Near Field Communications

News

• Look, touch and feel: How your mobile interface will morph in 2012

  The mobile user interface is set for a range of changes in the next 12-24 months, creating new modes for users to interact with their devices, and with other devices nearby and network-based services.

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  CommBank updates mobile apps, eyes social payments

  The CommonWealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has updated is suite of mobile banking applications with native apps for the iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone and the browser-based HTML5, with technology for near field communications (NFC) and social payments on the way.

• Google debuts Android 2.3 'Gingerbread', eyes tablets

  The latest iteration of Google's Android mobile operating system has arrived in version 2.3 – codenamed 'Gingerbread' – with support for larger, tablet-sized screens.

• Android will give NFC a boost, but challenges remain

  Android-based smartphones with NFC (Near Field Communication) will help turn mobile phones into wallets, but there are issues that have to be solved before that happens, according to analysts.

• NFC sees light at end of the tunnel with transit projects

  Short range communication using NFC (Near Field Communication) circuitry embedded in mobile phones has had a difficult journey to market, but it may soon see light at the end of the tunnel with increasing adoption for city transit projects, according to analysts.

• Broadcom sets its sights on NFC market with acquisition

  Wireless chip maker Broadcom plans to acquire Innovision Research & Technology, which specializes in short-range data communication, for approximately US$47.5 million in cash, Broadcom said on Thursday.

• IPhone mobile payments trial to begin soon

  Visa expects soon to begin trials of contactless payments system for Apple's iPhone, using a special case for the phone developed by DeviceFidelity.

• Mobile banking faces uphill battle in mature markets

  The mobile phone is turning into the platform of choice for banking in emerging markets. In developed markets, however, the phone has struggled to compete with existing payment methods, and the challenges aren't going away in 2010.

• Money transfers to become hottest mobile app, says Gartner

  Money transfers and payments over mobile phones will be among the top 10 most important mobile applications by 2012, market research company Gartner said on Wednesday.

• Nokia enters increasingly crowded mobile money market

  Nokia is getting ready to launch Nokia Money, which will offer basic financial services on mobile phones, it said on Wednesday.

• MoBank app takes shopping to the iPhone in the UK

  iPhone and iPod Touch owners in the U.K. will be able to use their devices to buy and pay for goods using a new application from MoBank.

• Mobile commerce apps gaining ground in US

  Mobile payment and mobile commerce applications are proliferating in the U.S., but the adoption of Near Field Communications (NFC) technology that allows mobile phone customers to quickly tap a mobile phone and pay for a subway ride or a grocery store purchase is years away, several industry officials said at a conference here.

• Nokia puts mobile wallet on SIM card

  The new Nokia 6216 classic handset, announced Thursday, incorporates support for NFC (Near Field Communication) technology on the SIM card, paving the way for operators to more easily deploy mobile-payment systems.

• Telstra, NAB see success with mobile commerce trial

  A three-month trial of mobile phone commerce technology by Telstra, the National Australia Bank and Visa has been hailed as a success with all three parties looking to deploy the technology extensively.

• GSM group: Phones need NFC for mobile payments

  Phone manufacturers must build NFC (Near Field Communications) functionality into mobile handsets in order to speed adoption of mobile payment systems, the GSM Association said Tuesday.