Diamond jewellery maker Kobelli is to use a blockchain-based NFC platform to provide its customers with a way to securely verify the authenticity of their purchases... More
Kobelli to use NFC to track diamonds on the blockchain
- Fitbit Charge 4 launches with NFC contactless payments
- ST to host NFC reader webinar
- RBC speeds up bank account opening with NFC passport reading
- Cole Haan deploys NFC tags across Santa Clara store
- NXP launches NFC digital car key solution
Researchers to use tiny diamonds to verify authenticity of supply chain components
Dust Identity raises $10m to secure the global supply chain — using diamonds — Fortune — “Its process embeds tiny diamond fragments in a polymer that’s sprayed on a component. As the polymer dries, those diamond fragments are frozen in place, producing a pattern of scattered light that’s irreproducible, because it’s so random and complex — and at least as unique as a fingerprint… Dust Identity claims that, at scale, a single application of its tag can cost as little as one one-thousandth of a cent.”
PCI SSC calls for comments on new standard for contactless payments on off-the-shelf NFC devices
Request for comments: Contactless payments on COTS standard — PCI Security Standards Council — “PCI SSC is developing a new standard for contactless payments on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices, which is planned for publication by the end of 2019. As part of the development process, PCI SSC stakeholders are invited to review and provide feedback on the draft PCI Contactless Payments on COTS (CPoC) Standard during a 30-day request for comments (RFC) period.”
Amorim adds NFC to cork bottle stoppers
Amorim combats counterfeiting with NFC-enabled corks — The Spirits Business — “Leading cork producer Amorim has released a new range of bartop stoppers, which incorporate near field communication (NFC) technology to tackle counterfeiting… NFC-enabled phones will be able to access additional information such as serving and mixing suggestions, product information, promotional campaigns and competitions.”
Amazon rolls out QR-based anti-counterfeiting platform
Amazon launches Transparency in Europe, India and Canada — Amazon — “Transparency is a product serialisation service that provides a unique code for every unit that is manufactured. Brands put these codes on its products and every time one of these products is ordered in Amazon’s stores, Amazon scans and verifies the code to ensure only authentic units reach customers. Additionally, customers can use a mobile app to scan the code and verify authenticity regardless of where they purchased their units. Brands can also use Transparency to communicate unique unit-level information, including manufacturing date, manufacturing place, or other enhanced product information (eg ingredients).”
Qualcomm to include NFC in entry-level smartphone platform
New Qualcomm 215 Mobile Platform raises the bar for mass market devices — Qualcomm — “The Qualcomm 215 Mobile Platform debuts the following ‘firsts’ in the 2-series: 64-bit CPU, Dual-ISP, supports up to 13MP photo capture, support for Full HD (1080p) video capture, support for HD+ resolution display, hexagon DSP for audio and sensor processing, support for Dual SIM with Dual VoLTE, EVS voice calls, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, support for NFC payments on Android.”
Eagle Creek lets luggage owners share their stories via NFC
Eagle Creek debuts NFC-connected luggage — Mobile Marketer — “Travellers can see a personalised dashboard that shows all the places they’ve travelled, along [with] a leaderboard that ranks their mileage against the other owners of its line of Caldera luggage. Eagle Creek also provides a lost-and-found feature to help people locate misplaced bags, warranty registration features and detailed product information and videos. Caldera owners also can share information about their trips with their friends, family and followers on major social media platforms.”
Seppeltsfield Barossa adds NFC tags to wine bottles
Historic Australian wine estate Seppeltsfield Barossa is adding NFC tags to the bottles of its new Grounds range of wines, to guarantee the product’s authenticity and verify that the bottle has not previously been opened... More
Phoenix Suns to provide basketball fans with mobile payments and NFC ticketing at Talking Stick Resort Arena
Arizona-based National Basketball Association (NBA) team the Phoenix Suns are to offer fans access to mobile payments and NFC ticketing from within their mobile app, via a partnership with Ticketmaster, that will see the team move to mobile-only ticketing at its Talking Stick Resort Arena from the start of the 2019/20 season in October... More
HonkMobile launches app-free Apple Pay NFC payments
Parking payments specialist HonkMobile has unveiled a ‘virtual parking meter’ that uses Apple Pay’s new support for NFC tags to let iPhone users tap an NFC sticker to quickly make a payment via Apple Pay — without first needing to download an app or register for a service... More
UK government begins testing iPhone NFC passport reading
Home Office begins testing settled status app on Apple devices — PublicTechnology — “The Home Secretary has already confirmed that the EU Exit ID Document Check app will be available on Apple devices this year,” the spokesperson said. “We are now testing the app on Apple devices with the new functionality.”
