirDrop | Initiates data transfers |
| SharePlay sessions | Streamlines interactions |
To our valued readers, what are your thoughts on this new wave of NFC-based features with iOS 17? Please feel free to share your opinions in the comments section below!
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