Smartphone Options

NFC phones use an alternative to Bluetooth known as near field communication. Near field communication is a type of short range, high frequency communication that enables phones to wirelessly transmit signals. The technology has an operative range of about four feet, enabling NFC phones to be used with a headset, and with a number of other NFC receiving devices. NFC is also used in a variety of other applications, from the Bay Area Rapid Transit system in San Francisco to electronic payment methods like in 7-Eleven. Here are a few of the phones offered currently using NFC technology:

The Google Nexus S uses NFC technology that runs the latest Gingerbread Android OS, and is manufactured by Samsung. It was released this past December, and offers support for NFC headsets. The Nokia C7 smartphone is one of several NFC phones offering NFC hardware, with a firmware upgrade slated for early 2011 that will activate the phone’s NFC capabilities. This means that while the C7 currently does not feature NFC support, it will soon, and no physical upgrade will be necessary. The Sagem Wireless Cosyphone offers an NFC handset that supports Single Wire Protocol, also called SWP, with 3G models having been released late in 2010. Look for an onslaught of NFC phones in 2011.