My first post in 07. I had been absent and bogged down with a ton of projects. Finally getting a chance to catch up after quite a while I must say.

I saw the keynote address by Steve Jobs on iPhone on the Internet. The iPhone is truly revolutionary, multiple counts in breakthroughs. Except for a few unfathomable questions in my mind, it is still a must “BUY” - at least for me. Hopefully by then, some of the technology capabilities in my wish list will be built in when it is shipped to Asia in 08.

What I find most puzzling is - why did he not build 3G capabilities into it?! The other thing is, I can imagine with its cult status building into a frenzy, RFID may just go mainstream into widespread consumer usage if it had been considered for the device. I did not hear Jobs once mentioned the word “RFID”.

Imagine waving out iPhone to get on the transit. Firstly, that is one less card out of that bulky wallet crying out for space. And of course, you get to enjoy that egotistical experience of flashing the WOW-toy every once more often.

Varying RFID standards could be the issue. In places like Hong Kong, Singapore, China (Shen Zhen), India, Bangkok-Thailand Metro, RFID in transits are using Sony Felica hardware. This technology is different from other RFID hardware standards that follow ISO 15693. It is probably too risky to assume any one standard such as Felica to be the defacto in mass market adoption albeit it is by far the only large scale mass usage that affects nations of people. Check out the article by Andy Kowl - RFID - Are we there yet?

Well I am not qualified to answer any of this, however should mainstream consumer-RFID happens there is another reason to make iPhone2

ADDED ON JAN 18
I just saw a video on CNN.com titled “iPhone is so yesterday” which is exactly what I talked about on my last post. In the case of the Japanese, they use their cellphones to buy magazines, beverage fix from the vending machine, pay for transit charges and all that which makes iPhone almost Stone Age. Jobs, in his address commented that the “killer app is making calls”. Well that is like 10 years old, everybody knows that.

Today the key emerging technology enablers such as 3G, RFID, WIMAX are increasingly changing the way we live, play and work. Seriously though WIFI is what I would term as “grandpa” technology. It falls short in enabling capabilities to pinpoint objects/people within a context that would have otherwise roll our a brand new range of applications as did RFID.

As I know it, RFID started its journey into handsets as early as 2005 with NEC introducing “near-field” technology into its mobile phones. RFID technology in particular is making waves in the niche market of transportation from as far as Europe to major cities in Asia. The form factor ranges from credit card size EZ-Cards to mobile handsets. It is a proven success. The new waves of killer mobile applications are actually emerging.

Increasingly as the mobile smart device becomes a centre-piece in the mobile culture, it seems imperative that it includes emerging (key) technology enablers built in - 3G, RFID, WIMAX … It radically changes the way we connect with each other, access information, make mobile payments, mobile bank transactions, entertainment etc..

iPhone is a definite leader in device user interactions, and thats probably enough for some to head to the stores. But having a grandpa technology on iPhone doesn’t exactly sound all that exciting for me.

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