Skip to main content

Widespread NFC adoption still ‘four years away’

google-wallet
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Near field communication technology, more commonly known as NFC, has been available in locations throughout the globe for years. But just recently has the NFC mobile payment system, which allows users to pay for goods or services using a signal from their cell phone instead of a credit card or cash, started to become more widely available here in the United States. And it looks like we’re going to have to wait quite a while longer before NFC really catches on.

According to market analyst firm Gartner Group, the US market is not yet ready for NFC.

“In developed markets, companies are trumpeting the prospects of NFC without realizing the complexity of the service model,” said Sandy Shen, research director at Gartner, in a statement.

“We believe mass market adoption of NFC payments is at least four years away. The biggest hurdle is the need to change user behavior by convincing consumers to pay with mobile phones instead of cash and cards.”

While companies like Google, PayPal and Visa are preparing get in at the ground level of the NFC market in the US, the technology has already caught on in much of the world. According to the Gartner report, worldwide mobile payment users will pass 141.1 million this year, a 38.2 percent increase from 2010.

Only a limited number of phones in the US come equipped with NFC technology. including the Android-based Nexus S. Research In Motion will also release two new Blackberry handsets, the Bold 9900 and 9930, sometime this summer, both of which will include NFC.

Apple’s next-generation iPhone, which is expected to launch in late August or September, has long been rumored to include NFC. This is looking increasingly unlikely, however, with a new report out this morning from IT Portal that suggests Apple will eschew NFC altogether, and opt instead for Bluetooth 4.0, which, the company announced yesterday, is included with in the new Macbook Air and Mac Mini models.

If Apple goes with Bluetooth 4.0 — a technology that could mimic the functionality of NFC —  then we will be back to the old Google vs. Apple showdown, with Google and a plethora of Android handsets in the NFC corner, and Apple with it’s highly popular iPhone in the Bluetooth 4.0 corner. Which one will win? Who knows. Fortunately, we probably have a few years to find out.

Topics
Andrew Couts
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…
The best personal finance apps in 2023 for iPhone and Android
best personal finance apps.

When managing personal finances, there are many tasks to remember — from budgeting and tracking expenses to saving money and investing for the future. Fortunately, technology has made it easier than ever to stay on top of your finances, and plenty of apps are available for Android and iOS users to help you manage your money effectively. This means you can use them on any of the best mobile devices on the market, including the iPhone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

We have compiled a comprehensive list of our favorite apps to help you find the right personal finance app for your needs. These apps can help you track your spending, create a budget, monitor your investments, and more. Whether you're looking to save for a big purchase, pay off debt, or improve your financial health, these are the personal finance apps you should use.
YNAB

Read more
Don’t wait for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Just buy this phone instead
The back of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is nine months old, and over the next few weeks, talk of its successor — the inevitable Galaxy S24 Ultra — will start to gather pace.

I went back to the S23 Ultra to see if it was still as exciting as it was in February this year. I also wanted to see if waiting for the sequel instead of buying it today would be a wise decision to make. Here's what I learned.
What makes the Galaxy S23 Ultra unique

Read more
Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are still at their Black Friday prices
The home screen on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Best Buy has some fantastic phone deals with both the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro still at their Black Friday prices. That means you can buy the Google Pixel 8 for $549 thereby saving $150 off the regular price of $699. Alternatively, you can buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro for $200 off so it costs $799. If you’re interested in either, take a look below at what we have to say about them before you commit to making a purchase.
Google Pixel 8 -- $549, was $699

The Google Pixel 8 offers great value for money. It has an attractive 6.2-inch OLED “Actua Display” with 2400 x 1080 resolution, up to 2,000 nits of brightness, and a variable refresh rate between 60Hz and 120Hz. Performance is speedy with Android 14 working great on this phone. It also has a strong set of cameras with a main 50MP lens along with a wide-angle camera with 12MP lens and a 125.8-degree field of view. There’s also a 10.5MP selfie camera with fixed focus. One of the best Android phones for value, you’ll love its other features too. The Google Tensor G3 processor is speedy while there are useful software options like the Magic Eraser tool you’ve probably already heard about which is changing up photos for the better. It also has an adaptive battery so it’s possible to run for up to 72 hours between charges depending on what you’re doing with it.

Read more