MediaTek, popular Taiwanese Chip maker is working on a new Hotknot proximity technology, a cheaper alternative to NFC, according to a recent report from EE Times-Asia. This uses a special capacitor touch sensor chip combined with gravity sensor and proximity sensor, that are already present in latest smartphones.
MediaTek aims to take Hotknot globally over time, but it will first be introduced in China with chips designed into smartphones. It will be initially limited to device pairing. NFC enables mobile payments too, but the use is still available in limited markets globally.
This is how Hotknot works
Hotknot will use a touch sensor chip to send communication protocols, while a gravity sensor (G-sensor) ensures the actual contact, and a proximity sensor (P-sensor) detects the presence of nearby objects, thus verifying that the two objects are close enough.
HaoJung Li, product marketing manager of MediaTek’s wireless communications business unit, in an interview to EE Times-Asia said,
What NFC can do, Hotknot can also do. Our first job is to build the infrastructure, making sure that millions of smartphones used in China will actually come with Hotknot. It plans to introduce it in smartphones, tablets, wearable devices, and even TVs eventually.
Chinese manufacturers like Oppo and Lenovo will be among the first ones to use the technology and they will receive a Hotknot software package at the end of March. Technical details of Hotknot have not been disclosed since the company has not published any paper or mentioned anything about it on their website. Official release with more details might arrive soon.