Three NFC products have picked up Sesame awards at the Cartes trade show in Paris. NXP won the software category with its open source NFC host software stack for Android... More
Security
SD Association and GlobalPlatform to set standards for external secure elements
The two associations will create international standards for SD and microSD format secure elements for use in NFC services as well as a wide range of other applications. More
Sony and HID launch NFC reader module for laptops and tablets
Sony and secure identity specialist HID Global have launched a contactless smart card reader platform that can add NFC and secure access control to laptop PCs and other mobile devices... More
Ecebs joins OSPT Alliance
Transit systems specialist Ecebs has joined the OSPT Alliance as a full member and will promote the alliance’s Cipurse standard for secure transit fare collection solutions... More
Consumer education needed ‘to dispel myths surrounding NFC’
A survey of UK consumers conducted for Gemalto has found that a third of Brits would use NFC services — if they understood the technology better and knew it was completely secure. More
Inside Secure launches counterfeit detection system for luxury goods
The new VaultIC150 solution uses NFC to provide manufacturers and buyers of high-end consumer products with proof that an item is the genuine article. More
Amex to invest $100m
American Express is to invest US$100 million in digital commerce startups over the next several years... More
Schreiner stickers certified
MasterCard has certified secure labeling specialist Schreiner ProSecure‘s NFC-Sticker for use in contactless payments... More
Intercede to demo NFC government ID
Identity and credential management provider Intercede is to demonstrate an NFC version of its MyID security system at the Smart Card Alliance Government Conference in Washington DC this week... More
WestJet to test in-flight NFC
Canadian airline WestJet is to test contactless and NFC payments for in-flight purchases, American Banker reports... More
Survey: 40% of merchants need to be equipped for contactless payments to take off
The tipping point for consumers to begin using contactless payments technologies will be when at least 40% of merchants are equipped with compatible POS terminals, according to a survey by First Data which also found that banks are the trusted and preferred provider for mobile wallet solutions. More
LSE reports on NFC privacy issues
“The risks to personal privacy must be addressed,” say the authors of a new London School of Economics report examining NFC privacy and regulation issues. “This is not only to protect against surveillance, but it is essential to ensure that there is confidence in the marketplaces that may yet emerge with widespread use of NFC.” More
17% of Brits ready for NFC
New UK consumer research from Intersperience has found that 17% want to use a mobile wallet in the future but 44% are worried about a lack of security software on mobile phones... More
Canadians cool on Google Wallet
In a poll on consumer attitudes to Google Wallet, 31% of Canadians said they would “never use it” and 33% said “I may or may not use it.” One in ten surveyed by Delvinia’s AskingCanadians online research panel for ITBusiness.ca said they will use the search giant’s mobile wallet as soon as it’s available and 25% said they could see themselves using it eventually... More
Visa Europe plans NFC wallet
An NFC-based mobile wallet that “will work with not just Visa cards from multiple banks, but other cards like American Express,” is set to be introduced in August or September next year, Visa Europe commercial director Steve Perry told delegates at the payments network’s security summit in Frankfurt last week, reports Pocket-Lint... More
NFC ID badges to arrive on BlackBerry phones
BlackBerry NFC phone users are set to be the first to use their mobile instead of their work ID badge to access buildings and other physical and online facilities, RIM and ID card giant HID Global have revealed. More
Report forecasts use of biometrics to secure mobile transactions
“The conditions are now right to create a strong market,” says Goode Intelligence which forecasts that the current global user base of four million mobile biometrics users will grow to 39 million by 2015. More
One in three Canadians ready to use bank-issued mobile wallets
A new survey has found that a third of Canadians would use a mobile wallet if it was provided to them by their bank — but there is less interest in mobile wallets provided by other potential types of issuer. More
OSPT Alliance publishes open standard for contactless transit payments
The organisation, which aims to establish an open standard for transport ticketing to rival Mifare, has made available the first version of its Cipurse specification. More
PragmatIC demonstrates NFC label with built-in display
The flexible labels don’t need a battery and automatically light up or display information when they are read by an NFC phone. More