Experts present NFC innovations in Hagenberg
The technology of the future for smartphones and tablet computers is called Near Field Communication (NFC). Google as well as Apple, Visa and Nokia focus on the technology for their payment services, ticketing, tagging and loyalty programmes. The latest innovations in the field will be showcased on 22 and 23 February as part of the 4th NFC Congress in Hagenberg. Renowned international companies including Nokia, Research In Motion (RIM) and NXP Semiconductors have answered the call of the NFC Research Lab at the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences to make presentations.
“2011 is going to be the year of Near Field Communication“, says Dr. Josef Langer, Head of the University’s NFC Research Lab, who is proud that his institute is again hosting Central and Eastern Europe’s biggest NFC event this February. Indeed, Google seems to have led the technological breakthrough of NFC with their new Nexus S Smartphone, which was launched in late 2010. Now Apple is rumoured to be planning to equip iPhone 5 and iPad 2 with this short-range wireless technology for data transfer. And Nokia, who are making two presentations at the NFC Congress in Hagenberg, are intending to integrate the NFC-Chip in all their new smartphones. No surprise, given that NFC technology lets you use your mobile device as electronic wallet, key or ticket and allows you access websites and online videos via simple interaction with a “smart poster”. But it’s not only the handset market that has discovered the technology for its own: Visa too is using it for their new payment services in a range of European countries, and BMW wants to deploy for mobile services that can be accessed via the car key.
Ticket to a new world of mobility
The fourth NFC Congress at the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences in Hagenberg allows participants to get first-hand knowledge of the latest trends and applications in the field of NFC, and to learn about future business models and network with industry representatives, business experts and developers. Presentation topics cover the whole development cycle of NFC innovations. Special developer workshops for Nokia Nokia Qt, Google Android and Apple iPhone will be offering detailed technical insights. In addition, for the third time, the congress this year will be putting on a scientific workshop. Companies and especially international research institutes and universities will be given a unique opportunity to present their latest findings and innovations in the fields of usability and services, and hardware and security. The results of this workshop will be published by the IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the world’s largest professional association for the advancement of technology.