BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) is planning to launch a peer to peer (P2P) application like Bump to transfer information
RIM recently launched Curve 9360 and Bold 9900 smartphones in India with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which allows communication between two devices that are up to 20 cm apart. NFC needs chips, software and an OS platform like BlackBerry OS7.
Krishnadeep Baruah, director of marketing at RIM India said to The Mobile Indian, “RIM will soon launch a P2P (like Bump), through which users who have NFC enabled smartphones like Curve 9360 or Bold 9900 can transfer contacts, images and other files among themselves.”
He further added, “We are also working in other areas like mobile payment where we can incorporate NFC technology embedded in our new phones to make the lives of BlackBerry users simple but it will take some time as necessary approvals from regulators and our partners is awaited.”
In the meantime, RIM is working with HID Global to enable users of new versions of RIM’s Bold and Curve smartphones, which support NFC. HID Global manufacturers access card systems for door locks and secure areas. In companies, employees often have to swipe a plastic card at a reader to gain access to their building or to activate the lift.
BlackBerry’s NFC operates at a Frequency similar to HID’s contactless smart cards, meaning the company did not have to change its existing systems to migrate to smartphones carrying the chip.
In the days to follow, users in India can expect BlackBerry devices which support NFC to function as mobile wallets, card readers and in the P2P (peer-to-peer) mode.
In mobile wallet mode NFC devices can function as credit cards, debit cards, or tickets for public transport.
In card reader mode NFC devices can read tags. This is similar to how barcode scanning works today. This mode of using NFC is currently being used in London’s museums where visitors just need to touch their phones to tags of certain exhibits and can instantly get more information about the display.