NFC-enabled handsets to top 20 percent by 2012

Near Field Communication technology is expected to be available on more than 20 percent of handsets shipped by 2012, according to ABI Research.
The firm predicts about 292 million phones will ship with the technology in five years.
“NFC in mobile phones promises a quicker and easier way to execute a host of key tasks by just waving the phone,” said senior analyst Jonathan Collins. “Making payments, unlocking doors, downloading content, even setting up wireless networks and many other applications, can all be enabled from an NFC handset.”
ABI said early enthusiasm for the technology has been tempered by the complexities of setting up the ecosystem required to support NFC applications. The company said it believes NFC will not become widely available in handsets until wireless carriers embrace the technology.