iPhone 5S Will Include NFC Functionality And Fingerprint Sensor

China Times reports that Taiwanese chip company Chipbond has been chosen to supply a number of iPhone 5S’ components, including chips to support near field communication (NFC) functionality, fingerprint sensors and touch display drivers. According to the report, Apple will use the fingerprint sensor capabilities to improve the security of NFC-based features such as mobile payments.

Rumors about fingerprint sensor for the iPhone have begun spreading since last year after Apple acquired mobile security company AuthenTec. Reportedly, AuthenTec ceased offering fingerprint technology to a number of its customers this year, presumably to step up Apple's own efforts in this area. An analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities has also said that a fingerprint recognition technology will be one of the differentiating features in the upcoming iPhone 5S.