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Can you describe what Near Field Communications (NFC) is?

NFC is a wireless technology which allows two-way communication between two nearby devices. NFC can be applied in paying for goods and services, ticketing, or information sharing between devices, based on Radio Frequency Identification RFID technology. The embryonic services offered by NFC make it an enticing technology to both commercial and private users.
NFC has an advantage in usabilty and security over blue tooth even if their maximum speeds are slower. Near Field Communications is a wireless technology that operates over short distances; devices can implement this technology to permit a user to, for example, store credits to be used to securely and instantly pay for public transport, eliminating inconvenient additional steps. In addition, NFC uses less power than Bluetooth and can work when one of the devices is off.
Due to its flexibility and applied technology, NFC can be integrated to create almost any kind of connected device. Near Field Communications provider INSIDE is one of the main companies pushing the use of NFC in fast, reliable and secure payment methods, access control, transportation, and electronic identification. At the cutting edge of technology, our fobs can be found in phones, devices and PC peripherals. Since it requires a mobile, it is likely that Near Field Communications will become common in the market.

Problems the General Adoption of NFC May Encounter
NFC has not achieved its complete mass market roll-out, regardless of the fact that there are a billion smart cards and 4 billion mobile phones being used all over the world. The Mobile industry is working to overcome growth barriers- and advance from the current pilot stage to commercial vaibility. By the year 2014, one sixth of mobile phone users will have NFC-enabled units that will enable them to conduct small-scale transactions, according to the estimations of industry analysts at Juniper Research.
For us to enjoy NFC, there must be cooperation between many different partners from different parts of the mobile world. Parties critical to your success are: mobile operators, financing companies, device manufacturers, service providers as well as other reliable entities. NFC has partnerships with Banka Koper, Mastercard Europe and Mobitel in Slovenia. There subscribers can pay for things by a simple tap.
Sagem Wireless is one example of a company dedicated to leading the way with inventive products that incorporate NFC technology for great uses. For instance, Sagem Wireless' new CosyPhone device utilizes NFC to provide the older market segment of over 50s a simple product that is customised to their specific lifestyle needs. As an example, NFC is used by the phone to enable simple calling as well as to allow access to data services by permitting users to wave their Cosyphone past shortcut cards that are pre-configured and customized in order to call friends and family, or services like doctors and grocery shopping.
Users will have the ability to make their own cards for use in their personal diary. A simple wave of the instrument past the cards send pre-configured text messages, like greeting happy birthday to relatives.

Manufacturers alone can not drive NFC usage by themselves. Mobile network operators help expand the Near Field Communication technology because it will allow new networked servers which will in turn create new revenue streams. NFC services needs the support of mobile operators for its growth.
It is important that banks and credit card companies offer the mandatory levels of security for simple and effective payment transactions using NFC.
Despite the hurdles to widespread acceptance of NFC in connected devices, 2010 was a key milestone to determine the future industry leaders in mobile network operators, device manufacturers and service providers.

NFC is emerging as an active entity.
The alterations to mobile devices are evident. The Smartphone's popularity leads customers to want increasing numbers of mobile data services. At the same instance, monetising mobile usage through new products and services has become a core market driver, and lifestyle brands and mobile operators alike are seeing the revenue potential of creating devices which can drive m-commerce and data usage. They want to get away from smartphones and generic app stores, and have a more personal experience with their connected devices.
NFC is a technology innovation which helps the brands and operators to connect with their target communities through these new services. With devices becoming more ubiquitous by the day, a system like NFC can be a total game-changer.
Ticketing: Some of the popular illustrations of NFC applications in mobile devices have initially payed their focus on contact less ticketing pilots, which have taken place all around the globe.
The convenience of making payments over the mobile phone has caught the fancy of the users.

In France, Germany and the Netherlands, pilots have shown the NFC enabled mobile devices are superior to the current "smart" card options available today. Checking in and checking out at the start and end of a journey is easily achieved using the NFC system. It also allows access to additional options such as checking and refiling account balances and receiving the latest travel information.
NFC device users may perform tasks other than topping up a card. You may add multiple credit or debit cards to your Near Field Communications device, which allows you to pay for items and services, basically anywhere, using only your phone. Obviously, the concept associated with a "electronic wallet" must require merchants including stores, dining establishments as well as pubs, to support Near Field Communications during the implementation regarding innovative transaction equipment, that will be implemented gradually.
Global events like the 2012 London Olympics can kick-start this process, by having plans like smart tickets for the Olympic Games, which can create a contactless payment and help to make the Olympic Village cashless.

Juniper Research say that while the Asian market is already established in making contactless payments, by 2014 these services will take off in North America and Europe as well, totaling $110 million. Trials have already been successful across the globe, from France to Australia.
Mobile devices have a avriety of features which enable you to share media. The users can access the music, videos and pictures simply at their fingertips, thanks to the NFC technology. The following has the ability to be conducted through most dimensions of society-from the younger generation comparing various media to corporation type data processing which involves business cards and spreadsheet applications.

By creating posters and promotional materials ,which are NFC compatible, marketing and advertising industries are being changed by NFC. When customers want to know more about advertisements they see, they can wave their phone at the ads and the details will be downloaded to the phone. Users can also easily forward the information to others. A marketer can offer its users incentives in return form information about products and services.

An example of this would be working with the art musuem, the Centre Pompidou, in Paris. The project is called Smart Muse. When visitors wave Sagem Wireless NFC-enabled mobile phones at exhibits that have NFC tags, the visitor can get details on the artist and his work, see videos and hear interviews. Users can use Facebook and other devices to talk about the exhibition and learn more. The system will be launched to coincide with the new Teen Gallery's which will make an entry later this year.
The first deployment of NFC technology will be in the Southern French city of Nice. The Smart Muse project, funded by a grant from France's Ministry of Economy, provides tags and contextualized-location and time-based-content management systems.
There are endless possibilities for NFC technology. The more robust the infrastructure becomes, the more that apps will be built in support of it. As more people utilize NFC and it becomes more ubiquitous, therefore further applications will be generated.

Near Field Communications supports multiple transactions on handsets with the first applications being implemented in the transportation sector. Pilot programs across the world have all yielded positive results. With more and more NFC compatible devices being launched by device manufacturers, mobile operators and service providers need to work closely to put in place the infrastructure that will facilitate and drive rollout of the technology. Get more information about the Near Field Communication

Posted by isiah32hester at 02:57 on February 16th, 2011 at 2:57AM
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Can you describe what Near Field Communications (NFC) is?, posted February 16th, 2011