Apple Wins Patent For "iWallet" 176
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."
Re:More like iExtortion (Score:3, Informative)
The ridiculous part here is that Japan has been using the same technology for HOW MANY years now?
No, they patented a system of NFC spending rules (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2012/03/apple-wins-patent-for-iwallet-the-one-that-will-rule-the-world.html
"Apple has received a major Granted Patent that generally relates to establishing financial transaction rules for controlling a subsidiary financial account and, more particularly, to various systems, methods, and electronic devices configured to provide for the establishment of such rules."
The rules basically come down to setting one account as a subsidiary of another, and the parent account then setting a system of spending rules and limits that apply to the subsidiary account. Optionally that these rules are transmitted to the bank as well, and applied generally outside of using the NFC as well.
Re:Apple, anti-competition master. (Score:5, Informative)
Except that no NFC hardware has been on the market here for the better part of a decade, while it's been steadily rolled out and available elsewhere. The technology has, quite simply, not been available.
At least in Europe, software patents aren't valid. And in Japan, they seem to not have nearly the problems we do in the US with building and rolling out systems that are widely compatible between companies and regions. Here in the US a purely software pile of BS will block other vendors from distributing anything useful and open up everyone to legal assault, and deliberate incompatibilities and everyone demanding their own transaction fee and associated charge and alliance or it fails to work readily inhibits the adoption of new technologies and other customer-beneficial options.
Yeah, sure. (Score:4, Informative)
"Users can track their payments and statements within the iTunes billing system, which keeps the credit card information safe and secure."
Are you stupid enough to believe that statement about it being 'safe and secure"? If so, I have a bridge that I'd like to sell you.
The only sure fire way to keep such information safe and secure is to not have a credit card to begin with.
Re:New disorder (Score:4, Informative)
The problem is that you don't understand the US patent system. It's perfectly valid to patent the same idea, as long as it's a new implementation. That you have a physical sliding lock on your door is completely irrelevant to the ability to patent a software version. Once you accept the idea of software patents, it's trivial to see that slide-to-unlock on the iphone can not possibly have the same implementation as the lock on your door.