iBeacon

It's no secret that Apple has been steadily progressing toward a mobile payment system. Through iTunes and the Apple Store the company already has a massive customer base and enough stored credit card information to grab the attention of retailers. Since it first debuted last year, iBeacon technology has quickly been adopted and deployed by many major retailers, including Macy's, Virgin Atlantic and Major League Baseball among others. The company also charged its online stores executive, Jennifer Bailey, with building an in-house payment system. NFC (near field communication) chips would be a key ingredient and the next logical step toward mobile payments.

In a note to investors that was shared with AppleInsider, Morgan Stanley analyst Craig Hettenbach wrote that Apple will likely adopt NFC technology and incorporate the chips in future devices, making it a "core part of its mobile payments strategy." He also pointed to a report earlier this month that claimed Apple is working with

The list of retailers using Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iBeacon technology continues to grow, as New York City pharmacy chain Duane Reade and British airline Virgin Atlantic both announce plans to deploy the Bluetooth low energy (BLE) transmitters at their places of business.

Apple's iBeacon is the company's trademark indoor positioning system that uses Bluetooth low energy technology, also known as Bluetooth Smart, to interact with mobile devices via transmitters. iBeacon first debuted at Apple's WWDC in June 2013, and the number of major retailers adopting the technology has been growing

We have already seen Apple's iBeacon technology used by several mainstream retailers, Major League Baseball and the National Football League. Now the National Basketball Association is using the technology as well.

It has always been a no-brainer among sports fans to try to sneak down to better seats, especially if you are way up in the nosebleed section and can barely see the action. Pro sports teams are aware of this and are now using iBeacon technology to offer an easy way for these fans to upgrade and actually pay for it (and thereby avoid the risk of getting thrown out of the stadium). The NBA's Golden State Warriors are the first basketball team to install iBeacons throughout their venue

Since it first debuted at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference last June, iBeacon technology has been spreading rapidly. iBeacon is described by Apple as "a new class of low-powered, low-cost transmitters that can notify nearby iOS 7 devices of their presence," which means that iPhone and iPad users will be able to receive information about products and deals while they are browsing in stores and, with Apple's big plans for a mobile payment system, eventually make payments via the iBeacons. So far, several major retailers have taken interest in the technology, including Macy's, Safeway, Giant Eagle, American Eagle and, of course, Apple's own retail stores. Now, both Major League Baseball and the National Football League are interested.

The MLB plans to have 100 iBeacons installed by opening day (Monday, March 31st) across 20 stadiums, and many more by the end of the season. Some of the first stadiums to receive the iBeacons include Boston's Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium, AT&T Park in San Francisco, Milwaukee's Miller Park and the Padre's Petco Park in San Diego. The iBeacon technology will be able to be tapped via the MLB's

It is, or at least should be, obvious that making purchases at retail stores with your mobile device, while bypassing store personnel altogether, is going to be the norm at some point in the future. When this will be is the mystery. The technology is already widely used in Japan, South Korea and many countries in Europe. In America however, no clear leader has emerged and things are moving at a much slower pace, but progressing nonetheless. Google has been experimenting with Google Wallet and NFC (near field communication) technology on its Android handsets for some time. Apple has also been gradually building the groundwork for its own mobile payment system and yesterday, according to the Wall Street Journal, there was another development in its endeavor.

On Friday, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Senior VP of Internet and Software Services, Eddie Cue, met with other technology industry executives to discuss their interest in making mobile payments for goods and services from mobile devices such as the iPhone and iPad. The WSJ also reported that Apple has charged executive Jennifer