Texas Instruments shows off new products at Metering Europe event
Texas Instruments is one of the several technology companies attending this year’s Metering Europe event in Amsterdam. The annual event has become a place where firms and technology developers can show off their latest creations and how these products can be used for metering projects concerning energy and the consumption of other resources. Like others presenting at the event, Texas Instruments has set its sights on NFC technology and how it can be used in smart meters to reduce the cost of meter systems.
NFC-enabled system can be integrated into existing networks
Texas Instruments is showing off two products it has developed at the event. The first is a smart meter system-on-chip that is designed to introduce more simplicity to smart meter systems. The company has gone to great lengths to design the technology so that it can be easily integrated into existing meter systems. It is equipped with NFC technology, allowing the system to transmit data wirelessly and communicate with other NFC-enabled platforms.
NFC smart meter can efficiently monitor energy consumption
The second product on display by Texas Instruments is called the Smart Meter Board. This is a scalable, modular smart meter system that incorporates a plethora of communication protocols. It is designed for use with an existing smart energy grid, allowing for various forms of metering of consumption and usage. This product is also equipped with NFC technology. Because the meter is used to monitor the use of electricity, consumers with NFC-enabled mobile devices can use the platform to make payments for the energy they use by simply waving their device near the meter.
Smart meters may have promising future ahead of them
The world is growing more interested in clean energy. Part of this interest calls for the adoption of practiced energy efficiency. Smart meters are able to efficiently monitor the use of electricity and help people make adjustments in their consumption habits to cut back on wasteful usage. Texas Instruments is one among many companies that believes smart meters have a strong future in the realm of clean technology.
Docomo and KT Corporation team for the sake of mobile commerce
Japan’s Docomo, a leading mobile network operator, has teamed with South Korea’s KT Corporation, an information and communications business, to develop a new mobile commerce system based on NFC technology. The mobile commerce system will be designed for use in both Japan and South Korea and will facilitate payments for goods and services through the use of a mobile device. The initiative is expected to help boost consumer exposure to mobile commerce and NFC technology exponentially.
Japanese consumers to use Cashbee service
The mobile commerce system will allow Japanese consumers with NFC-enabled smart phones to make payments in South Korea without having to worry about money changing. This will be accomplished through South Korea’s extensive Cashbee service, which already allows citizens of the country to participate in mobile commerce. The service comes from the KT Corporation and its accessibility to Japanese consumers is considered the first practical step of the partnership between the two companies.
Lack of NFC-enabled devices could slow plans for mobile commerce development
Docomo expects the Cashbee service to be available to Japanese consumers in the first half of 2013. After the service becomes widely available, both Docomo and the KT Corporation will begin introducing new, cross-border services concerning mobile commerce, marketing, and mass-transit ticketing, all based on NFC technology. The two companies believe NFC technology could help bring a wide variety of convenient services to consumers in both countries, but the lack of available NFC-enabled mobile devices may delay the duo’s plans.
Demand for NFC-enabled devices reaching new heights
Despite the growing popularity of mobile commerce and NFC technology, mobile devices capable of conducting mobile transactions are still rare. Many new devices, such as Samsung’s Galaxy S III, are equipped with NFC technology, but there are currently not enough to meet the demand of consumers interested in mobile commerce. Without the adequate supply of NFC-enabled mobile devices, any plans concerning the widespread use of mobile commerce services is expected to find some difficulty gaining traction with consumers.
