October 25, 2004
RFID cell phones take shape at Nokia
Nokia is at work on a cell phone that uses controversial microchips used to store product information and signal their location, the cell phone maker announced Sunday, reports News.com.
"For instance, retailers could put RFID-embedded "touch phone here" signs on store shelves to send a coupon to the phone, or put the same sings at checkout stands to instantly transfer personal information stored on the phone in order to complete a warranty, Nokia Director Gerhard Romen said.
"It's still very early yet," Romen said Sunday when asked when RFID phones may become commercially available."
"One snag facing RFID is privacy concerns. Consumer advocates say the unchecked spread of the devices in libraries and elsewhere could spell disaster for privacy. They envision a future in which a network of hidden RFID readers track consumers' every move, their belongings and their reading habits, though most agree that such a scenario is largely impossible today for technical reasons".
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