“There are a number of high profile technology companies already rolling out smart posters and information pick-up using NFC,” said John Devlin, ABI’s group director, security and ID. “Companies such as Google, Nokia, and RIM, as well as innovative MNOs, are all exploring new business models and looking for the revenue opportunities outside of payments.”

According to ABI, NFC tags are suited perfectly for these markets, as they are easy to deploy, require no additional infrastructure, and can be quickly reprogrammed to suit changing consumer trends. Tags also let service providers tailor their offers to the needs of their local markets, and the inherent “opt-in” nature of NFC gives the consumer more control than in similar Bluetooth services.

“The ability of NFC to extend companies’ brands and mobile apps, making them more interactive within their physical surroundings, will allow them to improve customer loyalty and service experience,” said Devlin, adding that we may soon see NFC tag applications enter the gaming and social networking markets.