The way in which we pay for things has changed drastically over the decades. Technologies like credit cards and PayPal make payments far simpler than in the past. NFC, or Near Field Communication, technology hopes to simplify payments even more by allowing people to transmit data from one device to another.
How will we use it?
NFC mobile chips will soon be integrated into all smartphones, making it easier than ever to pay for your coffee. Instead of looking around in your purse or pocket to find your wallet, you simply use your phone – something many of us have at hand at all times.
NFC mobile chips allow users to store their credit card information in their phones. Then, when they are at a store or retailer that is equipped with mobile payment technology, they can simply scan their phones at the register to pay for their purchases.
Google Wallet
Google just announced its foray into the mobile payments world. Google Wallet, which hopes to take the place of the traditional wallet, is available on certain Android devices, but Google plans to release a sticker that will allow other devices to work with the Google Wallet. A number of retailers have already signed on to work with Google Wallet.
Since the mobile payments industry is going to be such a game-changer, it is unlikely that Apple, RIM, and other smartphone makers will be eager to open their platforms up to Google Wallet. These companies, instead, will most likely be coming out with their own mobile payment systems in the near future.
Other potential uses
NFC mobile chips will likely soon be doing much more than just helping you pay for your coffee. Some of those future uses include:
- Replace passports and boarding passes
- Products may have RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags on them that you can scan as a way to gather information.
- Pet tags may soon have RFID tags attached that you can scan if you find a lost puppy.
- Replace keys – no more clunky key chains!
NFC mobile chips are guaranteed to change the way we do many things. While the transition may take a while, it is sure to make our lives a little easier.
For more information on NFC mobile chips and how they work, take a look at this article.
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