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2012 Will Be The Year NFC Breaks Big--Just Not In The U.S.

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Re: 2012 Will Be The Year NFC Breaks Big--Just Not In The U.S.

#31

Post by mike-cardwell »

lemming wrote: post #22
icebraining wrote: post #10

What's exactly the difference between NFC and RFID? The NFC Forum FAQ isn't very clear. Here in Portugal (and AFAIK in multiple European countries) we use contactless cards for public transportation, but that's about it; payments are still done with debit cards or cash.

They're basically the same thing with different ranges. NFC has a range of about 4cm, RFID goes up to a couple of metres I think. NFC is generally used when you want to make sure someone gets really close, which is generally the case with payments. You don't want someone able to interact with your credit card from several metres away without you knowing about it.

Presumably, just getting close to the card is not enough to initiate a payment? Most tables/desks are less than 4cm thick...

Re: 2012 Will Be The Year NFC Breaks Big--Just Not In The U.S.

#32

Post by iloveponies »

blub wrote: post #28
tazzy531 wrote: post #25

NFC has a huge uphill battle in the US. It is not for the lack of ideas, nor is it the lack of people trying to build interesting technology with it. It is because of the carriers. Yes, the carriers, like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Before I explain why the carriers are the problems, let's step back and talk about how NFC payment works. On every NFC phone, there is a chip that is called the secure element. The secur…

Maybe, but NFC can also be used as a communication technology, and there are no gatekeepers there.

Except there's less money in it. There is money in payment services and membership/coupons, however.

Re: 2012 Will Be The Year NFC Breaks Big--Just Not In The U.S.

#33

Post by jinushaun »

blub wrote: post #29
rodh257 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this is what will actually make it take off I believe. While a subset of Android devices support it, the marketing push it will receive when Apple bring it to their devices is what will drive adoption. All the news articles and other coverage that come when a new iPhone is announced will talk about how the new iphone is making the wallet obsolete etc, and people will get their first introduction to the technology. I…

Apple will probably be the last to the NFC party. They are (smartly?) letting the other manufacturers bring the technology to the market.

I believe the only reason that Apple (and the 4S) doesn't have NFC is that all the negotiations haven't been worked out yet. The technology is there and Apple has the know-how to make it a great user experience, but neither Apple nor Google live in a bubble. They need carrier support for NFC to work. Otherwise, they won't let NFC phones on their network. And don't forget Visa, Mastercard, et al. They want in on the action too.

Re: 2012 Will Be The Year NFC Breaks Big--Just Not In The U.S.

#34

Post by kul »

jhancock wrote: post #15

The China gov is working with banks and its social services orgs to integrate all accounts on a "smart card" that is an NFC connected to your phone SIM. This works as both a stored value card for things like subway entrance as well as purchases made for health services by deducting from your health care account, etc.. The roll out is happening now. I'm not sure when all 260 million cards are scheduled to be out, but…

hey, can you contact me at kul@tagstand.com? be good to talk.

Re: 2012 Will Be The Year NFC Breaks Big--Just Not In The U.S.

#35

Post by kul »

tazzy531 wrote: post #25

NFC has a huge uphill battle in the US. It is not for the lack of ideas, nor is it the lack of people trying to build interesting technology with it. It is because of the carriers. Yes, the carriers, like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Before I explain why the carriers are the problems, let's step back and talk about how NFC payment works. On every NFC phone, there is a chip that is called the secure element. The secur…

I agree it's messy. Is it possible to talk? kul at tagstand.com

Re: 2012 Will Be The Year NFC Breaks Big--Just Not In The U.S.

#36

Post by lemming »

mike-cardwell wrote: post #31
lemming wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're basically the same thing with different ranges. NFC has a range of about 4cm, RFID goes up to a couple of metres I think. NFC is generally used when you want to make sure someone gets really close, which is generally the case with payments. You don't want someone able to interact with your credit card from several metres away without you knowing about it.

Presumably, just getting close to the card is not enough to initiate a payment? Most tables/desks are less than 4cm thick...

No, it's not sufficient (you'd need something pretending to be a terminal) but it is necessary which makes it much harder with NFC than RFID.
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