Japan has always been the land of mobile. As such, it’s no big surprise that the country’s biggest social network, Mixi (JP, 23 million members), sees 25 of its 29 billion monthly page views coming from cell phones. And according to Mixi, it’s now the first social network that lets users share information with friends through NFC technology on Android handsets. → Read More
If you asked most folks what NFC means they’d probably mumble something about the Giants and wave you off. However, Near Field Communication is here to stay and if Google and Apple’s current and potential implementations are any indication, we’ll be using NFC devices in the next two years, at least in some specific environments. First, though, what is Near Field Communication… → Read More
Okay, that was fast. This weekend I put up my annual prediction post, Seven Technologies That Will Rock 2011. Already, one of them is already looking pretty solid: Prediction No. 4 on the rise of mobile wallets.
Well, it looks like Google (and PayPal) are getting serious about NFC technologies. Today, Businessweek reports: → Read More
As we reported multiple times over the past months, the iPhone is a hit in Japan. When compared to other Japanese phones, however, it lacks a few key features such as digital TV tuners or an e-wallet function. Provider SoftBank introduced a hardware solution for the former problem in 2008, and now there’s one for the latter, too. → Read More
Lately, Google has been showing off Android phones with NFC chips in them that can power mobile payments. The newest Android, the Nexus S, is the first to ship with an NFC (near field communications) chip, and the technology could be the key to getting into mobile payments. These are the same chips in some credit cards today.
It turns out that Google got some of its NFC expertise from a… → Read More
Americans, virtuous and true, would you use your cellphone as a credit card? That is, instead of whipping out the plastic in front of some high school kid manning the register at Target, would you wave your connected-to-your-credit-card-account cellphone in front of a scanner? In the blink of an eye your transaction is completed, with the total amount being charged to your credit card account. → Read More
The Parrot PARTY Black Edition claims to be the first commercially available Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled speaker system. The NFC technology will enable users to pair their device to the speaker simply by tapping them together. The Parrot PARTY Black Edition will be available in the summer 2008 for £79.00. → Read More
Nokia has announced the 6212, which features Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The NFC technology is designed for simple and intuitive interaction between devices. In the case of the 6212, you can do things like tap two phones together to transfer contact information and other data, or make purchases by storing your personal data in the device and swiping it over a surface. Nokia also… → Read More
[photopress:citi.jpg,full,left]Now this is an odd little handset. It’s the Plus II from Citi, as in the financial institution, but really from Mobicom. It has no keys, not in the traditional sense, and has built-in NFC payment hardware. This means it works like a credit or debit card, just like in that old AT&T commercial. What’s interesting is that it apparently uses an… → Read More
[photopress:benq_t80_nfc1.jpg,full,center] Okay, friends, it’s time for a new geek-flavored acronym! I used it earlier today when discussing the future of SIM cards, and now a housing project in Taiwan will be testing it out with new mobile phones from BenQ. It’s NFC, or Near Field Communications. In essence, you use your phone like a debit card. BenQ is building the technology into… → Read More
[photopress:simcards.jpg,full,center] Subscriber Identity Modules, or SIMs, might be on the verge of extinction. SIMs themselves are getting smarter, now capable of doing far more than hold your cell number and a phonebook of your friends. The problem is that most carriers — especially those in the USA — don’t give a rat’s pooper for the capabilities. That means… → Read More
The big boys have been talking about NFC (basically RFID) for years now and it will probably never hit a cellphone near you but PhoneScoop did their due diligence and took a tour of the wonders of “putting your phone next to a picture of your best gal and having it call her.” Why not just put her on speed dial? PhoneScoop via RingNokia → Read More
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