Samsung has contacted us to alert our team that the company is launching new near field communications (NFC) chips with embedded Flash Memory. Samsung has chosen to use Flash memory in the chip because it makes firmware upgrades easier. Of course, Samsung is also the world’s largest Flash producer keen to find new uses for its memory products.
The timing is interesting as the upcoming Google Nexus S smartphone has been touted to have NFC capabilities, so we wonder: was Samsung’s chip chosen for that purpose?
If you are unfamiliar with NFC, it’s a wireless protocol that lets two devices communicate within a 4-inch (10cm) range. It’s widely used in other parts of the world (Asia, Europe) for electronic wallets, but the consumer usage has been limited so far in the U.S. Smartphones might change this, although this is not a technology issue: the main problem of any micro-payments is that the transaction fees are too high, and companies are still wrestling for control. In Asia or Europe, it’s either the government or a huge player like Japan Rail that create a standard.
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