Sony Corporation (ADR) (SNE), NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI): Did Apple Inc. (AAPL) Just Kill NFC?

Tapping an Xperia Z smartphone on the remote control of a high-end Sony TV beams the phone’s screen to the TV’s. In much the same way, some Sony stereo systems allow for owners to send music from their phones to their speakers. Admittedly, these features can be replicated with other phones, stereos, and TVs, but it often requires expensive adapters, and the process certainly isn’t as simple.

Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE)’s new smartwatch, the SmartWatch 2, also uses NFC, allowing an owner to easily pair the watch with their handset. If Sony moves further into wearable technology, it will likely continue to rely on NFC.

NXP Semiconductors continues to be the primary NFC stock
There are several companies that make NFC chips, including Broadcom, but NXP Semiconductors NV (NASDAQ:NXPI) continues to be the premiere NFC stock play. In addition to the actual NFC chips the company produces, it also holds a portfolio of patents centered around NFC.

Despite Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s decision to exclude NFC from the next version of the iPhone, NXP Semiconductors NV (NASDAQ:NXPI)’s stock was largely unchanged following Apple’s announcement. As long as Android OEMs like Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) and Samsung continue to stick by NFC, companies like NXP Semiconductors NV (NASDAQ:NXPI) might not need Apple to push the technology.

But investors in the chip company should keep a close eye on Apple’s new technology. As long as Apple remains a major player in the mobile space, its continued shunning of NFC could pose a threat to the technology’s long-term adoption.

The article Did Apple Just Kill NFC? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Sam Mattera.

Sam Mattera has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, eBay, and NXP Semiconductors . The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple and eBay.

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