Exchanging contact details remains an annoying friction point in networking, whether at business events, conferences, or social gatherings. Current methods—QR codes, typing numbers manually, or third-party apps—are slow, error-prone, or require too many steps. A more intuitive solution might leverage the simple act of placing two smartphones together to trigger instant contact sharing.

How It Could Work

One approach would use NFC or Bluetooth to detect when phones are stacked back-to-back or placed in close proximity. Users could pre-select which details to share (phone, email, LinkedIn) through an app. When enabled devices touch, the transfer happens automatically with confirmation via vibration or sound. Privacy could be safeguarded by requiring an explicit tap-to-confirm step. For phones without NFC, a fallback to Bluetooth or even QR codes might maintain compatibility.

Why It Improves Existing Solutions

Compared to scanning QR codes (which demands camera alignment) or apps like CamCard (which digitize business cards manually), this would eliminate steps. Unlike discontinued apps like Bump that relied on fist bumps, stacking phones feels more natural. While iOS/Android now offer contact QR codes, they still require manual scanning—this system would skip that entirely.

Paths to Implementation

A basic version could start as an app testing the stacking detection with NFC/Bluetooth, focusing on quick transfers between two users. Event organizers might pilot it at conferences to validate demand. If traction grows, integration with native contact apps or partnerships with phone manufacturers could make the feature ubiquitous—imagine Samsung or Apple building it directly into their sharing menus.

The key value lies in reducing the "time-to-contact" from 30+ seconds (typing/scanning) to under 2 seconds, while feeling as natural as handing someone a business card once did.