The iPhone 6’s NFC chip will be used exclusively for Apple Pay

You may be delighted that the iPhone 6 has NFC but if you’re looking forward to pairing it with speakers and other NFC-related tasks then think again because the NFC chip inside the new iPhone 6 smartphones is restricted to ApplePay only. It was rumored for a while and like pretty much every other bit of leaked information, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus both come with NFC. It’s the first time for Apple’s smartphone but you won’t be able to go tapping away with any NFC-enabled product.

Apple finally added NFC to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, but if you were hoping the company’s new NFC chip will allow you to pair speakers or integrated NFC tags into your favorite apps, however you won’t be able to do any of the when the iPhone 6 launches this week because Apple’s put its NFC chip on lockdown. In an email to Cult of Mac, an Apple spokeswoman confirmed that NFC chip on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is only for use with Apple Pay. Like Touch ID on the iPhone 5s, Apple is keeping its NFC restricted from developers, at least for its first year. The company declined to comment on future plans for the NFC chip, but unlike Touch ID on the iPhone 5s, you won’t find any Apple marketing materials promoting the addition of NFC as a major feature, as its touted as just a component of ApplePay. NFC products can be put to all sorts of creative uses, from pairing devices, to sharing files, launching apps, or even automating your entire house. Bluetooth LE has been Apple’s go-to communication protocol for iBeacons and other location services, but opening the NFC chip up to developers could expand quickly expand the iPhone’s capabilities in the future