14 DAY TRIAL // The Finnish cell phone maker Nokia unveiled the first mobile NFC enabled product. Near Field Communication (NFC) technology allows a user to hold two devices next to one another to transfer, synchronize, or exchange data, including payment information.
NFC consists of RFID-embedded technology within devices, allowing two devices to be aware of each other and to interact within a few centimeters. Due to its short range and slow transfer speeds, the technology would not be a replacement for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, but instead would be an enhancement to those technologies.
The product introduced by Nokia consists of a shell for the Nokia 3220 and is "compliant and interoperable with contactless smart card infrastructure. The new product is designed to ensure secure mobile contactless payments and ticketing.
The Nokia NFC shell will provide the first opportunity for consumers, mobile operators and service providers to benefit from an easy, touch-based access to services and content. The shell for payment and ticketing is compliant and interoperable with contactless smart card infrastructure. Hence additional investments are not required.
In the first live NFC-based public transport ticketing showcase of its kind, Nokia 3220 mobile phones will be tested within the local bus network in the city of Hanau, near Frankfurt, Germany.
Visa and MasterCard both support this project and find it a great way to enable contactless payment using a classic mobile phone.
The Nokia NFC shell for payment and ticketing will be demonstrated at the Cannes 3GSM World Congress 2005 at Nokia main stand.