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Qualcomm introduces new NFC chip

Rebecca | December 10, 2012

Qualcomm continues to show strong support for NFC technology

Qualcomm, a leading developer of computer chips and mobile technology, has announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Atheros, has introduced a new NFC solution that could have promising implications for a wide range of mobile devices. Qualcomm has been showing increasing interest in NFC technology recently. The company recently upgraded its membership within the NFC Forum, a trade group working to provide standards for the use of NFC technology. The company sees a great deal of promise in NFC technology that extends well beyond mobile commerce.

NFC continues to be linked to mobile commerce

NFC technology is well known for establishing a strong foundation for mobile commerce. Indeed, most mobile commerce initiative rely heavily on the technology in order to facilitate business with consumers. The technology is capable of turning a mobile device into a payment platform, thus allowing consumers to participate in mobile commerce. NFC technology can be used for much more than mobile transactions, and Qualcomm has been working to make the technology available to other industries.

New chip offers promising features

Qualcomm Atheros has developed a new NFC solution that consumes much less energy than traditional NFC chips. The chip, called the QCA 1990, is compatible with most cutting edge mobile technologies and complies with the standards of the NFC Forum. The QCA 1990 is designed to consume as little energy as possible, thus it does not present any significant strain on the battery of a mobile device. Qualcomm notes that the chip will also help make wireless communications and data exchange more efficient. This includes mobile payments.

Chip to see limited use throughout 2013

Qualcomm plans to make the QCA 1990 available to a limited number of customers by the first quarter of 2013. This will help the company determine if any significant changes need to be done to the chip to prepare it for wider commercialization. By the third quarter of 2013, Qualcomm expects that the QCA 1990 will be in the hands of large companies around the world.

Komercni Banka uses QR codes to expand mobile commerce in Czech Republic

Rebecca | December 8, 2012

Komercni Banka eyes QR codes for new mobile commerce services

Komercni Banka, a leading financial institution in the Czech Republic, has launched a new direct banking service that offers some mobile commerce capabilities to mobile consumers. Unlike other mobile commerce services that revolve largely around the use of NFC technology, Komercni Banka has chosen QR codes as a platform for this new initiative. QR codes are most often used in marketing, but have proven capable of powering mobile commerce in recent months. The financial group believes that QR codes are ideally suited to meet the needs of Czech mobile consumers.

Codes begin breaking away from advertising

QR codes are beginning to break away from the field of mobile marketing, where they have been used extensively over the past years. The codes have shown that they can be powerful engagement tools, but have seen limited use in the field of mobile commerce. Retail companies like the United Kingdom’s Tesco have used the codes in the past for virtual “pop-up” stores, where consumers could scan the codes to purchase products that were later mailed to their homes.

Consumers can use mobile platforms to make payments

Komercni Banka customers will be able to make payments using QR codes generated by the financial institutions. The codes can be scanned using a generic QR code scanning application or the Mobilni Banka 2 platform developed by the financial group. Users of the bank’s platform will be able to use QR codes to pay bills and issue payments to any company they choose. The new service may be well received among the growing number of mobile consumers in the Czech Republic.

QR codes may be a viable alternative to NFC technology

Mobile commerce continues to gain momentum around the world, especially where mobile technology penetration is high. Most mobile commerce initiatives rely heavily on NFC technology, which is still rare amongst mobile devices. In order to make mobile commerce more inclusive to a wider range of consumers, organizations like Komercni Banka have been adopting alternatives, like QR codes, which have proven somewhat effective in the past.