Tag: near field communication

NFC technology based mobile payments rolling out from Sony

| October 15, 2013

The electronics company has announced that it is launching in Hong Kong by incorporating its tech into Octopus.

Sony Corp. has announced that it will be incorporating its FeliCa NFC technology into the popular Octopus contactless smart card program in Hong Kong, which will mean that riders will be able to use mobile payments to pay for transportation as well as retail purchases.

The public pilot launch was announced by Octopus Cards Ltd. for the first mobile payments service through the company.

The mobile payments service through Octopus will be enabled with the Sony FeliCa compatible NFC technology SIM card product, which they have called the Octopus Mobile SIM. This is the latest element to a broader effort being made by Sony to incorporate mobile solutions on a global scale.

The NFC technology SIM cards are SIM devices are compatible with near field communication.

Sony - NFC TechnologyThis gives people with smartphones that are NFC technology enabled the ability to take advantage of the tech for mobile payments purposes in what they are calling a secure and multi-application format. This new partnered project with Octopus Cards Ltd. will make it possible for consumers to be able to use their devices to access the same services as those that are already available through the conventional products and cards already available through Octopus.

In order to use their devices in this way, consumers must install the Octopus payment applet based on FeliCa, for Octopus payments services on the Gemalto supplied NFC technology SIM card and then insert that card into their smartphone which is already compatible with near field communications.

The Sony Xperia models (including the Xperia V, Z, ZR, Z Ultra(3G), Z Ultra(LTE) and Z1) will be the first to be compatible with the NFC technology services, as they will be sold with the special SIM cards pre-installed when purchased with a subscription to the PCCW-HKT local mobile network operator’s paid service plan. The contactless FeliCa IC card tech has been built into Japanese mobile phones since 2004. Since that time, many different compatible services have been developed, from electronic money to public transportation fare and various forms of services involving ID.

NFC technology solution created by Proxama for Isis

| October 14, 2013

The company has come up with a new near field communication solution for the mobile wallet.

The leading NFC technology provider for mobile wallets and engagement tech, Proxama PLC, has announced that it will be working with Isis for its mobile payments solutions.

This partnership is meant to help to boost the Isis mobile wallet app for enabled devices.

Isis is the mobile wallet venture created by Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile USA, and AT&T Mobile. They will be working with Proxama in order to develop the app for NFC technology enabled devices through the use of the BlackBerry 10 operating system. The effort is meant to help to expand the use of the wallet within the North American marketplace.

The use of NFC technology based mobile wallets has been slow to take off, so the hope is that this will help.

Business Partnership - NFC TechnologyThe Proxama managing director, Miles Quitmann, explained that “The roll out of Isis is a significant step forward for NFC as a mainstream consumer technology. We are delighted to be working with Isis on this very exciting venture. Proxama has built up an enviable position in the mobile wallet space. The North American market is a really important one for us.”

The technology platform at Proxama has been shown to be effective in supporting customer loyalty, engagement, and secure contactless payments through the use of NFC technology. Proxama is already working with some of the top brands through this tech, such as Barclaycard, EE, KFC, EAT, and others. These have helped to expand the use of mobile wallets and to boost customer engagement.

At the moment, the adoption of NFC technology based payments has been held back primarily by the limited number of devices that are equipped with these chips. However, as a growing number of device models are released with near field communication, and as the awareness of these types of payments begins to expand, it is believed that it will not be very long before these mobile wallets become a part of the mainstream for completing purchase transactions at a point of sale in a brick and mortar store.