A group of mobile network operators - including 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 committed to launching commercial Near Field Communications services in select markets by next year.
Although the technology is best known for enabling mobile payments, NFC can also be used for other services such as mobile ticketing, mobile couponing, information exchange and access to buildings or vehicles.
The GSMA has said it’ll develop the necessary certification and testing standards to ensure global interoperability of NFC services.
Franco Bernabè, Chairman of the GSMA and CEO of Telecom Italia, said “As we have seen, the adoption of different approaches to NFC will only serve to fragment the market. 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.”