Apple to use fingerprint sensor to enhance the security of NFC mobile payments in next iPhone?

A translated report this morning from China Times (via Macotakara) appears to claim the iPhone 5S will be the first device from Apple to include fingerprint sensor and NFC technology.

According to the report, Taiwanese company Chipbond will be providing the integrated touch display driver and other components necessary to implement the technology on the next-generation iPhone. While details of the translated report remain sketchy, it seems to suggest that Apple will use fingerprint tech that it acquired in its AuthenTec purchase as a security feature for NFC payments:

The the iPhone 5S outgoing will support NFC and fingerprint recognition, fingerprint is more security than passwords, fingerprints can not be copied and will not be stolen, most secure mobile payment device allows Apple iPhone 5S.

Several analysts have predicted that Apple’s iPhone 5S upgrade would include fingerprint technology after the company picked up patents and employees from AuthenTec. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo re-affirmed his previous claims regarding Apple’s 2013 iPhone roadmap earlier this month by saying that Apple would include a fingerprint sensor beneath the iPhone 5S’s home button.

We have discussed several times the possibility of Apple bringing fingerprint technology to future iOS devices following its purchase of AuthenTec back in July. While including major new hardware features like fingerprint technology and NFC may seem like a bit of a stretch for an “S” upgrade, it could be the stand out feature Apple needs, as we’ve argued before.

Source: 9to5mac.com