Mattel adds NFC to Hot Wheels racing cars
Mattel launches new Hot Wheels ‘id’ Smart Track Kit and NFC cars exclusively at Apple Stores — MacRumors — “The new Hot Wheels ID setup includes 51 die-cast cars with NFC tags that are going to be released in six mini collections throughout 2019, with each vehicle to be priced at US$6.99. Each car can be levelled up digitally, with challenges available to break race records.”
Android Q to let users log into Wi-Fi networks via NFC, QR or Bluetooth LE
Android Q supports ‘Wi-Fi Easy Connect’ for NFC, Bluetooth, QR credential sharing — 9to5Google — “Android Q enables you to use Easy Connect to provision Wi-Fi credentials to a peer device… The calling app can retrieve the URI through various methods, including scanning a QR code from a sticker or display, or through scanning Bluetooth LE or NFC advertisements.”
NFC Forum releases bidirectional IoT communication standard
NFC Forum enhances connectivity of IoT devices with new and updated specifications — NFC Forum — “Bidirectional communication with IoT devices means NFC-enabled smartphones can read the actual state from the IoT device (eg, the actual title of music played) and can change the configuration of the IoT device by write access (eg, to adjust the volume or to switch to the next audio file). It can be used, for example, to configure an audio system, digital camera, lightning system, smart meter or radiator valve. This protocol can also be used where P2P is not implemented, for example, on existing NFC readers that do not support P2P mode.”
Apple extends GymKit NFC functionality to additional gym equipment market leaders
Apple has added three US gym equipment manufacturers — Octane Fitness, True Fitness and Woodway — to its growing list of partners worldwide for NFC-based GymKit for the Apple Watch, which enables users to sync their workout data between their watch and fitness machines... More
NFC testing disruptor Cilab joins the NFC World Partner Program
PARTNER NEWS: Cilab’s ci230 high speed tester takes a whole new approach to NFC testing that makes it faster and easier to conduct pre-certification testing, makes the certification process quicker and cheaper, lets customers get a fast return on investment — and a competitive advantage from speeding up time to market... More
Japanese government to adopt iPhone NFC chip reading for citizen ID
iOS 13 NFC for Japanese Individual Number Cards — Ata Distance — “Individual Number Cards are supported by card readers that require a personal computer and additional software. NFC tag reading with a smartphone is much easier because it can work out of the box and an app. Android phones are supported but limited to select Aquos, Galaxy and Xperia smartphone models. iPhone NFC tag support in iOS 13 will considerably widen the user footprint.”
Imperial College develops NFC tag-based freshness detection system to reduce food waste
Researchers at Imperial College London have developed low-cost NFC-based spoilage sensors for meat and fish packaging that could be in supermarkets within three years and help to reduce the amount of still safe to eat food that UK consumers throw away each year because it has reached its sell-by date... More
Malibu rolls out NFC connected bottles in the US
Drinks brand Malibu is launching an NFC-based promotion in the US states of Ohio and Texas that enables customers to use NFC tags attached to 300,000 ‘connected bottles’ to win branded goods and access cocktail recipes and other content... More
College football fans to get NFC ticketing for access to games
Paciolan announces support for contactless tickets in Apple Wallet for college sports — Paciolan — “The first schools to offer contactless tickets for the fall 2019 football season include Baylor University, Louisiana State University, Michigan State University, University of Mississippi, Georgia Tech, and Rutgers University.”
