Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Wireless Alliance Touts 'Magic Touch' RFID Tech

Posted by michael on from the magic-fingers-not-the-same-thing-at-all dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Nokia, Sony and Philips have launched a new wireless technology, called Near Field Communication, that could be a threat to Bluetooth. Based on RFID, they say it will enable electronic devices to interact -- for m-commerce, file-swapping or to download info from the Web -- when touched together."

2 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. Re:advantage? by walt-sjc · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you RTFA (which the submitter didn't do obviously) you find out that this technology still uses WiFi or Bluetooth or other wireless technology to communicate.

  2. different from Bluetooth by hak1du · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Bluetooth has a usable range up to 300ft (there are also specs for 30ft and 3ft); it is commonly used for laptops and handhelds to connect to modems, printers, GPS receivers, and access points from across the room. Something that has a range of only a foot or so won't compete there.

    I don't see much use for these new short-range wireless technologies--they aren't short-range enough to use their range limitations for security, and they aren't long-range enough to move into Bluetooth territory. Furthermore, there are short-range versions of Bluetooth.

    For secure communications, IrDA would still be a better choice. For anything else, you might as well use Bluetooth.

    But, hey, with enough marketing and sales muscle, these companies will probably manage to force another proprietary standard upon us, whether it is a good idea or not.