Japan's found something else for passersby to hold a cell phone up to: movie posters. Major Japanese cell phone carriers are embedding Near Field Communication (or NFC) tags in popular movie posters, so that when someone holds a cell phone up to them the phone will show them all kinds of digital content. Said content can be anything from ring tones and wallpaper for your phone, or codes to watch HD movie trailers on your TV.

We have similar tests going on here in the US with RFID and Semacode tags, but the technology still isn't very widespread. Whether or not it'll be a good thing when everything in a city is digitally interactive — point your cell at this to buy a pair a shoes, tap a button on it to buy a coffee, etc. — will have to be seen.

Via Pink Tentacle