Time Added to the Hourglass: XPERIA Ion uses NFC to Save Consumers Time

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Time Added to the Hourglass: XPERIA Ion uses NFC to Save Consumers Time

Let’s chat it up about the Sony Xperia Ion, the LTE version of the Xperia S, available on the AT&T 4G network. Earlier this year in January, following CES we did a piece on Sony’s NFC speakers for Xperia NFC smartphones, which you can find here. With 4G compatibility, the phone can be used on GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+ where LTE is not available on AT&T. The device is part of the new generation of NXT series (next generation) smartphones and displays a 4.6-inch 720p HD Bravia Engine screen. A 12MP camera that goes from having the device off to snapping a picture in 1.5 seconds by holding down on the dual-stage camera shutter button and 1.5 GHZ dual core processor with Android Gingerbread this quarter to upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich during the second quarter. In holding the device, we notice the Sony Ericsson’s signature human curvature back (metal, not plastic like the XPERIA S) that allows users to grip the XPERIA Ion comfortably in their hands.

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Narian compares NFC to Barcodes with infographic

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Narian compares NFC to Barcodes with infographic

The NFC and Barcode battle still looms on, and Narian Technologies has been determined to settle the dispute once and for all with an insightful infographic. QR codes are finally being accepted everywhere with marketers barely putting out a piece of printed collateral without the aforementioned QR code winging its way along for the ride. However, NFC tags have many advantages that QR codes simply can’t attain. Narian builds a strong case for NFC in its infographic that points out the many advantages that NFC holds over barcodes of any description, but that doesn’t mean that barcodes are dead yet. Obviously we favor NFC tags, NFC devices and the ecosystem that is building around the technology. However, we would be remiss if we didn’t play devil’s advocate a little and point out some of the advantages that barcodes have over NFC. So, we will endeavor to give a balanced approach as we go through Narian Technologies’ infographic.

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NFC Bootcamp attendees to receive NFC ID cards from Cellotape

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NFC Bootcamp attendees to receive NFC ID cards from Cellotape

Just a quick post for you regarding the NFC Bootcamp over in Santa Clara. We just got sent some photographs of the NFC paper cards that are being given to attendees of the NFC Bootcamp and they are really quite cool. Cellotape has produced the NFC Bootcamp NFC cards and left the Racetrack NFC tag shooing through, which if you are a little geeky like us you will appreciate. Generally, the way a product like this is made is by placing an NFC tag in between two materials. However, it looks as if Cellotape has die-cut the cards to show the actual NFC tag within and also makes another cut to show UPM RFID’s branding too.

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Freescale and INSIDE Secure bring some NFC magic to utility meters

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Freescale and Inside bring some NFC magic to utility meters in reference design

Freescale Semiconductor and INSIDE Secure has announced a secure prepaid electricity / utility meter reference design with NFC baked straight in. The new product is aimed at OEMs so they can quickly and cost effectively deploy NFC utility meters to market. Using NFC in utility meters is a very obvious use case and a vast market to be tackled. Every home has at least one utility meter and most have more than that. The new design is based on the Freescale Kinetis MK30 microcontroller (MCU), which provides the first NFC-based prepaid meter with the ability to securely reload energy credit balances. INSIDE Secure provides the VaultIC 460 and NFC (MicroRead 3.4) chipset. Gone are the days in the UK are sotting 50 pence pieces into old electricity meters. A new solution could be for NFC payments to top up electricity when required.

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Galaxy Note has NFC onboard AT&T locks it, Ma’Bell’s Galaxy Note Fails

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Galaxy Note has NFC onboard AT&T locks it, Ma’Bell’s Galaxy Note Fails

Just a couple of weeks ago at CES, Samsung told NFC Rumors that the Galaxy Note did not have NFC capabilities. We took a spin around the Android OS and at the software level at least, this appeared to be confirmed. However, Samsung has now done its own tear down on the LTE device and what do we see? Yep, NFC is there. The IC can be clearly seen and the back cover sports an NFC antenna. This means Samsung was either not telling the full truth at CES or their show staff had no idea what was going on. Samsung Tomorrow reports that the specs of the torn down device exactly match the version heading to AT&T. So what gives?

