Apple, along with longtime partner company Disney, are installing new iBeacon sensors and NFC readers in their stores.
The move looks to be part of Apple's ongoing preparations to launch its iPhone-based mobile payments system in the near future, which could be as soon as within the month with the release of the iPhone 6.
The upcoming iPhone 6, along with the rumored wearable technology device, which Apple will be unveiling on a media event on Sept. 9, is rumored to include new wireless sensors, along with an NFC chipset, to be able to make mobile payments. The new mobile payment system of Apple will be using credit card information that the user stores in a Passbook-like application within the iPhone, and will be relying on the iBeacon combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Apple stores have already had iBeacons previously installed in showroom floors for the past several months. The iBeacons are able to pinpoint the exact location of customers within the Apple store, allowing employees to provide relevant information to the customers for better service.
The new iBeacon sensors are Gimbal Series 20 Proximity Beacons, with several of these sensors being installed inside Apple stores to upgrade the accuracy of the location tracking service.
However, in addition to tracking the locations of customers, iBeacons can also be utilized by mobile payment systems to authenticate the transactions. As Apple store employees know where a paying customer is located within the store, they can make sure that the connections is being made by the right iPhone when making the mobile payment.
There have also been unconfirmed reports that Apple is in preparations to launch a new iBeacon sensor that will be installed in the future in Apple stores. Apple may also be selling or giving these new sensors to retailers to sign them up for the new mobile payment system that Apple is working on.
Disney stores, however, are getting new credit card machines this week that are able to support NFC payments. Whether the new machines are connected to the upcoming iPhone 6 launch is not confirmed, but given the close ties between Apple and Disney, with Disney CEO Bob Iger a part of Apple's board of directors, this might not be a simple coincidence.
Last week, McDonalds also started the installation of similar NFC-supported credit card machines in a significant number stores, making it also a possibility that the fast food chain will be a partner with Apple in launching its new mobile payments system.
