By Dan Beca, Digital Analyst
Earlier this year, I wrote a blog about Near Field Communications (NFC) titled “Wallets Are So Last Year.” But is NFC really poised for prime time? My numbers say: Yes.
5.
Things that NFC will make obsolete in the coming years
- Quick Response (QR) Codes—Instead of scanning a 2-D bar code with a special application, consumers will simply place their phone close to an NFC-enabled object
- Credit Cards—No more swiping cards or worrying about magnetic strips fading. Just tap and pay with your phone
- Loyalty Cards—No more key chains full of plastic. Your phone will now replace ALL of your loyalty cards
- Paper Tickets—Tap and board an airplane, tap and go to the movies, tap and enter the stadium
- Key Fobs—Unlock your car by getting close to it with your phone. Enter your workplace without having to swipe an ID badge or key fob
29.
The number of handsets that currently support NFC
(Thanks, Wikipedia). Nokia currently has the most support handsets, but some of the bigger players in the smartphone arena are starting to include NFC in their handsets (Samsung, HTC). Look for this number to jump dramatically in 2012. Apple, are you listening?
135.
The number of companies who participate in the NFC Forum
The NFC Forum is a group of companies designed to foster the NFC ecosystem (manufacturers, financial institutions, education/research institutions, etc.). A number of big-name companies are a part of this organization (See: Microsoft, Samsung, MasterCard, AT&T, among others).
102,367ish.
The number of marketers waiting for NFC to become mainstream
so that they can execute more effective, more engaging, more customer-centric marketing campaigns. Imagine being able to tap a movie poster and instantly watch a movie trailer! Or be able to put your phone near a sticker to enter a contest--instead of having to send an SMS to a meaningless 5-digit number. In the future, consumers are going to love how easy it is to respond to marketing, and companies will love the increased response.
The numbers don’t lie—NFC is gaining steam.
Bonus Number:
1.
The number of companies that I think will push NFC into the mainstream
Apple. Apple has been an innovator in the mobile space, and with their over 250 million iOS devices, incorporating NFC into their product lineup could really bolster the adoption of NFC, allowing it to become a mainstream marketing tool.
