Near Field Communication: Which Companies Are Working On It?

Near-Field Communication technology, which allows devices to wirelessly exchange digital information at a single touch, is poised to go mainstream.

As handset makers begin churning out NFC-capable devices, several popular smartphone platforms are reportedly planning to introduce "wave and pay" mobile transactions into their feature sets. If successful, NFC-equipped devices may become more convenient for everyday use than plastic credit cards.

Who's rumored to be on board with NFC so far?

The NFC Forum, which promotes the advancement of NFC-technology in consumer electronics, on Thursday welcomed Google as a Principal member. Reporting on Google's rumored plans for NFC on the Android platform, TechCrunch writes,

Google is already supporting NFC chips in Android phones such as the Nexus S and is expected to roll out tests of wave-and-pay systems at stores in New York City and San Francisco in partnership with VeriFone Systems and ViVOtech. [...] Google tellingly also killed support for QR codes in its Places product some time last week.

Google is also believed to have partnered with MasterCard and Citigroup.

Microsoft may have plans to integrate NFC tech into upcoming Windows Phone 7 devices. Writes BusinessWeek:

Microsoft plans to include mobile-payment technology in new versions of its operating system for smartphones as part of an effort to narrow Google Inc.'s lead in handset software, said the people, who asked to remain anonymous because the features aren't public. The first devices boasting these features may be released this year, the people said.

Apple could also bring NFC to future iterations of the iPhone. "According to two people with knowledge of the inner workings of a coming iteration of the Apple iPhone -- although not necessarily the next one -- a chip made by Qualcomm for the phone's processor will also include near-field communication technology," according to the New York Times.

Wall Street Journal says that BlackBerry devices with e-wallet capabilities may make their debut later this year, though RIM has reportedly met with resistance from mobile carriers in Canada and the United States.

Comments

[Acert]

09:28 PM on 04/01/2011

This is just a gimmick to get people to buy new phones with more expensive contracts.

[ogaraj]

11:42 PM on 04/01/2011

This is a technology that America is behind on. It is far from a gimmick, and will become the norm in the not-so-distant future

[Acert]

11:45 PM on 04/01/2011

Being widely used doesn't stop it from being a gimmick.

Let me ask you, in what way is this more useful than credit cards?

[chezpere]

03:34 PM on 04/01/2011

bbbaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh! les moutons!

[kintarius]

12:18 PM on 04/01/2011

One step closer to "Minority Report".

[chubber]

08:51 AM on 04/01/2011

Sweet. I can just imagine only having to carry around a phone. All credit cards, ID's, etc are on there. Can't wait for the future

[wespenn56]

10:35 AM on 04/01/2011

Funny this is, the "future" was available in Japan in 2007 when I was there. People were using their cells at vending machines and for paying for toll road usages.

[menschmaschine5]

01:41 PM on 04/01/2011

Oh, NFC technology has been around since 2003 in Japan. And several other countries. We're pretty behind.

[waldopepper]

05:40 AM on 04/01/2011

Who wants this? Why would anybody want this? Why would anybody want to make it possible for others to put their hand in your pocket? This makes impulse buying MORE impulsive. It will lead to more spending. More debt, A purchase decision should take SOME time. It should involve some deliberation. Inconvenience will save you money.

[ogaraj]

11:43 PM on 04/01/2011

Hello paranoia.

[waldopepper]

02:47 AM on 04/02/2011

Practicality. Saving money is never a waste of time.

[NicoPicoRico]

03:09 AM on 04/01/2011

Is it the Nokia 5165? *crosses fingers*

[kdlaiusa]

11:04 PM on 03/31/2011

Saw a TV commercial that you can use your iPhone to pay for Starbucks coffee by waving the app at the cashier scanner. Very convenient but too dangerous, what if your lost your phone and your credit cards number will be stolen or your phone will be used to pay for merchandise?
Well, if you don't have an iPhone, you don't have the danger of losing your phone.

[ogaraj]

11:46 PM on 04/01/2011

You can remote wipe a phone, but not a credit card. There is serious potential for it to be safer as it uses multi-factor authentication.

iPhone is a bad example to use because they are not equipped with NFC. Android and some WinMo7 devices are the only ones in the US with it (other countries have been using tech similar to NFC since 2003)

[WSAY]

11:01 PM on 03/31/2011

Japan has been doing this for years.

[wespenn56]

10:35 AM on 04/01/2011

At least since Feb of 2007 when I was there.

[Mister Grumpy]

10:28 PM on 03/31/2011

Any signal that is transmited in the open can be intercepted and hacked............. if you have the necessary skills and the will to do so...........

[WSAY]

10:59 PM on 03/31/2011

So? Credit card numbers are transmitted in the open all the time right now. By the thousands.

[NicoPicoRico]

03:11 AM on 04/01/2011

i pretty sure it's closer to eleventy bagillion. But you might want to check my math on that one.

[menschmaschine5]

01:43 PM on 04/01/2011

Supposedly NFC uses more sophisticated encryption than credit cards currently do. Also, many credit cards use an NFC-like technology currently, and not much bad has come out of that..

[jmichaelmunger]

10:18 PM on 03/31/2011

Another way to get people to spend more money more often... great idea!

[WSAY]

10:59 PM on 03/31/2011

How does this do that?

[gemini68]

09:47 AM on 04/01/2011

Its a n easier way to impulse shop. Think about it: You're in a store you want something but no you probably shouldn't buy it. Normally, in the time it takes you to take out your credit card you can THINK about what you're doing. This would simply require you to WAVE your phone at a register. Its instantaneous.

[LightShadow62]

10:13 PM on 03/31/2011

NFC, just another way for smart crooks to steal your money.

[ogaraj]

11:50 PM on 04/01/2011

NFC- another way for people who don't understand tech to invent problems with it that they already experience with their current methods of tender, except exponentially worse.

[LightShadow62]

05:48 PM on 04/02/2011

Understanding tech is a major part of what I do everyday which is why I know this will present a problem.

[Sandy Obu]

09:43 PM on 03/31/2011

For Twitter, when someone says, "Go to my account and answer the question or make a comment, where is the link?

[Sandy Obu]

09:41 PM on 03/31/2011

Though huffingtino post, I think I am finally stating to 'GET' social networking. I'm still a little confused on this, "If I post a blog and then leave the section, and then return to the section to reply to comments on my blog, how can I see all the comments at a glance?

[MikeyJaii]

08:26 PM on 03/31/2011

Money money money. I'm done with my phone.

[EricBishop]

08:06 PM on 03/31/2011

Hey, clowns (at Google)!!! QR codes are also useful, as you're not always within 2-3 inches of things. They also don't require power. So, you can get coupons off QR codes that are put anywhere, for example.

NFC is great, but why would you abandon QR codes?