Innovative key fob brings NFC capabilities to all mobile phones
February 15, 2011
The latest wireless technology finding its way into mobile phones alongside Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is near field communication, or NFC.
It has taken a few years but the short-range wireless technology is gathering speed, with the number of NFC-enabled handsets on the increase and numerous trials of the technology being carried out around the world, mainly aimed at contactless payments and public transport ticketing applications. But if you’re worried you’ll have to throw out your current mobile phone to take advantage of the convenience of NFC then relax, because Simlink has teamed with Morpho to develop a key fob that brings NFC technology to any existing mobile phone.
NFC is a set of short-range wireless technologies that allows mobile phones, or other devices, to collect data from another device or NFC tag at close range – usually 4 cm (1.5 in) or less. The major application for the technology is expected to be contactless payment, with MasterCard and VISA both members of the NFC Forum founded by Nokia, Sony and Philips in 2004 to advance the use of the technology in mobile devices, consumer electronics and PCs.
