The company is also prepping for the use of Bluetooth 4.0 LE for the use of this new feature.
A large number of industry giants have made every effort they could to try to popularize the use of NFC technology, but have seen very limited success until now.
Nokia is hoping that its latest project will turn that trend in a more positive direction.
The mobile device manufacturer has announced that it is coming out with a new Bluetooth accessory called a “Treasure Tag”, which will allow device users to apply NFC technology to tracking items from their enabled smartphones. The accessory’s development was recently funded by a Kickstarter project that functions on the Apple iPhone.
The concept behind the new feature is an NFC technology compatible tile that can be paired with devices.
The Treasure Tag helps to feature the state of the art Bluetooth Low Energy tech from Nokia, although the NFC technology based tag can be paired with any smartphone based on Windows Phone that is enabled with near field communications tech. The pairing
requires a Windows Phone 8 app in order to be completed.
The app in question is built onto the LiveSight AR tech from Nokia. When it is installed onto a smartphone based on Windows 8, it allows its users to manage the NFC technology sensor and be able to track that accessory if it goes missing. The app also provides the sensor’s location on a map.
Users are also capable of using the NFC technology tag to track a lost smartphone that has been paired with its sensor by holding down a key on the device. This will trigger the associated device to make a sound. This feature does require the device to be within the tracking and hearing range of the accessory but it will certainly help to recover a device from a given coat pocket in the closet or from between sofa cushions. When the device is just out of sight, it can be rediscovered much more easily in this way.
The NFC technology and Bluetooth device uses batteries that will keep it powered for a period of six months.
The enhanced jewelry will unlock doors, transfer data, link people, and communicate with other devices.
Even NFC technology becomes more widely recognized, the majority of people have yet to work it into their everyday activities either because their own smartphones are not enabled or they simply don’t see the benefit.
This is, in part because the tech has experienced a broad struggle in becoming a part of the mainstream.
However, a man named Jon McLear is betting that the use of an NFC technology enabled ring will be all that is needed to show the world some of the amazing things that near field communication can do, so that it will burst into mainstream common use. Some examples include unlocking phones and doors, among other things.
The NFC technology ring project was started by McLear through the use of Kickstarter.
At the time of the writing of this article, McLear had already doubled his goal of £30,000, having received over £61,700 through the donations of more than 2,200 backers. As the funding opportunity closes on August 19, this clearly indicates that there will be many more funds to come and that the mastermind behind this project will have much more than he anticipated needing in order to bring this device to the market.
The NFC technology enabled ring will never require charging despite the fact that it simply needs to be worn on the finger and can be used for many different purposes, including data transfers (for example, WiFi information, website links, contact information, or other custom info) or being applied as a high tech house key.
This tiny NFC technology based device is bringing wearable mobile tech to an entirely new level. In order to use it with a reader – such as a smartphone with a near field communication chip or a door lock reader – the hand wearing the ring simply needs to be waved in very close proximity. The Android phone capabilities will be available through a free third party app called NFC Ring (developed by John McLear), and the door locks will be similar to the Lockitron security systems.
