NFC technology is becoming more commonplace as consumers become more comfortable with the services it can provide. The technology is well known for its use in mobile commerce, wherein it is able to facilitate mobile payments from smart phones for physical products. The technology also has uses in marketing and information distribution and is quickly becoming an ideal way for companies to stay engaged with mobile consumers. Despite the growing popularity of NFC technology, relatively few consumers can engage in the services it provides because of the lack of NFC-enabled mobile devices.
NFC-enabled devices currently in low supply
In order for consumers to make use of NFC-based services, they must have a device that is equipped with an NFC chip. This chip allows a device to interface with a payments terminal, NFC tag, or other service that relies on the technology. Currently, the availability of NFC-enabled mobile devices is low, with the majority of such devices encompassed in the Android platform. The iOS platform does not support NFC technology despite growing demand coming from consumers. The lack of NFC-enabled devices has made it difficult for mobile commerce and other NFC-based services to gain traction with consumers.
ABI Research predicts 2 billion NFC-enabled devices by 2017
According to ABI Research, the availability of NFC-enabled mobile devices is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years. This is due to telecommunications and technology companies heeding the demands coming from consumers and working to meet their needs. The research firm expects more than 2 billion smart phones will be equipped with NFC technology by 2017. Shipments of NFC-enabled devices are expected to pick up as well as these products exit their trail phase and companies deem them commercially viable.
New devices expected to make NFC technology more familiar with consumers
With the availability of NFC-enabled devices on the rise, more consumers are expected to gain access to the wide array of NFC-based services that are being offered to them. There may be some challenges that companies and consumers will have to overcome, especially in the realm of mobile commerce, but NFC technology is expected to become a staple of mobile technology and service in the near future.
NFC technology not so easily exploited when it is turned off
NFC technology is becoming a more common feature in mobile devices. The technology is used often in mobile commerce and advertising as a way to facilitate convenient services and reach out to consumers. For these purposes, NFC technology has proven itself quite effective. The technology is, however, exposed to the risk of exploitation from hackers. It is also a major drain on a smart phone’s battery, especially if it is used for mobile commerce and social networking.
Turning off NFC could save battery power
For those with NFC-enabled Android mobile devices, turning off NFC technology is fairly simple. Those that do not conduct mobile payments or engage in data exchange regularly can actually see some major benefits from turning off the NFC capabilities of their mobile device when they do not plan to use them. Turning off the NFC technology embedded in the phone can help reduce the strain on the mobile device’s batter, allowing it to remain charged for a significantly longer period of time. Turning of NFC connectivity can actually make a mobile device much safer as well.
Security boost through turning off NFC
NFC technology is quickly becoming notorious for the lackluster security features that are native to it. The technology is completely benign in the sense that it does not have robust security features or any glaring security faults that could put a user’s information at risk. The applications and services that rely on NFC technology, however, do have some serious security shortfalls that do put this information at risk. When consumers do not plan to make use of these applications and services, turning off the NFC capabilities of their mobile device may help mitigate the risks associated with mobile commerce and other NFC-based services.
Battery mileage varies from device to device, but security still a serious issue
The impact NFC technology has on the life of a battery is highly dependent on the mobile device in which the technology is installed. Personal tests are advised for those that want to get a better understanding of what the technology will do to the battery of their own device. Because NFC technology works at very short range, the security implications can often be overblown. Nonetheless, the security issues inherent with many NFC services and applications are still cause for concern and consumer should take steps to protect themselves.
