Microsoft was keen to tell the world that there was over 500 improvements to Windows Phone 7 in its 7.5 Mango update, but was less keen to list them all out. It turns out that one of those features was NFC support caked into the OS, although so far there’s no hardware support for the technology.
Microsoft developer evangelist in the UK Will Coleman told TechRadar:
“As far as I’m aware, NFC is supported by [Windows Phone], but needs to be enabled by the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). So, if any OEM wants to enable it, that can be done by all means.”
“Think it’s about just about timing, in the not too distant future there are some exciting things that will be coming through with NFC from Microsoft.”
Given the upcoming launch of Nokia Windows Phones with designs based on the NFC-enabled N9, I’m guessing “not too distant future” means “a surprise at the next Nokia handset launch”.
That said, even with NFC built in to the hardware and OS, the platform would still need banks and credit card companies to jump into bed with them before the end user could start using NFC as a personal wallet solution.
Andrew
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 3:35 PMcaked or baked? An understandable food related error.
DarthDVD
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 3:39 PMThe Cake is a Lie!
BenDTU
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 3:39 PMSo basically it’s the OEM’s neglection of WP7 at fault. Again.
Andrew
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 4:03 PMSo how do you explain the lack of NFC in iPhones and the vast majority of Android phones which — even if they do have the chip — rarely have it enabled?
BenDTU
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 4:30 PMExactly the same reason?
James Mac
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 4:03 PMDo we have an Australian release date on the Nokia Widows Phones yet?
speedanon
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 4:19 PMBit off topic but does that phone in the pic remind anyone else of an elongated iPod Nano?
Mikey
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 4:34 PMI keep my NFC turned off all the time. It’s useless right now. Nice idea, but this isn’t Japan. Contact payments hardly exist here, and…when I think of it, are there any other uses for NFC? Maybe it’s an acronym as an answer for a question. What does NFC do? No F*ing Clue.
TSH
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 4:36 PMSweet!
Don’t forget that NFC isn’t just for transactions. There are heaps of ways to use NFC tech.
Also waiting for Lumia 800 AU launch…
Andy
Monday, December 12, 2011 at 9:44 PMdam the Nokia N9 and the Lumia 800 are sexy. I wish they would just say they were going to continue to support meego for N9
MotorMouth
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 5:52 PMI’d be very surprised if they didn’t. MeeGo represents a huge investment from both Nokia and Intel. It will underpin a lot of things beyond phones, like in-car infotainment systems for brands like BMW, so the effort to continue to add functionality to the N9 should be minimal.