Author: JT

NXP Semiconductors takes a swing at NFC technology

| November 6, 2012

 

NFC technology set for boost as new chips become available

NFC technology is becoming mNFC technologyore popular as more consumers get their hands on smart phones and other high-tech devices. The technology has helped establish mobile commerce, but it has also seen extensive use in advertising. Indeed, the technology is beginning to gain more attention for its uses beyond the mobile payment space, and integrated circuit manufacturer NXP Semiconductors is keen to ensure that businesses can make use of NFC technology in an efficient way.

New NFC chips could be a major boon to businesses

NXP Semiconductors has developed a new series of NFC chips that are meant to make serialization much simpler. These chips provide businesses with a URL “mirror,” which allows them to keep track of which NFC tags are actually being used and in what way. These NFC tags are typically to be used in advertising and information distribution. Being able to track the performance of these tags could be a major boon for companies that are looking to tune their engagement with mobile consumers.

Four new chips designed to meet the needs of businesses

The new NFC chips come in four varieties, all part of the NTAG21x chip family. These chips have varying features that are meant to appeal to different sectors of business. The NFC chips with low memory — NTAG210 — are meant to be affordable and appeal to companies that want to reach a large number of consumers in an efficient manner. Other chips are better suited to provide consumers with some type of service, such as remote access to a computer network. These NFC chips are currently only available as samples, but NXP Semiconductors has plans to deliver the chips to NFC manufacturers by the end of this year.

NFC technology gains momentum beyond mobile commerce

NFC technology is gaining momentum outside of mobile payments. If the technology can continue to prove popular amongst consumers, businesses are likely to continue showing interest in making use of the technology. For now, NFC technology is seeing the most use in the mobile commerce industry, where the technology enables smart phones and other mobile devices to make purchases for goods and services.

Windows Phone 8 launches with NFC capabilities

| November 1, 2012

 Windows Phone 8 includes NFC technology

Android and iOS may hold sway over the majority of the mobile market, but Microsoft is keen to re-establish itself as a major contender with the launch of Windows Phone 8. The new smart phone, which was launched earlier this week, may not have received the same fanfare that usually accompanies the launch of an iPhone, but it has still managed to generate a great deal of buzz in the mobile technology world. Much of the interest Windows Phone 8 is receiving is thanks to its use of NFC technology.

Microsoft sees potential in NFC

Microsoft has brought NFC technology to the Windows Phone platform in order to address growing demand for the technology amongst consumers. Microsoft does not share the same concerns as Apple regarding NFC technology and believes that it can be used to provide better services to consumers. Thus, Windows Phone 8 boasts of several features that are based on the technology, such as a mobile wallet that will serve as a platform for mobile commerce.

Wallet application serves as a commerce hub for consumersWindows Phone 8

The Windows Phone 8 Wallet, as it is called, provides consumers with a wide range of services. Through the Wallet, consumers can store boarding passes for trips, loyalty rewards from retailers, movie tickets and other such materials on a single platform. This digital information can be accessed and used at any time. The Wallet is also able to store the financial information of a consumer, allowing them to make purchases for goods and services using nothing more than their Windows Phone 8.

Windows Phone 8 able to interface with Android platform

While Windows Phone 8 boasts of many features that have won favor of consumers, it is the device’s NFC capabilities that may solidify it as a favorite amongst the tech-savvy. By adopting NFC technology, Microsoft is putting the Windows Phone 8 in direct competition with Google’s Android platform. The company, however, is not keen to shut out Google in any way. In fact, Windows Phone 8 is able to interface with any version of the Android platform that supports NFC technology, allowing the two platforms to share digital information in a seamless manner.