Apple Pay to boost NFC technology in China  

蘋果支付將帶動(dòng)NFC近場(chǎng)支付加速發(fā)展

ApplePay雖目前只支持北美，但若進(jìn)入中國(guó)，將會(huì)對(duì)移動(dòng)支付領(lǐng)域帶來重大格局變化。易觀國(guó)際分析師李燁分析指出，蘋果支持NFC移動(dòng)支付，勢(shì)必帶動(dòng)更多的處于觀望態(tài)度的手機(jī)廠商積極支持NFC支付，對(duì)NFC產(chǎn)業(yè)鏈的完善起到標(biāo)桿性作用。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- The launch of Apple Pay on iPhone 6 and Apple Watch is viewed by many as a boost to near-field communications (NFC) technology around the world. Although it's unknown whether the technology will be a winner in China, it's bound to disrupt the country's mobile payment market.

NFC allows smartphones to communicate with other devices, including another phone or a point-of-sale terminal, wirelessly by simply holding them together. With Apple Pay, users can make payments by touching their phones to payment terminals.

Li Ye, an analyst with Analysys International, said once entering the Chinese market, Apple Pay is set to lure more businesses into the NFC market, but it's uncertain whether it would become the No.1 mobile payment method in China.

NFC technology has been around for years, but Chinese retailers are reluctant to apply it on a large scale. Two-dimensional payment remains the dominating player as it's more widely accepted by Chinese users and requires way less investment. Both Alipay and Tencent's WeChat are promoting two-dimensional payment on their platforms.

The wide use of NFC technology requires the refurbishment of China's more than 10 million POS machines, which could be an input of over 7 billion yuan ($1.13 billion), and the installation of more devices in supermarkets and convenience stores.

In the US, Apple has sealed deals with big banks as well as Visa, Mastercard and Amex to promote NFC technology, which will be available in 22,000 stores across the country.

Apple Pay has yet to find the right Chinese partners to build an infrastructure, develop its user base, and enhance payment security.