NFC-enabled SIM cards headed for mobile phones

The GSMA have announced that 45 of the world’s major carriers have committed to supporting SIM-based Near Field Communications (NFC). Among the carriers to pledge their support of the new standard are AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, China Mobile and China Unicom, Vodafone, and Telefonica. In making the announcement, the GSMA have now published (PDF) a new set of industry specifications to further accelerate adoption of the technology.

"NFC is an important innovation for consumers around the world,” said Franco Bernabe, Chairman of the GSMA. “While it is perhaps best known for enabling secure mobile payments, it will also enable a wide range of innovative and exciting new services and applications, such as mobile ticketing, entertainment services, secure access to hotels or cars, loyalty schemes and couponing, among others."

According to research firm Strategy Analytics, 1.5 billion SIM-based handsets will have been sold between 2010 and 2016. Further research by ABI Research indicates that 85 percent of all new point of sale terminals (EFTPOS) that will ship in 2016 will be NFC enabled.

By Electronista Staff

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Verizon, nfc, AT&T, China Mobile, T-Mobile, Vodafone, China Unicom, mobile phones, Telefonica