NFC technology: It’s a win-win situation for all

Most of the mobile majors including HTC, Samsung, Google Nexus, Nokia and BlackBerry have introduced NFC mobiles.

How good is to shop at a nearest supermarket without any bankcards or cash? How better will it be to buy tickets at a metro station with a touch of mobile phone skipping the long queues?

Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is set to make this possibility. The customers who are carrying NFC phone can make payment transactions, interchange digital content and connect the devices with a touch or to a few centimetres.

Many doubt it may be other Bluetooth device. “It is a different in exchanging information and the two-way communication can happen in one go. However for a Bluetooth device, the exchange of information will happen in two different transmissions,” says Chennapa Naidu Darapaneni, CEO, MeraEvents.

“This will create paperless environment by exchanging business cards and transferring electronic brochures or enabling mobile ticketing with a touch. For instance in the event industry, we often hear people saying they have finished their visiting cards.

“At times, it is also difficult to relate or recognise the person with the card as we get lot of cards. This device also let the customer to get social media information along with a picture. It skips the manual entering of visiting card information after going home keep the information more organised way enabling easy accesses of information where ever and whenever needed.

“However, people who do not have this NFC mobile phone can get a NFC Poken device. The information can be seamlessly exchanged between any of the NFC devices. It can be two NFC Poken devices or between a phone and a device or between a Poken tag and a NFC mobile,”

“It can also bring savings to businesses. For instance, if a business gets 500 cards, this will cost Rs.1,000. Even, 100 quality brochures may cost 10,000. However with this NFC Mobile device or NFC Poken tag, this all can be skipped. An exhibitor doesn’t not need to carry huge number of different brochures but can carry a simple device. The data on this Poken tag can be edited easily unlike a printed brochure. The tag also saves the contacts of the people who showed the interest in the product by collecting brochure. This contact data can be remarkably useful as leads and in finishing the sale cycle,” said Naidu.

The NFC technology will also revolutionise mobile payments. One does not need to carry multiple cards or loyalty cards. There were reports that Nokia India is in talks with metro rail projects to introduce NFC based ticketing system. Such a move will skip these long queues and buying tickets at the counter and making ticket transaction smooth and easy, he said.

Most of the mobile majors including HTC, Samsung, Google Nexus, Nokia and BlackBerry have introduced NFC mobiles. However, the cost of these devices should come down rapidly to see more people using and adopting this technology in India. NFC Poken device is priced at Rs.1000, which can be offered at a lesser price if businesses buy in bulk, said Naidu.

Businesses can integrate this technology in to their marketing procedures. This enables customers visiting any of the showroom or a store to get all the relevant data of the product he/she likes in his device. This will also build the ecosystem, which is very much essential to take this technology forward.

Uses of NFC technology

• Access control

• Consumer electronics

• Healthcare

• Information collection and exchange

• Loyalty and coupons

• Payments

• Transport (Source: NFC Forum)

Tags: featured, full-image, Near Field Communication, NFC mobiles

Category: Business, Business News