Full NFC Capabilities Arrive with Gingerbread Update 2.3.3

[dgstorm]

Last year we shared with you that several of the new Android phones coming out in 2011 would come with Near Field Communication chips, and that Gingerbread/Android 2.3 would eventually help facilitate their usage. The NFC chips will offer a wide variety of applications by allowing two NFC enabled devices to 'talk' to each other and share information when near each other. The prime example was a 'digital' credit card built-in to your phone for retail transactions handled more easily electronically.

Unfortunately, at that time, Gingerbread could not handle all of the functionality that is required to really take advantage of NFC tech. Google announced today in their developers blog, that the newest Gingerbread update, 2.3.3 will soon be released, and it opens up the remaining features of the NFC chip allowing it to eventually reach its full potential. Soon we will be able to start using our Android phones as our 'digital wallet' once more retail stores start adopting the technology.

To be clear, the NFC enhancements weren't the only improvements made to Gingerbread. Google also improved Bluetooth, Graphics, Speech Recognition, and Media APIs. Of course, the only phone that sports the NFC chip in the retail channel at the moment is the Nexus S, but again, many of the newer phones coming out later this year will have the chip on board. For more info, here's a link to the full 2.3.3 Android SDK.

Source: Android.net via Android Developers Blog

 

[geoff5093]

I love how Google keeps updating Android, yet all but a few Android phones are actually receiving them. This is one thing Google needs to learn from Apple on, giving EVERYONE the update at the same time.

 

[geoff5093]

^^ I meant aren't receiving them.

 

[author]

^^ I meant aren't receiving them.

Yep, we know what ya mean, Geoff ... those of us waiting for Gingerbread on the Droid 2.

--Ralph

 

[huskerkate]

i'll admit it - i've got a cold and don't feel like searching around, but: what phones do/don't have the NFC chip??

 

[SquireSCA]

Won't this just make a whole new avenue to hack your phone, but in a bad way? If you walk by other phones and they can share information, could that not be used as an avenue for attack?

And the NFC works both ways. This can also be used to track where you are and where you go with your phone, if sensors are put everywhere without your knowledge.

Not that far-fetched really. I mean, they can track individual phones by cell tower triangulation and GPS, but if I just put a proximity reader in my doorway, I can track every single phone that walks in or out of that door without anyone knowing, and with very little effort or expense.

 

[SquireSCA]

And before anyone claims conspiracy theory, look at EZ Pass technology for toll roads. Supposed to be to make things easier for us, but in reality, the technology has been used to generate speeding tickets, as they can tell when you entered and when you left the road, and whether your average speed from Point A to Point B exceeding the speed limit... Or some cases where a wife was able to subpoena the EZ Pass records and show that her Husband had been on the road at certain times, what exit he got off of, etc...

This technology always seems to start out in one direction, until someone realizes that they can use it for their own other purposes... Just sayin...

 

[New2u]

Won't this just make a whole new avenue to hack your phone, but in a bad way? If you walk by other phones and they can share information, could that not be used as an avenue for attack?

And the NFC works both ways. This can also be used to track where you are and where you go with your phone, if sensors are put everywhere without your knowledge.

Not that far-fetched really. I mean, they can track individual phones by cell tower triangulation and GPS, but if I just put a proximity reader in my doorway, I can track every single phone that walks in or out of that door without anyone knowing, and with very little effort or expense.

I can assure you that there are agencies that have capabilities far beyond that, so i'm not worried if they know where i'm at.

 

[author]

Not to mention entire alien civilizations taking notes on every single thing you do and snickering.

There is no such thing as privacy.

--Ralph

 

[SquireSCA]

Not to mention entire alien civilizations taking notes on every single thing you do and snickering.

There is no such thing as privacy.

--Ralph

I understand that, but I don't really feel like using my phone as a credit card, nor do I want it trying to communicate with every phone I walk by on the street...

I know that I don't have much privacy, but I still don't walk around with a billboard on my back with my personal info. I feel that I should at least make them work for it. ;-)

 

[New2u]

Not to mention entire alien civilizations taking notes on every single thing you do and snickering.

There is no such thing as privacy.

--Ralph

I understand that, but I don't really feel like using my phone as a credit card, nor do I want it trying to communicate with every phone I walk by on the street...

I know that I don't have much privacy, but I still don't walk around with a billboard on my back with my personal info. I feel that I should at least make them work for it. ;-)

It's not going to try to communicate with every phone it passes by. If you don't want to use it as a credit card, then don't. They aren't forcing you to use this, they are merely saying, hey it's here if you want it, the same way you claim EZ pass can get you a traffic ticket, you don't have to use EZ pass at all.

 

[author]

ummm... basically, New2U, you have it right .... Resistance IS futile ... still, I likes to make them break a little sweat to get my personal info. The aliens, at least.

--Ralph

 

[aRsTwiX]

Won't this just make a whole new avenue to hack your phone, but in a bad way? If you walk by other phones and they can share information, could that not be used as an avenue for attack?

And the NFC works both ways. This can also be used to track where you are and where you go with your phone, if sensors are put everywhere without your knowledge.

Not that far-fetched really. I mean, they can track individual phones by cell tower triangulation and GPS, but if I just put a proximity reader in my doorway, I can track every single phone that walks in or out of that door without anyone knowing, and with very little effort or expense.

I'm pretty sure that's not how it works. NFC is touch. Like Google's new sticker thing. You have to touch the sticker with your scanner in order for it to read. It's just like when you scan your card for payments. The scanner uses NFC technology. If you pay using a NFC Vending Machine you have to put your phone up to the vending machine.

It will make your phone a big security risk because it will have all your data from everything you've scanned on it.

 

[illmatic636]

I love how Google keeps updating Android, yet all but a few Android phones are actually receiving them. This is one thing Google needs to learn from Apple on, giving EVERYONE the update at the same time.

That will only be for phones with the NFC chip in it. Our phones....... nO Go for OG droid on that!

 

[microsnook]

I agree with some of the other posts. Our phones lack the updates when they get made!
It seems only the newest google phones are the ones getting updated to the latest software.