Nokia have announced the new Nokia 6212 Classic, a mid-range mobile phone with integrated Near Field Communication (NFC). Integrated what, you ask? Near Field Communication, a technology that enables the phone to communicate seamlessly with the physical world by just tapping the phone against other NFC-equipped devices.

For example, you can receive information, such as Web links or music files, about a CD by tapping the phone against an NFC-equipped advert. Tap the 6212 against another NFC-equipped mobile phone, and the two will instantly pair with each other via Bluetooth, letting you swap photos or tunes between the two devices.

Other uses include paying for bus or tube tickets by just tapping the phone against a ticket machine, or getting your chocolate or caffeine fix by tapping it against a vending machine. In fact, the range of things you can do with NFC are limited only to the amount of other devices that also come equipped with NFC.

Which, at the moment, is about zero! However, NFC is sure to become as common a feature in mobile phones as Bluetooth, and once the technology becomes pervasive in phones, it won't be long before other devices appear too, which ultimately should lead to a radically new way of controlling our environment through our phones.

More details of the Nokia 6212 Classic after the jump.

From the press release:
Nokia today introduced the Nokia 6212 classic featuring integrated Near Field Communication (NFC). The 3G handset allows consumers to conveniently share content, access services and information as well as conduct payments and ticketing with one tap of the device. The Nokia 6212 classic is expected to start shipping in the third quarter of 2008 in select markets in Europe and Asia with an estimated retail price of EUR 200 before taxes and subsidies.

"NFC-capable handsets such as the Nokia 6212 classic are set to change the way mobile phone users interact with devices and services in their surroundings," says Jeremy Belostock, the Head of Near Field Communications, Nokia. "With the Nokia 6212 classic, people can swap items like business cards or calendar notes by simply tapping their handsets together. With ever-increasing device functions and services available, ease-of-use is essential. One way to keep things simple is NFC."

Near Field Communication is designed for intuitive, simple and safe interaction between electronic devices. By tapping an NFC-enabled tag, consumers can receive new content such as weblinks, audio files or contact data directly to their phone. They can activate a profile in their handset or open applications such as FM radio or web browser. Photos and videos can be easily shared by tapping another NFC-capable phone and pairing with a Bluetooth NFC-enabled device, like the new NFC variant of the Nokia BH-210 headset, happens with just one touch. The lightweight Nokia BH-210 with NFC headset allows users to access all functions easily with a single multifunction key. The widely compatible headset can be used with a number of Nokia devices as well as other manufacturers' phones.

The Nokia 6212 classic can also be used as a travel ticket or for mobile payments. Travel tickets can be charged over the air, so there is no need to wait at the service counter. Users can store their credit card information on the device and access their account online directly from the handset. Using the Nokia 6212 classic for payment and ticketing purposes requires a service subscription and the installation of an appropriate secure application. Security for transactions is assured as the handset can be set to allow payment only when the user expressly authorizes the transaction via an additional passcode.

The Nokia 6212 classic allows consumers to personalize and edit their own NFC tags, be it for writing calendar entries or setting the alarm clock. The sales pack of the Nokia 6212 classic comes with three sticker tags, one of which opens the NFC introduction in the phone.

The slimline Nokia 6212 classic comes with an extensive set of features such as a 2 megapixel camera, bright 2-inch QVGA display, stereo FM radio and music player supporting multiple formats. An optional microSD memory card of up to 4GB provides ample space for personal content such as images and songs.