Last week I wrote about a new NFC mobile payment option we launched with some of our partners. Today, I wanted to take a moment to give you some more information about NFC (near field communication) and how it will turn smartphones into “smarter phones.”

In a nutshell, NFC is a data transfer. NFC possesses two types of information transfer: emulation or peer-to-peer (P2P). In emulation mode, it allows a user to replicate all activities directly from their NFC-enabled mobile device; in P2P mode, information can be shared back and forth between mobile devices.

One of the coolest things I’ve observed lately is the integration of NFC on devices beyond smartphones and tablets. Recently, Dutch publishing firm Elektor International Media released the first NFC-enabled book: Catch the Sun, a book about ballooning, features NFC tags on its cover and select pages within. When readers with NFC-enabled BlackBerry® devices click a tag located within the book, they are directed to an Elektor-hosted website to get more information about the section of the book they’re reading. I love that this is a meaningful way of bringing technologies like traditional book consumption into a digital age.

With all the possibilities of NFC-enabled BlackBerry devices – such as enhancing foursquare “Check-in Stations” and automating your life – where do you see NFC going from here? Let us know by sharing your opinion in the comments below.