Researchers are testing NFC on the iPhone
Norwegian researchers are experimenting with showing videos on an iPhone when it is held near objects with an RFID chip. The Norwegians see many opportunities for using this technology on the Apple smartphone.
The research project of the Oslo School of Architecture and Design shows in a blog post a demo of an iPhone that shows video images when it ‘sees’ certain toys. The RFID chip in the toy is detected by an RFID reader mounted on the back of the iPhone.
It is not inconceivable that Apple will build an RFID reading function into the iPhone in the future. In 2007 came a patent application from Apple to the top describing how a ‘networking device’ can connect to a home network using RFID. However, it is unclear whether Apple will actually do anything with that patent.