Tag: nfc mobile technology

Qualcomm introduces new NFC chip

| December 10, 2012

 

Mobile Commerce NFC ChipQualcomm continues to show strong support for NFC technology

Qualcomm, a leading developer of computer chips and mobile technology, has announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Atheros, has introduced a new NFC solution that could have promising implications for a wide range of mobile devices. Qualcomm has been showing increasing interest in NFC technology recently. The company recently upgraded its membership within the NFC Forum, a trade group working to provide standards for the use of NFC technology. The company sees a great deal of promise in NFC technology that extends well beyond mobile commerce.

NFC continues to be linked to mobile commerce

NFC technology is well known for establishing a strong foundation for mobile commerce. Indeed, most mobile commerce initiative rely heavily on the technology in order to facilitate business with consumers. The technology is capable of turning a mobile device into a payment platform, thus allowing consumers to participate in mobile commerce. NFC technology can be used for much more than mobile transactions, and Qualcomm has been working to make the technology available to other industries.

New chip offers promising features

Qualcomm Atheros has developed a new NFC solution that consumes much less energy than traditional NFC chips. The chip, called the QCA 1990, is compatible with most cutting edge mobile technologies and complies with the standards of the NFC Forum. The QCA 1990 is designed to consume as little energy as possible, thus it does not present any significant strain on the battery of a mobile device. Qualcomm notes that the chip will also help make wireless communications and data exchange more efficient. This includes mobile payments.

Chip to see limited use throughout 2013

Qualcomm plans to make the QCA 1990 available to a limited number of customers by the first quarter of 2013. This will help the company determine if any significant changes need to be done to the chip to prepare it for wider commercialization. By the third quarter of 2013, Qualcomm expects that the QCA 1990 will be in the hands of large companies around the world.

Nokia fights to find traction with new products

| December 10, 2012

 

Mobile Commerce Nokia ChinaNokia finds some stability in China

Finnish mobile device maker Nokia has been having trouble in numerous markets recently. The company may be a well known name in the field of mobile technology with its wide range of products and impressive smart phone portfolio, but it has experienced a difficult year in regards to its latest projects. Many of the company’s latest smart phones have been the subject of aggressive hype, but consumers have responded poorly to these products when they reached the market. China is one of the countries where Nokia has been seeing some success, but the Chinese market may not be enough to revitalize the company.

Growth in China may be due to mobile commerce

The Chinese market accounts for one-third of the world’s smart phone shipments. Mobile technology is in very high demand with consumers, especially those that are becoming more interested in mobile commerce. Nokia is one of the few smart phone makers that develops devices that are equipped with NFC technology. Much of mobile commerce revolves around the use of NFC technology, which is capable of transforming a smart phone into a mobile payment platform.

Consumers  not yet won over by high-end Lumia phones

While the demand for mobile commerce has been growing among Chinese consumers, Nokia has had trouble establishing a strong foothold within the country. In the third quarter of 2012, Nokia likely sold fewer than 500,000 devices from its Lumia line in China. Less than 100,000 of these are estimated to be high-end Lumia devices, such as those equipped with NFC technology, like the 820.

China Mobile deal could help boost Nokia performance

Nokia is expected to see some major gains in China due to a new deal with China Mobile, the country’s largest mobile network operator. Per the deal with China Mobile, Nokia will begin selling a localized version of its high-powered Lumia 920 smart phone, which is equipped with NFC technology. This deal with China Mobile could increase the sale of high-end mobile device in the country by as much as 50%.