Tags:NFC | GSM | Nokia | Motorola | LG

Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET), one of the top three operators of mobile communication services in Taiwan, on September 14 announced it will launch NFC (near field communication) mobile contactless payment services based on SWP (Single Wire Protocol) in the first quarter of 2008.

SWP, a technology standard being promoted by the GSM Association, integrates a SIM (subscriber identity module) card with NFC functionality which can be used in contactless credit-card and bus/subway fare payment as well as entryway control and other functions, according to industry sources.

To provide such services, FET decided to initially adopt Sagem handsets with built-in NFC functions but will later adopt NFC-enabled handsets supplied by other vendors, the company pointed out.

In addition to Sagem, BenQ, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, LG Electronics and other vendors have been developing SWP-supporting handsets, a situation conducive to the global promotion of SWP-based NFC applications, FET indicated. FET hopes to see fellow mobile telecom carriers in Taiwan adopt SWP as well, the company noted.

FET is testing for the launch of the SWP-based services through cooperation with several local partners, including Taishin International Bank, the operator of the Kaohsiung metropolitan MRT (mass rapid transit) system in southern Taiwan, 7-Eleven convenience stores, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department stores and R-T Mart hypermarkets, and will invite 200 of its subscribers to begin trial operations by the end of November 2007, according to the company.


Source: digitimes