NFC: What You Need to Know

By now you may have heard of NFC. It’s been the next big thing for the past five years.
  Okay, so maybe this tech hasn’t hit its stride yet. But there are several new mobile phones that claim “NFC” as a feature.
So what does NFC mean, how does it work and will it finally catch on? These are questions that many consumers will have as they hear more and more about this technology — and here are some answers.
What is NFC, in a nutshell?  
NFC, which stands for Near Field Communication, is a type of communication that involves wirelessly transmitting data from one hardware device to another physical object, provided that the devices are in short range (within 10 centimeters) of one another.  
In order for NFC to work, both devices — say, for example, your smartphone and a payment terminal at your local CVS — have to have NFC chips and antennas embedded in them.

But I can already tap my credit card to pay for things. Why is NFC any better than that?

You’re right: Consumers can already use a tap-to-pay method with some newer credit cards. But proponents of NFC on mobile argue that it’s even faster and easier to use the device that’s likely already in your hand — your smartphone — rather than digging around for the wallet that holds that credit card.  
Another big NFC pitch is that your smartphone could simultaneously store loyalty cards, coupons, tickets and boarding passes, so you could use your NFC smartphone to transmit and receive data in those accounts, too.   
However, that idea of the “mobile wallet,” or moving your credit cards and rewards cards to your phone, doesn’t necessarily require NFC. In fact, the mobile payments industry in the U.S. is pretty divided — there are those who are pushing NFC, and those relying instead on software solutions to make mobile payments.

Read complete article here: http://allthingsd.com/20130218/nfc-what-you-need-to-know/

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Mike & Barb Lammons will be DW'ing in Vegas Fri-Sun -- if you'd like to get together, LET'S TALK!

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Thursday tip:

Go to your app store and download the Phone Swipe app.... set it up with the test demo mode and play with it!

It's a really cool app and you can use it to show your prospective merchants.