Near Field Communications for Retail: 3 Basic Modes

Some idea of the things near field communications might mean for mobile payments in retail settings can be gleaned from the three basic communication modes. In "passive" mode, the mobile device sends data to a terminal (cash register or card reader). That's the same sort of thing people do today with automated toll booth readers. Obviously there are some basic payment functions this will work for.

In "active" mode the NFC device can exchange data with another powered NFC device. Obviously one can image many more things that would be possible in active mode, from authentication to in-store messaging and queries.

In card emulation mode, NFC can replicate the functional capabilities of payment cards, mass transit ticketing cards, building entry cards and others. Data flows from the NFC device to the card-reading device—a contactless point of sale (PoS) terminal, turnstile or building entry device.

In active reader mode, NFC can grab information from passive NFC tags to run applications, visit Web sites, call people or perform any other number of actions executable by a mobile phone. Data flows from the tag to the NFC device.

In peer-to-peer mode, an NFC device can link to other NFC devices in much the same way Bluetooth currently does, but it has greater security. The greatest number of in-store loyalty and other apps will use P2P.

Yankee Group :: Research Report

Cisco Videoscape Suggests How Hard Cable Operators Are Working at Integrating Online Video

Cisco today announced the release of Cisco Videoscape, a TV platform for service providers that brings together digital TV and online content with social media and communications applications. Videoscape is part of Cisco's overall video strategy to provide the next generation of TV that is simpler for consumers, and is intended to support cable operators anxious to integrate online video with linear video.

Cisco is currently working with several major global service provider customers, including Telstra, to enable next-generation video experiences through the Videoscape platform.

Cisco and Service Providers Aim to Reinvent the TV Experience with 'Videoscape' -> Cisco News

Cisco's View of the Video Future

Facebook Has More Than 600 Million Users

Users aren't "revenue," and neither are "eyeballs." But it can help. Facebook has 600 million monthly active users, according to a document Goldman Sachs is showing clients interested in investing in Facebook.

To the extent that Facebook increasingly is seen as a useful advertising venue, those users or eyeballs are going to be important, at some point.

Facebook Has More Than 600 Million Users, Goldman Tells Clients

Is Google Now Microsoft? Facebook Bull Thinks So

Rare is the company that keep up hyper levels of revenue growth forever. Even if you agree with this view, Facebook itself is going to be "legacy," sooner or later.

Tablets, Internet TVs will Lead Consumer Electronics Show

Not all Consumer Electronics Innovations Get Adopted

By some rough estimates, only about 20 percent of new consumer electronics products actually succeed in a significant way, in terms of sales. Here are some that, in the past, didn't make it.