MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Nook e-readers getting NFC

jasoraso · 05-03-2012, 05:21 PM

I think the purpose of the NFC chip in a Nook or reader is being misconstrued. I doubt that Nook is going to utilize NFC chip for credit card purposes. I think the discussion has centered on credit cards because they are by far the most used (retail) use of NFC currently. However, NFC has a much broader application than credit cards. Besides the growing use of NFC in credit cards etc., NFC is widely used in warehouses as smart codes, to track packages, pallets, chipping containers, and merchandise. I would wager that this type of use for NFC currently exceeds the usage in credit cards, but for most of us credit cards is the only place we have seen NFC implemented up till now.

In fact, I don't think the Nook implementation would even involve credit cards (any more than the Nook involves credit cards currently). Currently, a Nook or other reader is tied to an online account, which is often tied to a credit card, enabling purchases from the reader. The "buy" button on the Nook is tied to the credit card that is associated with the B&N account. NFC would not necessarily change this.

NFC would be for easily entering information into the Nook. See a book on a bookshelf that you like - tap your Nook to the Book and that book ISBN will transfer to the Nook, the Nook will then use the wifi service to download the metadata for the book, showing book reviews etc, and of course, the BUY button that is already on the shopping page in the Nook.

That being said, my Android phone has a wallet application that uses the NFC in my phone to emulate the Mastercard Credit card that has an NFC chip. I'm sure that if/when a Nook has an NFC chip, and if it is Android (not windows 8?) then the wallet application could most likely be installed on a rooted Nook, and used as a credit card, but I don't think that will be the intended use by B&N. In fact, my phone is a Verizon phone, and the wallet app did not come installed. I had to install it afterwards.

The one nice thing about the wallet app, is that it is protected with a PIN. When I enter the PIN into my wallet app, it stays valid for 5 to 15 minutes (I can set the length). A credit card with NFC has no PIN. I don't know if there is a maximum value that can charged using NFC on a credit card, but that makes me a little nervous.

05-03-2012, 05:21 PM	#42
jasoraso Addict Posts: 228 Karma: 1212418 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Nook Touch, Nook Color (rooted) and Samsung Galaxy Nexus	I think the purpose of the NFC chip in a Nook or reader is being misconstrued. I doubt that Nook is going to utilize NFC chip for credit card purposes. I think the discussion has centered on credit cards because they are by far the most used (retail) use of NFC currently. However, NFC has a much broader application than credit cards. Besides the growing use of NFC in credit cards etc., NFC is widely used in warehouses as smart codes, to track packages, pallets, chipping containers, and merchandise. I would wager that this type of use for NFC currently exceeds the usage in credit cards, but for most of us credit cards is the only place we have seen NFC implemented up till now. In fact, I don't think the Nook implementation would even involve credit cards (any more than the Nook involves credit cards currently). Currently, a Nook or other reader is tied to an online account, which is often tied to a credit card, enabling purchases from the reader. The "buy" button on the Nook is tied to the credit card that is associated with the B&N account. NFC would not necessarily change this. NFC would be for easily entering information into the Nook. See a book on a bookshelf that you like - tap your Nook to the Book and that book ISBN will transfer to the Nook, the Nook will then use the wifi service to download the metadata for the book, showing book reviews etc, and of course, the BUY button that is already on the shopping page in the Nook. That being said, my Android phone has a wallet application that uses the NFC in my phone to emulate the Mastercard Credit card that has an NFC chip. I'm sure that if/when a Nook has an NFC chip, and if it is Android (not windows 8?) then the wallet application could most likely be installed on a rooted Nook, and used as a credit card, but I don't think that will be the intended use by B&N. In fact, my phone is a Verizon phone, and the wallet app did not come installed. I had to install it afterwards. The one nice thing about the wallet app, is that it is protected with a PIN. When I enter the PIN into my wallet app, it stays valid for 5 to 15 minutes (I can set the length). A credit card with NFC has no PIN. I don't know if there is a maximum value that can charged using NFC on a credit card, but that makes me a little nervous. Last edited by jasoraso; 05-03-2012 at 05:35 PM.