In a move which underscores a big push behind the `Near-Field Communications' (NFC) technology, smartphones to be released by Samsung and Sony this month will boast the ability to learn things when users touch them to pre-programmed "tags."

In an earlier this week announcement, Samsung revealed that it will begin the sales of the pre-programmed `tags' in the form of stickers, which the company has dubbed as "TecTiles."

The TecTile sticker tags will be sold at a cost of $15 for a set of five; and will work with Samsung's new flagship handset - the Galaxy S III - which is scheduled for launch in a few weeks.

Sony will release its Xperia Ion smartphone on June 24; with the handset boasting the capability to read different coin-like plastic tags which read "Home," ''Office" and other such words.

The tags for the Sony Xperia Ion will be available at a cost of $20 for a set of four, and the users will be able to programme the handset to react differently to each tag.

Meanwhile, other than giving the samrtphones the ability to learn, the NFC tags will also bring about a change for the advertisers, as they will take the place of the so-called "QR" codes. These two-dimensional bar codes can be deciphered only after they have been photographed with specially downloaded software. Once deciphered, the codes can either send a consumer to the advertiser's website or can earn them a discount coupon.