Virgin Mobile USA announced on their Facebook fan page, that they are releasing the LG Optimus V Android phone on 1st of Feb 2011.

The phone is essentially same like the original LG optimus or LG Optimus S for Sprint users except the physical button placement below the big touchscreen on the face of the phone. The specifications are expected to be same as the original ones, having Android 2.2, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3G, and all the usual Android goodness, like Google apps and more.

For Android users it is a good news as LG Optimus is considered among one of the best Android Phones available in the market. No other news regarding plans and pricing is yet revealed. The status update is saying that stay tune for more official info!

Apple iPhone 5 and iPad 2 expected to feature NFC Functionality

NFC, or near field communication, is the secure wireless transfer of data over a short proximity. This enables any technology with this ability to be used as a payment method. Now Apple appears to be jumping on the NFC bandwagon, for once trailing some of their competitors. There have been rumors for some time that the iPhone 5 and the iPad 2 will feature NFC technology. This appears to be confirmed by the fact that Apple have secretly being hiring engineers with RFID knowledge, RFID is a type of NFC. Apple are also rumored to be hiring global payment experts, suggesting the iPhone 5 and iPad 2 payment system may in fact be developed entirely in house.

If and when the next generation iPad’s and iPhone’s do carry NFC compatibility, it will be a massive boost to advocates of the technology, and will go a long way to pushing it into the mainstream market. Currently very few stores allow payment by NFC, yet that is expected to dramatically rise in the coming months. Hopefully Apple will create an entirely secure method of NFC payment, as security fears will be peoples prime concerns. Perhaps in a number of years cash and credit cards will be obsolete, and all payment will be done using our mobile phones?

Many people can look forward to the iPad 2 release date and the iPhone 5 release date so they can finally try NFC for themselves.
Do you believe NFC will be a valuable addition to the iPad 2 and iPhone 5?