DALLAS, Dec 16, 2005/ FW/ --- It might look like a Star Trek episode with Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine exchanging information via their ‘tricorders’ while trading with aliens. But, it is not sci-fi. It is reality and will be happening in a mall near you very soon.

The technology is called NFC – or near field communication, and it’s on its way to changing the way we do business and exchange information. And the device that will hold the NFC is none other that your mobile phone!

Developed by Philips, the company that created cost-effective and reliable light bulbs in 1891 and whose primary mission for over a hundred years remains ‘improving the quality of people's lives through the timely introduction of meaningful technological innovations’ brings NFC to the forefront by putting it on mobile phones, PDAs and other portable electronic devices.

Carried in our pockets, these intuitive technologies take the waiting out of life. So we can spend more time enjoying the things we want to do and less time in lines.

So, don’t be surprised that in a few years time, the store clerk will say, ‘Credit card or cell phone?’

Today, in Hanau, Germany, people are already using mobile phones to buy, store and use tickets for bus journeys! But, it will be some time before the technology become commonplace. Experts say within three years half of all mobile phones will have built-in NFC technology.

A technology that evolved from a combination of contactless identification and networking technologies, Near Field Communication (NFC) is a wireless connectivity technology that enables convenient short-range communication between electronic devices.

NFC offers the ultimate in convenience for connecting all types of consumer devices and enables rapid and easy communications. It is the perfect solution for controlling data in our increasingly complex and connected world.

NFC is central to Philips' vision of a world where everyone can always connect to information, entertainment and services - anytime and anywhere. Its intuitive operation makes it particularly easy for consumers to use, while its built-in security makes it ideal for payment and financial applications.

For more information about NFC, please log on www.philips.com