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NFC seeps into bloodstream of Mobile World Congress

At MWC 2013, NFC is everywhere. Check out the slideshow to get a glimpse of how it's being used at the show as well as how companies want you to use it in the future.

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Eric Franklin Former Editorial Director
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BARCELONA, Spain--NFC (near field communication) technology has been around for some time now, but as of yet it's failed to hit a level of ubiquity in our devices that would galvanize more businesses to adopt it. That, however, is changing fast.

NFC invades Mobile World Congress (pictures)

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While most think of NFC as solely a new payment solution, companies are constantly finding new ways to implement it.

NFC is essentially a new way to exchange information from one device to another, wirelessly. It's different from other wireless technology in that it requires the two devices to be within a centimeter of each other. Hence the "near" in "NFC."

A good example would be using your NFC-enabled smartphone to check into a flight. Instead of printing a boarding pass and even having your e-ticket scanned, you'd simply have the info on your phone, hold it close to an NFC sensor, and you're in. As long as your credentials are correct, of course.

By the look of things, especially here at Mobile World Congress, NFC isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Check out the slideshow to get a taste of NFC at Mobile World Congress 2013.