Sony unveils SmartTags

Electronics manufacturer, Sony is set to sell near field communications (NFC) SmartTags that will work with all NFC Android phones, Droid Matters reports.

The small NFC tags or tokens can be programmed to do a number of functions when activated with a phone's NFC chip. It can be used to set an alarm, send a text message, turn off WiFi, and play music, to name a few.

Smart tags give NFC-equipped Android smartphones a series of commands to speed up repetitive tasks, CNET states.

The SmartTags can issue commands such as swiping the phone when entering the house to turn on WiFi, turn off GPS and automatically start an app.

Representatives at Sony said during the Consumer Electronics Show that consumers should expect a second-quarter release and a price point "around $30" for a set of four tokens, which will work with any NFC-equipped smartphone.

NFC is based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and is designed to establish communication between two electronic devices, ExtremeTech notes.

Many companies, including Google, are touting NFC as the end of the traditional wallet, as suppliers of credit cards and other payment methods are looking into moving into the realm of mobile devices.