RIM bets big on NFC
He has outlined the company's plans for NFC and says it would be in “all of our new devices moving forward”, although he doesn't go into details about specific dates, or the first new BlackBerry that will sport NFC technology.
RIM is getting behind NFC in a big way, the report says. Bates talked about how users will soon be using NFC for payment in Starbucks and expects it to replace Oyster cards - an electronic payment system used in London - for an easy way of paying for trains, buses and just about everything else.
The WashingtonPost reports that NFC is popping up on the lips of some of the tech industry's top players and it likely won't be long before consumers see it in their favourite products.
The technology is known primarily for mobile payments, whereby consumers can tap their phones on receivers in stores to pay for goods. It can also be used for ticketing, controlling other devices, exchanging information and other uses.
Apple has reportedly also has been eyeing NFC for future versions of its iPhone and iPad.
According to eWeek, market research firm iSuppli predicted NFC adoption would expand throughout 2011. Its report suggests 13% of the 220.1 million handsets expected to be sold in 2014 will come with mobile payment capability.
“This is the mobile payment revolution, on the verge of being unleashed by NFC technology,” says Jagdish Rebello, communications and consumer electronics analyst at iSuppli. He also suggested that 2012 would be the turning point for the technology, citing “a critical mass of planned trials”.
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