Leading GSM operators announce support for a single NFC standard, to be launched in 2012

There are not many people who express doubt that NFC is part of our high-tech future, and that's only confirmed by the fact that a huge number of leading GSM operators have announced their support for the global interoperability of this service. Furthermore, it's expected that we will see a commercial NFC launch in "select markets by 2012".

Franco Bernabe, Chairman, GSMA and CEO, Telecom Italia comments on NFC:

"NFC is perhaps best known for its role in enabling mobile payments, but its applications go far beyond that. NFC represents an important innovation opportunity, and will facilitate a wide range of interesting services and applications for consumers, such as mobile ticketing, mobile couponing, the exchange of information and content, control access to cars, homes, hotels, offices car parks and much more."

To avoid fragmentation, the operators behind this agreement (among them are América Móvil, Axiata Group Berhad, Bharti, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, KT Corporation, MTS, Orange, Qtel Group, SK Telecom, SOFTBANK MOBILE, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telekom Austria Group, Telenor and Vodafone) have come to the conclusion that they must accept a single NFC standard, which will allow the end consumer "to benefit from NFC services around the world, regardless of operator network or device type".

Bernabe states:

"By uniting around a single standardised approach to mobile NFC and by collaborating across the entire ecosystem, our industry will continue to develop the compelling services that customers demand."

It's calculated that the total payment value for NFC globally will reach more than $150 billion (more than €110 billion) by 2015, and this only demonstrates how much it's to grow in importance in the coming years.

Do you plan to be an early NFC adopter?

source: GSM World via Phone Scoop

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