Gemalto, FET Team up for NFC Trial in Taiwan
October 12, 2007
Gemalto, a Finland-based provider of digital security solutions, announced on October 9 that it has established a partnership with Taiwan's FET (FarEasTone Telecommunications). The two companies plan to collaborate on Asia's first mobile contactless SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)-based NFC (Near Field Communications) trial.
Slated to begin in November, the SWP (Single Wire Protocol)-based trial is part of the "Pay-Buy Mobile" initiative proposed by the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) Association in pursuit of a common global approach to NFC applications. In addition to contactless payment via NFC-enabled mobile devices, FET subscribers can also access various services provided by the SWP-based SIM card via a web browser embedded in the said devices.
The two companies expect to extend their NFC service to cover chain convenience stores, department stores, vending machines, and railway transportation in 2008.