NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION

        
          All latest phones have technology called as NFC (near field communication).but what is the use for this technology??specially when we have other better technologies like Bluetooth and infrared. this technology should have some more advantage or some better application then last two technologies.
so lets start
what is nfc technology ?

     Near field communication (NFC) allows for simplified transactions, data exchange, and wireless connections between two devices in proximity to each other, usually by no more than a few centimeters.

which companies were instrumental in making this technology??

Nokia has been active in this line since 2004. Along with Philips and Sony, it has founded the NFC Forum. Participation of 130 countries in this forum clearly signals that NFC is set to become a way of life in the years to come.The 140 NFC Forum members include Samsung, Nokia, Huawei, HTC, Motorola, NEC, RIM, LG, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, AT&T, Sprint,Rogers, SK, Google, Microsoft, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Intel, TI, Qualcomm, and NXP.

what are the USES of NFC?

NFC can share a contact, photo, song, application, or video, or pair Bluetooth devices.
NFC can share a contact, photo, song, application, or video, or pair Bluetooth devices.
Emerging NFC standards allow users to transfer information by touching devices.
Social networking

NFC simplifies and expands social networking options:

• File Sharing: Tap one NFC device to another to instantly share a contact, photo, song, application, video, or website link.
• Electronic business card: Tap one NFC device to another to instantly share electronic business cards or resumes.
• Electronic money: To pay a friend, you could tap the devices and enter the amount of the payment.
• Mobile gaming: Tap one NFC device to another to enter a multiplayer game.
• Friend-to-friend: You could touch NFC devices together to Facebook friend each other or share a resume or to "check-in" at a location.
• Bluetooth and WiFi Connections

NFC can be used to initiate higher speed wireless connections for expanded content sharing.

• Bluetooth: Instant Bluetooth Pairing can save searching, waiting, and entering codes. Touch the NFC devices together for instant pairing.
• WiFi: Instant WiFi Configuration can configure a device to a WiFi network automatically. Tap an NFC device to an NFC enabled router.

eCommerce
             

                NFC expands eCommerce opportunities, increases transaction speed and accuracy, while reducing staffing requirements. A Personal identification number (PIN) is usually only required for payments over $100 (in Australia) and £15 (in UK).
Mobile payment: An NFC device may make a payment like a credit card by touching a payment terminal at checkout or a vending machine when a PIN is entered.
PayPal: PayPal may start a commercial NFC service in the second half of 2011.
Google Wallet is an Android app that stores virtual versions of your credit cards for use at checkout when a PIN is used.
Ticketing: Tap an NFC device to purchase rail, metro, airline, movie, concert, or event tickets. A PIN is required.
Boarding pass: A NFC device may act as a boarding pass, reducing check-in delays and staffing requirements.
Point of Sale: Tap an SmartPoster tag to see information, listen to an audio clip, watch a video, or see a movie trailer.

Identity documents
         NFC's short range helps keep encrypted identity documents private.
ID card: An NFC enabled device can also act as an encrypted student, employee, or personal ID card or medical ID card.
Keycard: An NFC enabled device may serve as car, house, and office keys.
Rental Car and hotel keys: NFC rental car or hotel room keys may allow fast VIP check-in and reduce staffing requirements.

what are the Technical specifications of NFC technology?

         NFC is a set of short-range wireless technologies, typically requiring a distance of 4 cm or less. NFC operates at 13.56 MHz on ISO/IEC 18000-3 air interface and at rates ranging from 106 kbit/s to 424 kbit/s. NFC always involves an initiator and a target; the initiator actively generates an RF field that can power a passive target. This enables NFC targets to take very simple form factors such as tags, stickers, key fobs, or cards that do not require batteries. NFC peer-to-peer communication is possible, provided both devices are powered.

	NFC	BLUETOOTH	Bluetooth Low Energy
RFID compatible	ISO 18000-3	active	active
Standardisation body	ISO/IEC	Bluetooth SIG	Bluetooth SIG
Network Standard	ISO 13157 etc.	IEEE 802.15.1	IEEE 802.15.1
Network Type	Point-to-point	WPAN	WPAN
Cryptography	not with RFID	available	available
Range	< 0.2 m	~10 m (class 2)	~100 m
Frequency	13.56 MHz	2.4–2.5 GHz	2.4–2.5 GHz
Bit rate	424 kbit/s	2.1 Mbit/s	~1.0 Mbit/s
Set-up time	< 0.1 s	< 6 s	< 0.006 s
Power consumption	< 15mA (read)	varies with class	< 15 mA (transmit or receive)

      SO with that lets finish topic for todays blog,which is NFC technology its uses what is it,what are it differences from bluetooth. but we can be assured that this technology won't come to India soon it will take some more time then rest of world but we can be assured that it will take its own time to be noticed in India,not because people in India are not capable of using it but due to laidback nature of Indian people, to not use all the technological resources to to its optimum.