It has been a few years since Near Field Communication (NFC) was first introduced to the world as the next step in phone data transfers, but the technology has been slow to catch on. It's often incompatible between handsets by different manufacturers and isn't available on all phones.
Enter NearBytes, a new Brazilian startup that wants to change the game of mobile data transfers by relying on a technology that is inherent in each phone: sound. It works on all older and new smartphones by transferring bytes via sound, as long as the two devices are in close proximity -- no more than 10 cms apart.
Basically, NearBytes encrypts the data you want to send and transmits it as a series of chirps that sound like a cricket. The receiving phone then captures and decrypts these sounds.
The company claims that the technology has been tested in noisy environments, including a train station, and works just fine.
The speeds are slow -- about 100 kbps -- but hey, at least it works on any Android and iOS smartphone already. There's an SDK available for developers at the company's website, and NearBytes is looking to scale up operations in mobile payment, vending machines, loyalty cards and more.
via
Enter NearBytes, a new Brazilian startup that wants to change the game of mobile data transfers by relying on a technology that is inherent in each phone: sound. It works on all older and new smartphones by transferring bytes via sound, as long as the two devices are in close proximity -- no more than 10 cms apart.
Basically, NearBytes encrypts the data you want to send and transmits it as a series of chirps that sound like a cricket. The receiving phone then captures and decrypts these sounds.
The company claims that the technology has been tested in noisy environments, including a train station, and works just fine.
The speeds are slow -- about 100 kbps -- but hey, at least it works on any Android and iOS smartphone already. There's an SDK available for developers at the company's website, and NearBytes is looking to scale up operations in mobile payment, vending machines, loyalty cards and more.
via
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