Near Field Communication (NFC) payments allow shoppers to pay for their purchases by simply placing their phone close to an NFC reader. The process is similar to when you tap your credit card to the swipe machine to pay for your purchases, but instead you're using your mobile phone.
One service that makes this mobile payment technology possible is Isis, which is backed by AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless. By installing the Isis Mobile Wallet app on a smartphone with NFC and using a special SIM card designed to safely store and protect your data, you can turn your phone into a mobile wallet.
Unfortunately, only Android users can use the service right now because Apple's iPhone does not come with NFC chip inside. An update to the Isis website, however, suggests that the company is working to make the payment system available to iPhone users as well with an Isis-ready iPhone case. "Coming soon for iPhone® - To use the Isis Mobile Wallet on an iPhone 4, iPhone 4S or iPhone 5, you'll need an Isis Ready case containing a Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna. Check with your mobile carrier for availability," the company says on its website.
Apparently, the iPhone case referred to is the Incipio Cashwrap. The Cashwrap case was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and a report by Engadget suggests the case is already available in some AT&T retail locations.
"If you've been waiting to make NFC payments with little more than your iPhone and an Isis account, we have news for you," Engadget reported. "A tipster sent us pictures of what looks to be retail packaging for the Incipio Cashwrap, along with supposed pricing information."
Incipio's website says that the Cashwrap case will retail for $69.99. The case will also be available in three colors. iPhone users who want to use their device for Isis mobile payment though would have to wait a while because the Isis app isn't available on iTunes yet. This means that even if you already have your Cashwrap case, it still won't work for mobile payment because you need to install the Isis app on your iPhone.
