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Industry rumors suggest Apple maybe adding RFID capabilities to its next generation iPhone.

RFID or radio frequency identification is essentially a barcode transmitted via a radio frequency. When triggered and/or a reader gets close enough to pick up the transmission, it can read the tag, similar to how a barcode scanner can read an optical tag when the laser is aligned.

Latest iPhone rumors have reading such transmissions integrated to the device. The original report comes from Near Field Communications World (via 9 to 5 Mac). The most likely applications would seem to involve syncing and discovery of the iPhone to other devices. This could allow the iPhone to easily configure itself for or perhaps make itself aware of external devices or networks, rather somewhat tedious manual configurations.

that Apple has recently filed a number of patents related to RFID.

Reader Comments

Already spoke to a boutique winery owner who intends to put RFID tags in wine bottles that could interact with an iphone. An app can be developed to send info to the winery when a bottle is scanned. The winery could then send tasting notes, a message/thank you from the winery. They receive info on when and where their bottles are being consumed, and the customer can potentially get an enhanced experience. Sound like a good deal from both sides. RFId Posted by Guest Poster #1 on 11/06/09 11:29 PM There's already too much info' on people out there! Big Brother, Big Sister and Big Dysfunctional Family (a.k.a. Fed. Gov.) don't need to know what I'm up to. This is a special kind of stupid! My MacBook does fine allll by it's little self to find networks without me. It sounds like an iPhone is a step backward. "You can't fix stupid." Ron White and Proverbs 27:22 No thanks! Posted by Guest Poster #2 on 11/09/09 10:57 AM

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