NFC on the Apple iPhone
An explanation for Mobile POS app users
iPhone models from iPhone 6 forward have NFC technology built in. However, Apple’s NFC technology currently only works one way – you can SEND payments (ie Apple Pay) but you cannot RECEIVE payments (nor READ any sort of NFC tag).
There’s also no current access for developers to the NFC technology on iOS. As with all things Apple, there’s plenty of debate about whether Apple will open up access to the NFC controller within the iPhone or indeed whether the iPhone 6 is even capable of reading NFC tags at all (some argue that the antenna within the iPhone wouldn’t generate enough power within the tag).
So can PayNow app collect a customer’s card details with an NFC tap?
Android version – yes!
iOS version – no 🙁
Hopefully Apple’s hardware limitation will change in the near future. The moment it does, we will add this feature so your customers can tap either their phone or their credit card to pay you using PayPass or their mobile wallet.
Maeve Lander is an experienced software engineer from Western Australia, and founder of PayNow. Outside of work, she loves rock climbing, and is a keen musician (jazz trumpet).