Experimenting with NFC check-ins for Google I/O

May 09th

We think a lot about the future of location, and, every time a new technology comes along, we think about how it affects what we’re doing. Near-field communication (NFC) is one of those technologies; you tap your phone against a marker and it can check you in with foursquare. We’ve been testing it in our office for a little while and now we’re expanding the test a little bit for Google I/O.

Google I/O is the big annual developer conference in California. This year, Google worked with us to put NFC check-in points all over the convention center. Starting tomorrow, just tap your NFC-enabled phone (most newer Android devices have it) against the poster, it’ll check you in with foursquare, and you’ll get a special Google I/O badge. For those without NFC, you can also scan the QR code on the poster itself.

NFC is, obviously, a long way from being available everywhere and in all phones, but we’re excited by some of the potential. Google I/O attendees: have fun tapping in.

Posted in Android Foursquare

40 Comments

  • http://profiles.google.com/robertwebbe Robert Webbe

    What is the URL of the tag?

  • http://twitter.com/PeninsulaShops Peninsula Shops

    Fantastic. Maybe Peninsula Shops can make our Peninsula Twitter Hunt relevant to the POS :-)

  • Ooi

    how to scan using QR code to check in for Android phones?

  • http://about.me/brodieduncan brodieduncan

    You might want to charge up that Nexus S

  • http://twitter.com/themayorpete Pete Dirksen

    I agree…..having QR codes as “authenticated checkins” would be nice…..might even allow for more fair mayor competition…..

  • JamesWilcox

    Do you have to have foursquare open when you tap the phone on the poster?

  • Aleksander Soender

    See how it works here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aleqz/5693522616/ I recorded this last friday at the Nokia HQ

  • Sheitan

    Qr code checkins are far more engaging than a regular checkin.

  • http://www.thelostagency.com/ David Iwanow

    i wish i could get NFC on my samsung… i wonder if they will ever allow us to use the SD slot and just buy a NFC SD card?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=574775694 Jurgen Dion de Clercq

    does anyone have a closeup pucture of the qr code ;)

  • Anonymous

    Wow this makes a whole lot of sense dude. Wow.

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  • http://ridukkokun.wordpress.com/ Dukkokun

    I really hope this new technology start spreading! My Nexus S is so sad…

  • Gayegalvin0511

    I need your help!!!!! I need a tutorial on four square as a Realtor!!!

  • Anonymous

    NFC has huge potential for location-based commerce – authentication, peer-to-peer payments etc. Also will have a big impact on enabling social interactions like check-ins, sharing info with friends and so on.

  • Anonymous

    NFC has huge potential for location-based commerce – authentication, peer-to-peer payments etc. Also will have a big impact on enabling social interactions like check-ins, sharing info with friends and so on.

  • http://log.medcl.net medcl

    fancy

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  • Nutrieholic

    can someone post those qr code?? :O

  • http://profiles.google.com/markgoho Mark Goho

    Hey guys, you should be aware that there are actually very FEW Android phones with NFC. Probably the only notable one being the Nexus S. There are a number coming out with NFC, but currently, just a couple.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Elias/637111211 Michael Elias

    If you have an NFC phone and any NFC tag, you can create your own Foursquare NFC checkins using Touchatag Dashboard BETA app. Try it out :
    https://market.android.com/details?id=com.touchatag.beta

  • Manualvin

    I’ve been working ever since NFC started on NFC technologies in the perspective of a Trusted Service Manager which is the middleman or broker that manages the secured channel that goes Over the Air to the phone for secured applications like credit/debit card and i think it’s exciting that mainstream technologies today are using NFC. It broadens the overall application scope and increases usage of NFC and that should see more and more phones develop. The blackberry phones are coming out with NFC this summer, Samsung has an exciting phone, galaxy S 2 with optional NFC, more nokia phones are coming and i guess the question is when NFC, Apple?

  • http://twitter.com/firatdemirel Fırat DEMİREL

    Finally arrived! http://bit.ly/lyEB32

    Lets wait for Facebook’s hand..

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=703106950 Tijs Teulings

    it’s not a QR code but an RFID tag i.e. a chip.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=703106950 Tijs Teulings

    apps can register as being NFC compatible. so if you swipe the tag your phone should ask you which app you want to use to open it. As soon as the foursquare app implements NFC reading it should be in the list as an option.

  • http://www.facebook.com/dom9360 Dominik Szewczyk

    NFC has a palatable future. I think the phone will eventually replace the wallet just like it *almost* replaced the watch. As for Foursquare, NFC would compliment GPS by verifying a check-in and further ensuring that a person was there.

  • Jerry B

    I’d like to add QR check-in at my locations.

  • Anonymous

    Having QR codes combined with verfication of the location by GPS as authenticated check-ins would not only create a fairer mayoral system, it would benefit businesses that run FourSquare promotions offering discounts and benefits based on volume check-ins and mayor statuses. This kind of win-win position would benefit FourSquare in the long run.

  • Meredith

    That’s what I’m looking for…yeah, cheating. Not to get a badge but really just want to see if it would work. As for the NFC, really a great concept but as mentioned in comments, not many phones equipped for this yet, will be awhile b4 this would become the ‘way to check in’ … I’d LOVE to see who’s mayorships slowly dwindle, Ha!

  • Meredith

    Yes, but there is also a QR code on the posters for those not NFC equipped :)

  • Tim

    does anyone have a video demonstration of this foursquare + nfc example from the google i/o conference? i’m interested to see exactly how it works and how it looked at the conference.

  • Mckoukoh

    am looking forward

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=503604952 Dion Lisle

    I love this – very innovative and yet so obvious.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1009322435 Ricky Peinado

    can some 1 post picture of the barcode please ;)

  • http://about.me/brodieduncan brodieduncan

     No offence but, shameful plug

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=543188572 Mark Royer

    They should have called it “Google Charge” — much better, catchier, name. That is unless they plan to use that for all their new energy initiatives. 

  • Locko

    have it :P

  • ttawecoon

    Experimening with nfc check-ins google i/o

  • ttawecoon

    Experimening with nfc check-ins google i/o

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