Google CEO Announces Plans for NFC Android Phones at Web 2.0 Summit

At the 2010 Web 2.0 Summit held in San Francisco this week, Eric Schmidt, Google’s CEO, presented a sneak peek at its new “Gingerbread” update for the Android operating system, powered by Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. NFC is a short-range high frequency wireless communication technology which enables the exchange of data between devices within 10-centimeters proximity.

The Gingerbread OS contains enhanced NFC support that allows smartphones to function as credit cards in point-of-sale transactions, thus advancing the growing field of mcommerce. The Gingerbread OS will allow users to “tap and pay,” using NFC receivers and the linked credit card information in their accounts.

Location-based smartphone apps have many more applications. As mcommerce expands, extensions of NFC functionality represent great unexplored avenues for both consumers and retailers.

Schmidt’s demonstration is available for viewing on the Web 2.0 site, where you can also see clips from other key programming and announcements made during the three-day summit. This is the 7th annual Web 2.0 Summit which brings together visionaries and executives across key industries to present unique perspectives on the Web's future-in-flux and how the tools and principles of Web 2.0 are impacting business. The summit was co-moderated by John Battelle, CEO of Federated Media, who was also the Keynote Speaker for this year’s TechColumbus TechTomorrow CIO Leadership Exchange.

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