New research report promises to reveal the trends that the trends and technologies that will drive Near Field Communications adoption
New research report promises to reveal the trends that the trends and technologies that will drive Near Field Communications adoption
A major new report examining how Near Field Communication microSD cards could be the key to making NFC a reality is being launched at WIMA in Monaco on 20 April 2010.
Published by management consultancy, The Human Chain, NFC microSD cards: stepping stone or standard? looks in detail at the technology’s current development status as well as its implications, the business drivers and the user experience compared with using an integrated NFC-enabled mobile phone.
The report’s authors, Dr Nick Spencer, The Human Chain senior consultant, and Tim Jefferson, managing director at The Human Chain, examine how the technology works and detail patents registered by firms active in this market. They also address the fundamental question: what is the role of NFC- enabled microSD cards? Will they be an interim step ahead of fully integrated NFC phones (a stepping stone) or will they become established as a long-term option for NFC services (a standard)?
“Frustration, confusion and false starts have characterised real-world deployment of NFC technology,” said Jefferson. “And the lack of a suitable range of NFC-enabled mobile handsets is one of the biggest challenges, hampering take-up of the technology by consumers and retailers alike. We’ve looked in depth at how the microSD form factor could play a vital role in making NFC a reality.”
Broad market appeal
The research firm said the report would be of interest to everyone in the NFC value chain including service providers (such as banks, retailers and transit operators), technology providers and mobile network operators/carriers.
“The report starts from the premise that NFC is just one of the features that consumers may demand alongside a wider range of functions and apps such as cameras and games, and that they are unlikely to go out of their way to purchase a mobile handset with NFC until there is a range of stable, attractive services that are easy and convenient to use that make use of that capability,” added Dr Spencer.
“Handset suppliers need the assurance of demand before they will commit to the high development and deployment costs that can only be justified if NFC devices can be manufactured in sufficiently high volumes. We look at whether the introduction of the technology via different form factors, such as unpowered (passive) NFC stickers and NFC-enabled microSD cards, could be the answer.”
The report focuses on the growing interest in the NFC microSD card market and how these devices could not only deliver the richer experience promised by NFC, but also provide the alternative form factor that finally unlocks the potential of the technology.
