How long till the NFC phones?

[Moleculor]

Ok. I've been thinking about buying a new phone for a long time now (I have a Windows Mobile 2003 device made back in September 2004).

After a bunch of agonizing over the fact that modern phones are only ever compatible with one data network, even if the phone is supposedly "unlocked" (stupid UMTS bandwidth marketplace fragmentation), I was very close to buying a Nexus S after seeing the NFC feature. (I realize that it's a feature I'm unlikely to use frequently, but MAYBE I can buy a few RFID chips for cheap and play around with them!)

Until I discovered that it doesn't have an SD card slot, nor does it have an LED for LED notifications... two things even my ancient boat-anchor of a phone has.

So how soon can I expect other manufacturers to come out with GSM-based NFC capable Android phones? Will I be waiting a year+ or more like a month?

(And on an unrelated note, am I understanding this NFC thing correctly, and could I actually copy the chip inside my credit card and then leave the card at home and pay with my phone that way?)

 

[snapper.fishes]

(And on an unrelated note, am I understanding this NFC thing correctly, and could I actually copy the chip inside my credit card and then leave the card at home and pay with my phone that way?)

I don't think you will be able to just "copy" your credit card, otherwise anyone can take your credit card while you are not paying attention, copy it and slip it back into your wallet/bag without you noticing. Most likely you will have to sign some sort of contract with a bank and let them activate it.

 

[Moleculor]

I don't think you will be able to just "copy" your credit card, otherwise anyone can take your credit card while you are not paying attention, copy it and slip it back into your wallet/bag without you noticing.

You mean like this? (That particular (ancient) article is what gave me the idea. My RFID card relocated to my phone (no need to ask my bank's permission) would actually be more secure than the card itself, since I could control when my phone was transmitting the information, whereas I can't with the card.)

 

[Moleculor]

Anyone?

 

[ambientdroid]

My phone has a NFC chip and I set it up to make payments at certain shops by holding it over a sensor pad. Japan's been doing that for a few years now.

I haven't set it up and I don't know what else I could do with it.

 

[Drhyde]

My question is when are we actually going to get NFC terminals more widespread and the apps to allow us to work with them? I already have a Nexus S, but I've never once even got to try my NFC chip yet.

 

[ari-free]

Samsung Galaxy S 2 will have it. Should come out next month.