TheStreet

Tech Trends

Remember the stickers craze years ago? If Samsung has their way modern-day smartphone users are going to be crazed for stickers once again.

But, the new Samsung stickers are very different.

These little buggers are called TecTiles. They are tiny, programmable NFC devices. NFC stands for Near Field Communications. They allow items like smartphones to wirelessly speak with “receptacles” allowing your phone to “automate” certain functions.

If so endowed, you can tap your NFC-equipped phone near a NFC payment source at certain brick/mortar stores and automatically have funds transferred to a vendor. No credit cards to deal with.

Lots of experts are betting that it's the future of retailing.

But, you can also tap a NFC phone at one of Samsung's little TecTiles stickers which you've pre-programmed (with your NFC smartphone) to do a small task.

For instance, store owners can program them to give customers instant discounts. Or, end-users can program them to check-in at Facebook or foursquare. Or, program one to allow the kids to tap and check-in with parents when they get home from school. Or complete a task. Samsung offers a long list of other idea.

Now, it just so happens that Samsung upcoming line of Galaxy S-III Android superphones comes with a new, little app that lets you master your TecTiles experience. You can also download the app from the Google Play store right now

So then, all you need are the stickers. A package of five will set you back $14.99. They're available online and in retails stores from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon - each of which will soon be selling their own, next-generation, Galaxy S-III superphones.