BlackBerry introduced NFC’s in quite a few of our new BlackBerry devices, but what is it? With BlackBerry’s push for more NFC-enabled application and usage, it seems fair to conclude that NFC will play a significant role in time to come. From mobile payment to social networking, NFC will make things much more convenient for everyone.

Near field communication (NFC) is a set of standards for smartphones and similar devices to establish radio communication with each other by touching them into close proximity, usually no more than a few centimetres. Basically, similar to that of EZ-link cards or cepas, one such card will allow you to store much more data and information than that of your standard cards since its kind of transferable or editable in a sense.

For the full technicality of it, more details can be found on the FAQ.

On 25 October last year, IDA announced a $40 million contract to a consortium of 8 organizations comprising of themselves and 7 companies (including 3 respective Telco’s as well as DBS and EZ-link).

In addition, merchants who are already accepting contactless payment cards from MasterCard, Visa, or CEPAS will be able to make use of the new technology. This technology, is not new – being around since 2004. However, it has had a rather slow adoption rate, mainly due to the infrastructure needed as well as buy-in from a large number of partners.

Personally, I’m very happy and glad that EZ-Link is involved — which means we may actually be able to take the train or bus using just our BlackBerry device. However, I still hope more banks like OCBC and Citibank would sign up with IDA as well, and also companies like Google Wallet, Visa, and NETS.

This technology has actually been slowly being implemented in Singapore, at bus stop’s advertisement boards (such as the one seen above) as well as by the Taxi company, ComfortDelGro, which allowed consumers to use NFC to book a cab by simply tapping their NFC-enabled phone at over 400 locations across Singapore, where consumers can initiate a booking via SMS. In addition, the National Heritage Board (NHB) and SMRT Corporation Ltd (SMRT) also made use of NFC to showcase approx 25 landmarks around Singapore’s old city precinct. By using the NFC-enabled smartphones, visitors traveling through various train stations can find out more about the heritage of those landmarks simply by tapping on those interactive billboards. There was also a NFC tag at the heritage site itself.

For BlackBerry itself, Visa Europe has already approved BlackBerry 7 devices, as well as Turkcell along with MasterCard approving it for payments within Turkey.

When will we see real use in Singapore for NFC? I am guessing around mid-2012 which was the target by IDA. Speaking to RIM’s marketing in an exclusive interview a few weeks back, that is also the same exact timeline RIM Singapore is aiming for. Will we be an exclusive partner? Unlikely since Nokia was and is still the main figure in the NFC field. But will we get to enjoy it? Definitely! How will it roll out would be anyone’s guess for now, but signs are definitely positive and I am excited for this.

For BlackBerry users out here, we can, in fact, do alot of things with our NFC devices now. We can already use Smart Tags to send urls, phone, email, sms or even custom fields to other Smart Tag aka NFC-enabled Blackberry devices already. With OS 7.1, we can also send files and documents via NFC over these Tags! Well, that’s all we have seen in the leaks (up to .205 or .247) but i do expect much more to come!

Are you excited? 🙂

Edit: 9 Feb 2012 8.07pm
As pointed out by Alex, CitiBank IS in the scheme already which I have carelessly missed out. Thanks for pointing out!! 😀 The more, the merrier, the easier yet dangerous it gets!

Added: 10 Feb, 12.15am
Using NFC Tag to send files on BlackBerry devices (BlackBerry 9900 & 9790) Double Bold. BeBold.