iPhone 5 ‘will not have have NFC’

Apple is apparently ditching NFC for the iPhone 5, scuppering everyone’s dreams of paying for Starbucks lattes a la Oyster cards.

The Independent is citing sources at “several of the largest mobile operators in the UK,” who say that the ‘wave and pay’ e-wallet technology won’t be a part of the next iPhone.

One unnamed source said that “Apple told the operators it was concerned by the lack of a clear standard across the industry [at the moment],” prompting speculation that next year’s phone (iPhone 6?) will feature NFC technology.

Google’s Nexus S famously launched with an NFC chip embedded, with Eric Schmidt saying that NFC “could replace your credit card.” Google began a trial in Portland, Oregon in the States last December, where customers could make payments in stores by swiping their Nexus Ss’ over red NFC readers and stickers.

Everything Everywhere announced in January that it was working on SIM cards which come with NFC built into them. Initially, NFC SIM cards will be available for Orange customers only before rolling out to T-Mobile customers as well.

Despite this interest and NFC’s huge potential, it’s yet to take off in a huge way. Looks like Apple is playing it smart instead of rushing in to enable a service that not many people will be able to use right now.