Apple's latest granted patent has the Cupertino company thinking hard about digital safety.

While Apple has yet to launch an NFC capable iPhone handset (and likely won’t until next year), Google has already announced its own mobile payments services, via which users will be able to pay for goods using a smart phone at any MasterCard PayPass point. However, can we really expect mobile payments to take off? As Google notes, in the past few thousand years we’ve only changed the way we pay three times (coins, notes, cards). Who says mobile payments is going to catch on?

While we're not necessarily expecting Apple to debut NFC ("Near Field Communication") technology in the fifth generation iPhone, we do envisage a future iPhone adopting the technology in the near future. However, according NXP Technology (speaking at Computex), Apple's "plans for NFC are unknown."

Google has just officially announced its upcoming Google Wallet service, which will allow Android fans to pay for goods using an NFC capable smart phone.

According to a leaked internal memo (from The Container Store), Google is planning on announcing its mobile payments service - "Google Wallet" - tomorrow. But, what does this mean for Apple?

Apple Retail's tenth anniversary may very well debut the backbone its future NFC campaign needs to properly flourish.

Lockitron is a recently launched service that allows users to lock their front door with a smart phone.

A recent rumor claims that Apple is indeed developing a near field communication (NFC) capable iPhone handset. Reportedly, the upcoming NFC capable iPhone will feature a new Qualcomm chip, and mobile payments will be made through iTunes.

According to a “source close to the company,” one way Apple is planning on utilizing near field communication (NFC) involves Mac personalization. Basically, users will be able to hook up their NFC capable iPhone to a “guest machine” and access their own files and apps.

Sources at several UK carriers claim that Apple will not announce a Near Field Communication (NFC) capable iPhone 5 this June, due to the "lack of a clear standard across the industry." Apparently, Apple will instead debut NFC technology in the sixth generation iPhone.

In a recent patent application, Apple has included a preview of its "E-Wallet" app icon. The mobile payment application is expected to launch with a future NFC capable version of the iPhone.

Deutsche Telekom recently noted that an NFC capable iPhone will arrive in 2011. The news was revealed at the company's Mobile World Congress press conference, yesterday.

Visa is reportedly testing NFC capable iPhones in Europe. The handsets are equipped with a hardware accessory that contains an NFC chip, as well as iOS compatible payment software installed.

Apple is renowned for its secrecy when it comes to future plans for its devices. However, that secrecy doesn’t mean much when it needs to hire new people.

According to the latest rumor, Apple's next generation iPhone and iPad will supposedly be "Near Field Communication" (NFC) capable, and could feature a "mobile payment system." This would allow Apple fans to use their iDevice in place of a debit or credit card when paying for goods.

Will Apple be bringing NFC and remote computing to the next iPhone? That's what we're hearing today.

Apple has hired an expert in near field communications, following a series of NFC related patents having been published by the company. Read on to find out more!