Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is big news for Nokia right now, with handsets as far back as the Nokia 6131 NFC having featured the technology on board. However, things have just taken a major step forward with the announcement that Nokia is working with NFC tech specialist Proxama on developing next-gen NFC applications for Nokia smartphones, starting with the Nokia C7. More after the cut.
The problem with a technology like NFC is that it requires several components to come together to realistically be of any value. Mobile phone makers, for instance, can build NFC capability into their handsets, but if there's nothing to actually scan or interact with, it's largely a waste of effort.
The Nokia C7 is one such handset, and has been earmarked by Proxama to receive a complete NFC-driven service package. This comprises three elements: TagCentre, NFC advertising tags and the PosterTouch campaign manager.
The advertising tags are the sensors that can be programmed with media-rich data and embedded in posters, T-shirts and the like, while the PosterTouch campaign manager allows advertisers and other relevant parties to monitor their NFC campaign's effectiveness.
But for Nokia owners – and Nokia C7 owners in particular – it's the TagCentre app that's most important. This piece of software is installed on the phone itself, and decodes raw NFC data into advertisements, movie trailers or whatever else the tag has been set up to link to.
“We are very excited to be at the forefront of the next evolution of the mobile phone,” Nokia's director of global ecosystems Sixten Sandstrom commented. “At Nokia, we recognise the big impact that NFC is going to have on how people use mobile phones and we plan to fully embrace it.”
Proxama says the first wave of the Nokia-flavoured NFC tech will be focused solely on the Nokia C7, but says its reach will expand over time as NFC starts to take hold and a wider variety of smartphones appear with NFC technology on board.
“Mobile is truly coming of age this year so I am delighted that we have secured a deal that will reap benefits for so many,” Proxama founder and CEO Neil Garner commented.
“We expect take up of NFC activity to grow rapidly with millions of NFC-enabled handsets forecast to be distributed this year. Consumers have increasingly placed more importance on the role their mobile plays in their lives and this is a natural step-change.”
So Nokia C7 owners – excited about the prospect of some NFC action coming your way? Give us your thoughts in the Comments below.