Will TransferJet Replace NFC in Future Phones?

 

Most of us don’t even have smartphones that feature NFC connectivity just yet, but work is already well underway on several technologies that aim to take the protocol’s place as the next generation of short-range wireless communication. Nevertheless, Sony announced a new chip today that sounds like it could be the basis of just such an NFC-killing system, capable of some impressive data speeds.

Sony is one of many companies involved in the development of TransferJet, a wireless communication system designed for device-to-device interaction. Today Sony revealed its attempt at commercializing the technology, announcing a component that could start bringing TransferJet to consumer electronics by this time next year.

Like NFC, TransferJet requires devices be placed very near to each other – it has a maximum range of just a few centimeters. What it lacks in the ability to transmit data long distances, it makes up for in speed, hitting over 350Mbps with this Sony component.

While we’ve heard nothing specific about Sony bringing this tech to its Xperia phones, it did indicate that an Android development kit for the chip will be made available, opening the door for its inclusion in future handsets.