Nokia taps into NFC
Nokia: Connecting People through NFC.
(Credit: Jacqueline Seng/CNET Asia)
Launched at a Nokia media event today, the NFC Hub service allows businesses--MNCs and SMEs--and individuals to tap on the technology to create NFC campaigns and collateral, such as posters, business cards and stickers.
Tapping this poster will bring you to a sushi bar's Facebook page.
(Credit: Jacqueline Seng/CNET Asia)
Besides Singapore, the UK and Malaysia are currently the only other countries to have launched NFC Hub.
According to Nokia, the Web sites have been localized in terms of products, support and pricing. However, the business is global, which means that customers don't have to be in any of these three countries to leverage on this service.
It costs around S$5 (US$4) per tag on the NFC Hub Singapore Web site, and this price includes programming and tracking (shipping is excluded). In comparison, it is RM10 (US$3) in Malaysia and 3 British pounds (US$5) in UK. So perhaps it makes the most financial sense to make your purchase from the Malaysia Web site if you're in Asia.
Nokia also announced tie-ups with local partners--SMRT Corporation, ComfortDelgro and the National Heritage Board (NHB).
These partnerships are expected to benefit consumers in several ways. For example, commuters can simply tap their NFC-enabled phones at any of 400 locations islandwide to book a taxi. This initiates a text message, which is sent to the central cab booking system with the user's authorization.
Tap your NFC-enabled phone at iMobSMRT posters in MRT stations.
(Credit: Jacqueline Seng/CNET Asia)
These services are not limited to Nokia's new handsets. Any NFC-enabled phone, such as the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and the recently-unveiled Galaxy Nexus, can be used.
In line with the focus on NFC, Nokia also announced the availability of three NFC-enabled Symbian Belle smartphones--the 603, 700 and 701.
The Finnish company has announced a "strategic commitment" to NFC, according to Gary Chan, head of ecosystem and developer experience for Nokia Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.
The company currently has the largest number of NFC-enabled devices among the major phone makers.
About the author
Jacqueline Seng is a presenter/writer for CNET Asia, focusing on mobile phones. Her induction into the world of IT involved typing out stories on a computer in kindergarten--not that much has changed. The only girl on the editorial team (for now), she is also an avid potato chip connoisseur, heist movie enthusiast and indie/hiphop music aficionado.
Be the first to comment
Sign In with Facebook or create an account to post a review.
