Håkan Djuphammar, Ericsson's Vice President of Systems Architecture, has told delegates at this week’s Ericsson Business Innovation Forum that he expects Near Field Communication to be built into every new mobile phone from next year. Mobiles with RFID tags could be used for mobile payments, as an electronic key or as a concert ticket. He said Ericsson is currently working with a utility company that wants to update its unmanned facilities to work with RFID-equipped mobiles.
And in other Ericsson news, the company is getting a new CEO next year. Current Chief Financial Officer and Executive VP Hans Vestberg is taking the helm from 1st January 2010. Current CEO Carl-Henric Svanberg is leaving to become chairman of BP.[Sources: CNET.co.uk; Ericsson press release]