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NFC Bootcamp free pre-event to feature Cellotape how NFC works tour

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NFC Bootcamp free pre-event to feature Cellotape how NFC works tour

NFC Bootcamp have arguably done more to educate folks on how to use NFC than any other group. That’s not to say there aren’t many other great teams educating people about how to add NFC features to products or start new businesses. However, NFC Bootcamp tours the US putting on organized training sessions that take developers and marketers from step one to the implementation and marketing of their NFC app, device or service. They are also platform agnostic, which allows for a 360 degree understanding of the industry, challenges and opportunities that are available. In short, NFC Bootcamp is a valuable resource for folks looking to build something meaningful in the nascent NFC market.

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Shots of AT&T LTE Samsung Galaxy Note outed, said to feature NFC

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Shots of AT&T LTE Samsung Galaxy Note outed, no official word on NFC but tipsters show a board that is rumored to be from the Note with an NFC IC onboard

These are official leaked shots of the jumbo sized AT&T LTE Samsung Galaxy Note. Last week Sam Mobile reported that it had proof that the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note would harbor an NFC chip. A recent trend with NFC smartphone announcements is to not feature NFC at all. AT&T and other Isis members have attempted to keep the NFC ability just until Isis is ready to roll, and hence we see a lot of NFC smartphones launching and have to wait until they get tear downs to see whether NFC is actually onboard.

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Sprint LTE upgraded Galaxy Nexus ad shown and pulled

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Sprint LTE upgraded Galaxy Nexus ad shown and pulled

An ad has appeared on CNET that displayed a Sprint LTE Galaxy Nexus displayed proudly, touting some better specifications than its Big Red brethren. CES starts this next week and yesterday we received a clue about what Sprint may have in mind to show us at their press conference. The problem with the Galaxy Nexus is you have to sign up for a Verizon account to get it. If you want Google Wallet you have to pop over to XDA Developers and go through a few system changes to get it without Verizon’s permission. The whole launch of the Galaxy Nexus was a debacle at best, but it is now looking as if we may have a better choice coming our way. Although this ad was pulled pretty quickly, it was up for long enough to show some features that the Sprint Galaxy Nexus is likely to boast.

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WIMA NFC Monaco 2012 calls for papers to be submitted

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WIMA NFC Monaco 2012 calls for papers to be submitted for its 2012 6th Global NFC Applications Products & Services Congress

As we mentioned in our last post WIMA Monaco is getting closer and here is the opportunity to present in front of delegates at the conference or have your paper published in the conference programme. WIMA generally attracts attendees and speakers from every facet of the burgeoning NFC ecosystem. This year there is also opportunities for Near Field Communication solution providers to make a joint presentation with an end user partner.

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Broadcom brings NFC and apps to 2 billion existing TVs

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Broadcom brings NFC and apps to 2 billion existing TVs by converting them to Smart TVs

This morning sees Broadcom make an exciting announcement that is likely to change the way we use TV and, of course, incorporates NFC. We have seen the Boxee Box, we have seen Apple TV and we have seen Google TV and the Roku box. Many consumers are abandoning the airwaves in preference to connected apps on Smart TVs, but as yet there has been no NFC incorporated. That is set to change with this morning’s announcement from Broadcom, who are probably one of the largest semiconductor firms in the US.

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NFC Taxis hit multiple US cities with NBC & VeriFone

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NFC Taxis hit multiple US cities with NBC & VeriFone as they partner for NFC based out-of-home marketing using NBC and Universal content

NBCUniversal has announced that along with VeriFone, it intends to advertise and interact with consumers in captive out-of-home locations starting with NFC taxis in multiple US cities. Consumers can expect to gain access to NBC’s news, information and entertainment programming in more than 12,000 taxi cabs as well as at thousands of gas stations which started a couple of days ago. NBC also plans to use NFC marketing on other digital out-of-home platforms in the future.

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Privacy Goes Public: Sharing Privacy for a Discount

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Privacy Goes Public: Sharing Privacy for a Discount

First things first – let’s get a little public with this privacy issue, shall we? For most people privacy starts where personal freedom ends. Yet there are many more complexities to the word, from personal snooping to sharing data online. Our focus today – sharing data and privacy. Consumers are concerned with privacy. True. But does that mean they are not willing to share it? False. Face it – as we continue to increase our social status as a global society, the more information we will inevitably share. Disturbing, right? It’s nothing new though. Who doesn’t own a loyalty card for a local grocery or retail store? Your data is held here and collected under your profile so they can ensure they offer products that fit your needs according to your shopping habits. Can we say “Facebook”? If you own a debit card, your bank knows your spending and buying patterns. Heck, they may know your habits better than you do. So, what is all the privacy fuss about?

