Apple Job Listings Suggest NFC-Capable Devices Are Coming
January 28, 2011
Apple is renowned for its secrecy when it comes to future plans for their devices. However, that secrecy doesn’t mean much when they need to hire new people.
Two new job postings suggest next generation devices will include near field communication (NFC) capabilities. This would allow an exchange of data between two or more devices that are in close proximity. Future applications could serve as electronic tickets or money, or as electronic keys or even identity documents.
In other words, NFC-capable iPhones would replace paper money and credit cards.
One job listing is for a Global Payment Platform manager.
The successful applicant will:
- Explore new global payments initiatives and expansion; research and understand global payment rules and regulations
- Research payment vehicles for new markets – determine feasibility and prepare recommendations and a business case to support
- Communicate Apple’s payment strategy across the company and ensure alignment on strategy, tactics, and objectives for payment processing
- Educate internal groups on payment solutions and business impacts
- Research, prototype, design, and Implement new test instrumentation solutions for lab and manufacturing.
- Write technical assessment and cost analysis of existing and future instrumentation solutions
- Provide technical support to internal Apple fixture team
- Provide RFPs, acceptance test, and acceptance test criteria for 3rd solutions
- Participate in Audit of 3rd vendors
- Deployment of new technologies to the factories
- Troubleshooting, debugging, testing of test equipment in lab and manufacturing