Services based on near field communication

Our Bureau Updated - March 12, 2018 at 11:49 AM.

Chai thru BB: (from left) Annie Mathew, Head of Alliances, Research in Motion India, at the unveiling of the application of Near Field Communications (NFC) at the Syk Park Cafe in Hyderabad on Thursday. Standing next to her are: G. Jaikrishna, Director, DigiSecure, and S.M. Shazoor Ali, owner of SkyPark Cafe. — P. V. Sivakumar

An eatery in Hyderabad has found a novel way to take orders and collect money from customers.

SkyPark Cafe uses BlackBerry phones and PlayBook tablets to offer its customers services based on NFC (Near Field Communications), wi-fi and Bluetooth.

While wi-fi and Bluetooth are popular methods to exchange files and data between gadgets, NFC offers a faster and hassle-free exchange of data between two NFC-compatible devices.

SkyPark has used a BlackBerry NFC application that can read plastic cards (loyalty cards for now) and debit customers' accounts to clear the bills.

"BB smartphones are powered with NFC technology that facilitates peer-to-peer content exchange using a feature on the devices called BB Tag. This platform also allows users to play games with friends in the cafe," Annie Mathew, Head of Alliances (Research in Motion India), said.

A BB developer said this application could help businesses get rid of costly information technology infrastructure and concentrate on their core activity.

>kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in

Published on October 5, 2012 06:21