Near Field Communications Might Be Dead Already

For a long time, proponents have expected Google to make good on the promise of near field communications, or NFC, by transforming an Android device into a secure and highly useful digital wallet. Now, it looks as though the promise may go unfulfilled.

Multiple sources confirm that Osama Bedier, who led the Google Wallet team, has left the company to "pursue other opportunities." Usually, that's code-speak for "he found something better after realizing this job was going nowhere," says Tim Beyers of Motley Fool Rule Breakers and Motley Fool Supernova in the following interview with the Fool's Erin Miller.

Among the major carriers, only Sprint Nextel offers NFC payments via Google Wallet in a handful of its phones, Computerworld reports. Meanwhile, NXP Semiconductors , one of the leading NFC chipmakers, saw revenue inch up just 4% in 2012 and 9% over the trailing 12 months. The stock has traded about even with the S&P 500 year to date. Don't bet on seeing outsized returns till there's more clarity of the future of NFC, Tim says.

Do you agree? Please watch the video to get Tim's specific take, and then let us know whether you would buy, sell, or short NXP Semiconductors stock at current prices.

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The article Near Field Communications Might Be Dead Already originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Tim Beyers is a member of the Motley Fool Rule Breakers stock-picking team and the Motley Fool Supernova Odyssey I mission. He owned shares of Apple and Google at the time of publication. Erin Miller owned shares of Apple. Check out Tim's Web home and portfolio holdings, or connect with him on Google+, Tumblr, or Twitter, where he goes by @milehighfool. You can also get his insights delivered directly to your RSS reader.The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Google, and NXP Semiconductors and owns shares of Apple and Google. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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