While it isn’t entirely something we haven’t seen before, Samsung is extending the usefulness of NFC beyond just mobile payments. 聽With the US launch of the Galaxy S3, Samsung is also launching TecTiles. 聽Essentially, TecTiles are Samsung’s version of programmable NFC stickers. 聽These stickers can be used to automate different tasks on the user’s phone, and initiate that task by tapping the phone against the sticker. 聽For example, a TecTiles user can program the sticker to change a setting in the phone, send a text message, make a phone call, post a “check-in” on Facebook, and many other things. 聽The possibilities are virtually endless. 聽Samsung’s TecTiles are compatible with the Galaxy S Blaze 4G, Nexus S 4G, Galaxy Nexus (both CDMA and GSM), Galaxy S2, and Galaxy S3. TecTiles are available online and in-store at AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint for $14.99 for a pack of five.
DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) is helping consumers realize the potential of NFC technology today with the creation of Samsung TecTiles鈩 and the TecTile鈩 programming application. With the largest user base of NFC-enabled devices in the United States and TecTiles available in all four major carrier stores and at major online retailers at the launch of the Galaxy S III, Samsung is ensuring NFC becomes a part of daily life.
鈥淲ith millions of NFC-enabled Samsung Galaxy smartphones currently in the market and the arrival of our flagship device Galaxy S庐 III, Samsung saw an opportunity to expand the value of NFC beyond mobile payments鈥
With a simple tap of an NFC-enabled phone to a TecTile, consumers are able to automate everyday functions of a smartphone including sending a 鈥渉eaded/at home鈥 text message, silencing the phone when entering a meeting, setting an alarm, and dimming the display when going to bed.
Samsung TecTiles will transform how businesses large and small engage with consumers. On premise, TecTiles enable consumers to check-in on Facebook庐 or foursquare庐, connect to Wi-Fi or download content. Off-premise, businesses can use TecTiles as a way to market to and engage with consumers by enabling reward programs and to download discount offers or content.
鈥淲ith millions of NFC-enabled Samsung Galaxy smartphones currently in the market and the arrival of our flagship device Galaxy S庐聽III, Samsung saw an opportunity to expand the value of NFC beyond mobile payments,鈥 said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Telecommunications America, the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. and worldwide[1]. 鈥淭he launch of Samsung TecTiles is another example of Samsung鈥檚 ability to innovate new products and applications that improve the way we use our mobile devices for everyday tasks.鈥
Samsung TecTiles are easy to program with any NFC-enabled smartphone and the free application, which can be found in the Google Play鈩 marketplace. TecTiles can be reprogrammed as often as needed to complete any of the following functions on an NFC-enabled phone:
Settings & Applications
- Change phone settings (Bluetooth庐, Wi-Fi, ringer/media volume, screen brightness, etc.)
- Launch an application
- Join a Wi-Fi Network
- Show a message
Communication
- Make a call
- Send a text message
- Start a Google Talk鈩 conversation
- Share a contact or business card
Location & Web
- Show an address on a map
- Open a web page
- Foursquare or Facebook check-in
Social
- Automatic Facebook 鈥淟ike鈥
- Update Facebook status
- Post a tweet or follow a contact on Twitter
- Connect on LinkedIn庐
Samsung NFC-Enabled Android聽TM聽Smartphones
- Samsung Galaxy S庐聽III on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon
- Samsung Galaxy S庐聽II on T-Mobile
- Galaxy NexusTM聽on Verizon, Sprint and GSM Unlocked
- NexusTM聽S庐聽4G on Sprint
- Samsung Galaxy S庐聽Blaze庐聽4G on T-Mobile
Pricing/Availability
Priced at $14.99 for a pack of five, TecTiles programmable NFC sticker tags are now available for purchase online and in-store at AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. The Samsung TecTiles app is now available for download at the Google Play store.