Near-Field Communication: It's rewriting all the rules

When mobile device technology went 'mainstream' it really changed the way people interact with each other as well as the way they get information. Now it would seem that another slight shift is taking place - all of these devices are being (or have been) fitted with new standards which allow them to engage in near-field communication. Needless to say, the technology itself is changing the way things are done, but it's also opening up new opportunities career-wise in the field of IT (read on to learn how).

So just what is near-field communication, you ask? Quite simply, it is when you can take a device, like a cell phone that has a NFC chip in it, and use it to transfer data to other devices and systems when it comes into close contact with them. In other words, when you bring the two machines together, some type of information exchange takes place. The technology itself is based upon RFID systems which used to be completely based on one-way data transfer; now of course, it is two-way.

Currently the technology is being used for various purposes, and as you will clearly see, is quite useful. For example, it can be used in business transactions - a customer can pay for something with their mobile device. This allows all different types of businesses to engage customers wherever they might go or set up a sales booth. A great example of this is the 'virtual wallet', which is an online system for storing financial information; it allows users to quickly use NFC technology to make mobile purchases, etc…

You can also use near-field communication technology to set up ID banks. While this might sound slightly intrusive or scary, it can actually serve as a quick and simple way for people to create a better security system for events, conferences, and in working situations where sensitive developments and data are present. In short, you could soon be using your mobile device as a sort of 'ID card' for specific types of events and/or in certain employment situations.

Perhaps one of the coolest uses of NFC tech is the idea of using it to automate tasks. For example, you might pick up some type of NFC tag / sticker / emblem and paste it to your smartphone so that new settings can be added; apps downloaded, or pretty much whatever else you can think of. This idea alone is quite revolutionary and we'll likely be seeing it implemented more often.

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Click here for Training and 'what you need to know' about near-field communications…

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Another awesome use of near-field communication is via social networking. In short, people can use it to connect to their platform of choice and share data or quickly access someone's profile, but they might also use it for other purposes. For instance, Nokia is using NFC technology to create games where people will be able to use their mobile devices in combination with real-world objects. Needless to say, this opens up a whole new world of possibilities for software development companies.

There you have it, a sampling of some of the many uses for near-field communication technology. Within these bounds, there will be countless companies which will begin using NFC to achieve their business objectives as well as to develop new products that make use of it. What does this mean for you? Well, if you're an IT professional or plan on becoming one, it means that there is a bright future ahead for near-field communication tech. Simply put, if you put yourself in a situation where potential employers come to think of you as a specialist in this field (NFC), you will have many more career opportunities to choose from. Furthermore, depending on how thorough you are with your training in the subject, you might encounter a considerable number of highly profitable jobs.