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Apple Wins Patent For "iWallet"

Posted by samzenpus on from the pay-different dept.

redletterdave writes "Apple won a major patent for its 'iWallet' technology, which is a digital system that uses near-field communication (NFC) technology to complete credit card transactions and manage subsidiary financial accounts directly on your iPhone. On the home screen for iWallet, users can see their entire credit card profiles, statements, messages from their banks, and even adjust preferences or add additional cards. Within preferences, users can schedule credit card payments and set parental controls on their children, which allows kids to use their iPhones as wallets but limits the extent to which they can use it. Users can track their payments and statements within the iTunes billing system, which keeps the credit card information safe and secure."

5 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. Great..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now I can lose my phone, camera, AND my wallet in one fell swoop?!?!?!?!?!

    Whats next... iPhone car keys?

    1. Re:Great..... by PeanutButterBreath · · Score: 5, Funny

      I would imagine that the iWallet could be remotely revoked.

      Sure. Say you reach for your iWallet to buy a coffee and realize that you left it at the news stand 10 minutes earlier. Fortunately, you have the ability to remotely disable access to your accounts. So, you just pull out your smart phone and. . .ruh-roh!

      Meanwhile, the clerk at the news stand sees that your iWallet has been left behind. Being an honest sort, he decides to try to reunite the device with its owner by calling. . .ruh-roh!

  2. Re:Another one bites the dust by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nice grammar. Also, there were literally dozens of different music players before the iPod, so nice analogy fail.

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  3. That is complete BS! by warp_kez · · Score: 3, Funny

    The iWallet has been around for some time, long before NFE was even thought of.

    I have an iWallet, and I have had it for 20 years - I hold it out, and the wife, kid, and merchants take what they need/want.

  4. Re:lame by ozmanjusri · · Score: 4, Funny

    They just patented "a way" of using NFC.

    To extract more money from everybody's wallets.

    It's the Apple way.

    --
    "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."