The number of contactless transactions made using a mobile phone will increase from 3bn this year to 10bn in 2018, according to Juniper Research, due to two key drivers: host card emulation (HCE) and the anticipated arrival of an Apple iWallet... More
Bluetooth low energy (BLE)
New EMV framework to support NFC, QR, Bluetooth LE and more
A new tokenization framework being developed by EMVCo for the world’s major payments networks will enable EMV transactions to be made on a mobile phone using the widest possible range of “last inch” technologies— and the first draft of the new specification will be available in just a few weeks, Christina Hulka, chair of the board of managers at EMVCo, has told The Mobile Wallet Report... More
MeaWallet to launch mobile payments platform that supports NFC, BLE and QR
MeaWallet, a white label solution that supports mobile payments via NFC, Bluetooth LE, host card emulation (HCE), QR and more, is to be launched in May this year, enabling retailers, banks, MNOs and service providers to support a wide range of options for making mobile purchases in stores ... More
Samsung unveils Galaxy S5 with NFC, fingerprint verification and PayPal payments
The Galaxy S5, Samsung’s new flagship smartphone, includes biometric security as well as NFC — and can be used to make payments at any merchant that accepts PayPal online or in store... More
Accenture offers NFC wallet
Accenture has introduced a mobile wallet platform that supports payments in stores via both NFC and QR as well as peer-to-peer payments, transport, loyalty and gift cards... More
Nokia offers NFC Treasure Tags
Nokia has introduced bright plastic tags that can be attached to a Lumia smartphone owner’s keys, bag, wallet and other valuables and emit “a loud tone” when they become separated from the phone... More
NFC to account for 30% of mobile tickets
More than 34 billion tickets will be delivered to mobile devices over the next five years, according to a new ABI Research forecast, with QR codes making up 48% of the total and NFC accounting for 30%... More
Royal Bank of Canada launches NFC payments in the cloud
Royal Bank of Canada has introduced an NFC mobile payments service that stores customers’ card details in the cloud... More
Lesswire offers NFC for cars
Wireless connectivity specialist Lesswire has introduced a module for vehicles that combines NFC, 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity... More
Wirecard NFC wallet gets BLE
German payments technology provider Wirecard has added support for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to its mobile wallet platform... More
Thinaire combines NFC and BLE
NFC marketing specialist Thinaire has added support for Bluetooth LE to its mobile engagement management platform, enabling brands to communicate with consumers via either NFC or BLE — depending on the capabilities of their mobile device... More
ABI: Smartphones accounted for 80% of NFC devices shipped in 2013
Smartphones accounted for four out of five NFC devices shipped in 2013 but that market share will drop to under 60% in 2017 as NFC becomes widely adopted in computing products, peripherals, speakers, digital cameras, printers, domestic appliances and automotive products, ABI Research reports... More
Allure introduces smart home sensors with NFC and BLE
Smart home specialist Allure Energy has introduced new sensors that incorporate NFC and Bluetooth Low Energy, enabling both iOS and Android device users to have the temperature of individual rooms in their home adjusted to their preferences as they approach, enter or leave a particular room... More
Marvell announces wireless combo chip with NFC
Chip maker Marvell has introduced a new quad-radio wireless combo chip for mobile devices that includes support for NFC, Bluetooth 4.1, 1×1 802.11ac WiFi and FM radio... More
US gyms to deliver ads and info via NFC
Gym and health club members across the US are to get a personalised mobile experience that uses both NFC and Bluetooth LE thanks to a new deal between Outcast Fitness, the US’ largest health club digital media network, and NFC marketing specialist Blue Bite... More
Google Nexus 5 to support NFC host card emulation
Google has taken the wraps off its much-anticipated Nexus 5 NFC smartphone... More
Strategy Analytics lowers NFC payments forecast
Strategy Analytics has “marginally lowered” its outlook for NFC mobile payments “to reflect the slow pace at which operators are pushing NFC payments service, limited NFC payment deployments by OEMs, and the continued slow adoption of contactless payments by retailers.”... More
Glocon shows off NFC and Bluetooth multi-function bracelet
The creators of Glocon, a waterproof bracelet that combines NFC and Bluetooth 4.0, have shown their prototype device to a number of industry leaders at the Money2020 expo with the intention of launching on crowdfunding website Kickstarter later this year. More
Vertu launches Constellation NFC luxury smartphone
Luxury phone maker Vertu has unveiled the Constellation, a hand-built NFC smartphone which combines a scratch resistant sapphire crystal screen and a polished titanium body wrapped in calf leather... More
RugGear to launch military spec rugged NFC phone
Rugged phone maker RugGear will include NFC in its next handset, a fully waterproof and dustproof 5.3-inch Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean smartphone... More