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Coke uses Clear Channel for NFC marketing campaign in Singapore

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Coke uses Clear Channel for NFC marketing campaign in Singapore

Coca-Cola has launched an NFC marketing campaign in Singapore with ClearChannel that uses NFC stickers to interact with consumers’ NFC smartphones. The Coke campaign reputedly runs on Mobile Life!, which is ClearChannel’s NFC enabled network.

The NFC marketing campaign’s aim is to push Coke brands in a Christmas push for sales. The NFC marketing campaign ads are being displayed on bus shelters in Singapore and users simply tap their NFC smartphones against the NFC hotspot to gain the ability to download Christmas themed wallpapers and a special Fanta ringtone that echoes the music in a Fanta TV commercial in Singapore. Marketing-Interactive reports that the campaign also includes QR codes for folks who don’t have an NFC smartphone as yet.

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Nokia CES Press event hints at NFC and maybe tablets

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Nokia CES Press event hints at NFC and maybe tablets Okay, the Nokia Press invitation just hit our inbox for CES hinting that the firm may well be unveiling some new devices that speak to the future of smart devices. Perhaps it is just fanciful thinking on our part, but we suspect that we may see some Windows Phone [...]

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NFC tags market to be worth $300 million in next five years says ABI Research

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NFC tags market to be worth $300 million in next five years says ABI Research

ABI Research has released a report that forecasts that NFC Smart Posters and mobile marketing could push the non-payment NFC tags market to a $300 million per year business by 2016. If you hang around the NFC industry for more than a nanosecond, you will soon become aware what a big deal NFC tags are. NFC tags are used in every non-payment, non-device iteration that NFC has to offer; including NFC stickers, NFC smart posters and even NFC stationary.

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The Consumer’s Perception: 5 Fundamental Rules of Engagement for NFC

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The Consumer’s Perception: 5 Fundamental Rules of Engagement for NFC

What initiates engagement more than a need to connect? A need for a positive review, an inquiry, a complaint or even a purchase. Specifically, what opportunities for engagement of the consumer is there for near field communication (NFC) and why is the ongoing perception so weak? Near field communication is quite a ways from being a household name, especially in North America. Even with In-Stat, an NFC chip manufacturer, predicting 1.2 billion NFC chips to be shipped by 2015, which is 30% global penetration claiming more than 375 million people, NFC would appear to be quite a popular buzz word — that is a lot of chips! Yet, in the UK, for example, in a survey conducted by Opinion Matters for Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, it states only 32% of the consumers interviewed were familiar with NFC. Could you imagine what that number would be in the US?

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Letter filed with FCC requesting Verizon investigation for blocking Google Wallet [Updated]

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Letter filed with FCC requesting Verizon investigation for blocking Google Wallet [Updated]

Yesterday, Free Press filed a letter with the FCC against Verizon urging the Feds to investigate the “blocking” of Google Wallet on the Galaxy Nexus NFC smartphone. Well, it was bound to happen that a consumer protection group would tackle an Isis MNO about treating data in different ways and challenging the FCC to uphold their newly established powers to stop this from happening. The irony is that Verizon has been the strongest critic of net neutrality and it is now them who have been placed in the crosshairs of net neutrality organizers.

“Free Press believes that Verizon Wireless may be denying subscribers’ access to third-party mobile payment applications because it is part of a joint venture to develop its own mobile payment technology, called Isis,” the organization stated in their release.

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Galaxy Nexus NFC smartphone launches 15th Dec? We’re so over this!

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Galaxy Nexus NFC smartphone launches 15th Dec? We’re so over this!

Bored of hearing the next projected date of when the Galaxy Nexus NFC smartphone will hit Verizon? We feel you. It all seemed exciting and fun at the backend of October when Google made the announcement with Samsung, but the subject has since become one of torture. Will it have NFC? How much will it cost? What size is the display? When will Verizon release it? Why is Verizon fighting with Google over Google Wallet? When will it launch? When will it release? How much will it cost? When will Verizon finally let it loose to the market?

