Fingerprint Reader is the Significant Takeaway as Apple Introduces New iPhones

Apple's fingerprint security strikes me as the most significant longer term news, though in revenue terms the lower-cost iPhone 5C will represent the most near term revenue for Apple.

The reason is that the fingerprint sensor could be a key enabler of some future Apple entry into retail mobile payments. And I long have maintained Apple is the one company that could really revolutionize mobile payments. 

The issue has been whether Apple had any interest in doing so, and what new category of devices Apple could create around its ability to fix an old problem in a much better way. 

Some will note that the fingerprint sensor provides much better security than passwords. That's true. But identity verification will be more important if Apple really does make some move into mobile payments.