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SJB Research has announced The NFC Report, a monthly market intelligence report on NFC (near field communication) technology and applications, which tracks worldwide developments within the industry, technology, applications, major players and the market's future.
 All the indications are that near field communication technology is now set for rapid acceptance and explosive growth, according to report editor, Sarah Clark. But basic questions over the business case for NFC still remain and there are already some major differences of opinion on how the market will develop.
Looking back
In many ways, NFC shares similarities with the early days of the smart card industry, particularly with the electronic purse. Everyone thought cash would be redundant by now and we would all be using electronic money instead, but the business issues were very complex and consumer demand was simply not strong enough to overcome the commercial barriers.
| | | Consumers love using NFC and it's that demand that is set to drive adoption |
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According to Clark, "With NFC, things are different. Consumers love using NFC and it's that demand that is set to drive adoption forward as service providers see the opportunity to use NFC as a competitive differentiator."
Looking ahead
The NFC Report was created for both existing industry players and potential end-user organisations that are watching the technology. It set out to be a compact, clear and regular briefing on the key developments in a field which is still a long way from maturity and which is expected to change radically in a very short space of time.
The first issue is to include a comprehensive survey of activity in the transit ticketing sector and will look at the NFC trials that are taking place around the world.
Topics covered
Other topics due to be examined in the first few issues include:
- Trials and tribulations - does the mass of non-commercial trials shows that many players are at the very beginning of the NFC experience? Is now the time to get in on the ground floor?
- Interoperability - one bank, one mobile operator and one phone isn't a viable system. What issues lie ahead as NFC is commercialised?
- What is likely to drive widespread incorporation of NFC technology in mass market devices, making it more ubiquitous than Bluetooth - and eventually even cameras - on mobile phones.
- The benefits of being late to the last party - why certain national markets might adopt NFC much earlier than others, and who that's likely to be.
- The search for the first killer app - will ticketing lead with card emulation in simple closed low value systems? Will 'touch me' Bluetooth pairing be the application that drives demand for NFC phones? Or is it set to be something else?
- Will data space and applications be looked after by a new breed of trusted third party?
- Consumers love NFC with nearly every trial clocking up massive user acceptance, but is there a business case?
- A technology as sexy as NFC is bound to attract hackers. The NFC Report will be looking at the security concerns and finding out how they are mitigated.
- Is NFC a mobile phone technology or might the killer app come from somewhere else?
- Is there a role for the Sim and mobile network operators at all? How will the various parties make sure they get a slice of the cake?
- Red tape - where mobile meets banking and security. Regulation, SEPA and the European angle, the massive legal issues.
- Liability - where does the buck stop when you're dealing with the user's phone, the network's Sim and over-the-air infrastructure, the bank's payment know-how and back office?
Obtaining the report series
The NFC Report will be delivered both as a paper publication and an online resource, and Using RFID subscribers who order before 17th October 2008 will benefit from a 20% discount or a free upgrade to a three-person team subscription - click here for the discounted subscription rate, or here for details of the report.
Sources: The NFC Report; SJB Research
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