The chip-based NFC services could become history thanks to the ultrasonic Zoosh NFC technology developed by Narrate. The NFC wireless technology enables short-range data communication between gadgets. The technology is usually used for electronic payment transactions between mobile gadgets and point-of-sale terminals.
The NFC chip technology could soon be replaced by the Zoosh software which enables devices to communicate via ultrasonic frequencies that the human ear cannot hear.
How does it work? The speaker of one of the two devices sends ultrasonic data over-the-air which is then received by the other devices microphone.
"If a device has MP3 playback capability, it can Zoosh," Byron Alsberg, Narates CDO stated.
Zoosh could actually help manufacturers cut down prices since all NFC compatible devices require special NFC chips, whereas Narrates technology uses only the devices native speakers and microphones.
And Zoosh could solve another problem as well. Googles Android 2.3 Gingerbread offers NFC capabilities but the gadgets that will be upgraded to Gingerbread wont be compatible with the NFC technology because they do not incorporate NFC chips. Thanks to Zoosh, all these devices will become NFC compatible without a hardware upgrade if Google decides to license the technology.
Narrate has informed that the Zoosh technology will be offered in a software development kit so that developers can integrate it into their apps. Also, wireless carriers can purchase the kit and then supply the technology to all the devices connected to their network via over-the-air updates.
The company that developed Zoosh is a small 12 employee company and has its headquarters in Sunnyvale, California.
By Radu Tyrsina
Source: eweek
