Time to learn a new acronym. NFC, or near-field communications, is popping up on the lips of some of the tech industry's top players and it likely won't be long before consumers see it in their favorite products. The technology is known primarily for mobile payments, where consumers can tap their phones on receivers in stores to pay for their goods. It can also be used for ticketing, controlling other devices, exchanging information and other uses.
During a speech at the Westminster eForum, Research in Motion (RIM) Managing Director Steven Bates said that his company will make a push to integrate NFC, into its smartphones and tablets.
ZDNet and others reported on the speech. "We're going to deploy NFC in virtually all of our devices," Bates said.
Apple has reportedly also has been eyeing NFC for future versions of its iPhone and iPad.
The GSM association said earlier this month that all major carriers had agreed to launch near-field technology by the end of 2012.
In his speech, Bates also predicted that many of the functions of smartphones would be taken over by tablets, leaving smartphones with "pure communications" functions such as messaging, social media and, of course, talk.
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