Apple Pay to boost NFC technology in China  

苹果支付将带动NFC近场支付加速发展

ApplePay虽目前只支持北美，但若进入中国，将会对移动支付领域带来重大格局变化。易观国际分析师李烨分析指出，苹果支持NFC移动支付，势必带动更多的处于观望态度的手机厂商积极支持NFC支付，对NFC产业链的完善起到标杆性作用。[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.