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NFC added to free Microsoft Tag platform boosts NFC marketing

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NFC added to free Microsoft Tag platform boosts NFC marketing

Microsoft Tag is one of those products that may have passed you by in the past. Today’s announcement that the firm will include NFC tag support in the app and web interface may have just let Microsoft Tag find its sea legs and become a relevant tool to be used by small businesses and marketers alike. The project has been about since 2009 and previously supported 2D barcodes and QR codes and didn’t really inspire.

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Tapit adds a global title to its Red Herring Award for NFC marketing

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Tapit adds a global title to its Red Herring Award for NFC marketing

It was in October that Tapit took home a Red Herring award placing itself firmly within the top 100 tech firms in Asia for its NFC marketing exploits. Now Tapit has taken that title and boosted it up to a global level by receiving yet another Red Herring award for what the firm calls “the process of getting content to mobile phones.”

Andrew Davis, Agency Director, said, “It was interesting to see who we were up against. Tapit was definitely one of the newest companies at the awards so it was exciting that our innovation is already being recognised.”

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Isis to use Gemalto as its TSM for its NFC mobile wallet

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Isis to use Gemalto as its TSM for its NFC mobile wallet

Okay everyone, brace for impact, we have an Isis post for you because the NFC joint venture made up from AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile has today announced it has picked Gemalto as their Trusted Service Manager. If you are new to these parts, a Trusted Service Manager, or TSM, is the service that manages and provisions secure data to the secure element in an NFC smartphone. That secure element can come in the form of an NFC SIM, an NFC microsSD card, or the preferred (and arguably more secure) embedded secure element. Mobile OS’ don’t have access to the secure element to write and change data, so third party services are used for the secure management of data and apps.

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Nokia Windows Phone 7 NFC smartphones coming soon

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Nokia Windows Phone 7 NFC smartphones coming soon

Many Nokia faithful fans have been waiting for the firm to add some NFC smartphones to their Windows Phone 7 offerings. We asked a few Nokia people whether they were coming while we were at WIMA and got some confirmation on the matter. We planned to post about Nokia planning to keep to their promise by including NFC support in new NFC smartphones that run on Windows Phone 7, but then a strange rumor started making its way around the blogosphere and it caught us off guard.

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RIM goes down under to get to the top of NFC with Tapit NFC Marketing

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RIM goes down under to get to the top of NFC with Tapit NFC Marketing

Okay, save your lewd jokes about the title of this post – we have already made them here in the NFC Rumors office, we could have made it worse. Over the last few months Tapit has shined as probably the most successful NFC marketing firm in Australia, and RIM has been pushing their support of NFC around the world. Considering that RIM wants to promote the NFC capability of its BlackBerry Bold 9900 and BlackBerry Curve 9350 in Australia it would appear that Tapit would be a natural go-to partner to get the job done.

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Verizon furious at Google for Galaxy Nexus / Google Wallet statement [Exclusive]

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Verizon furious at Google for Galaxy Nexus / Google Wallet statement

As you can probably imagine we have been reaching out far and wide to get some more information about what actually is going on with Verizon and its distinct dislike of Google Wallet. Our search revealed that Verizon execs are “livid” with Google for supposedly making a statement about whether or not Verizon intends to allow Google Wallet on the Galaxy Nexus. We have reported for sometime how contentious the issue of Google Wallet has been between Google and Verizon and now Verizon’s top brass is said to be spitting chips about Google going public about Google Wallet.

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Hands-on with the Taztag Tazpad NFC tablet at WIMA NFC USA

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Hands-on with the Taztag Tazpad NFC tablet at WIMA NFC USA

We have been following the development of the Taztag Tazpad, which took the title as the first NFC tablet to be announced, since earlier this year. From its inception, the Tazpad NFC tablet had its work cut out for it in standing up to colossal electronics giants who would undoubtedly release competitive products.

The Tazpad has prospered, moved beyond vaporware and is now in the market for integrators and larger organizations. As NFC tablets go, the Tazpad is the only one we know of that is available today and has features that make it an attractive prospect for business based implementations. In fact, it has features not available in a single slate anywhere else. We met up with Taztag Co-Founder and International General Manager, Michel Delaux, over at WIMA, where our first question was “Do you have one with you?” Luckily enough, he did!

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