Near Field Communications - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• CBA to launch Android Pay by end of year

  Commonwealth Bank of Australia currently only offers tap and pay Android phone payments through its own digital wallet app.

• Updated: Mobile payments in Australia: state of the banks

  Major Australian banks have made mobile payments a priority tech initiative and are in various stages of rolling out technology that lets customers pay with smartphones. Commonwealth Bank and Westpac are so far leading the pack, but ANZ Bank and National Australia Bank (NAB) say they are planning to make their own moves soon.

• Apple’s NFC iPhone ‘tipping point’ for mobile payments

  Apple has finally added near field communications (NFC) capabilities with its latest iPhone 6, which is likely to be a tipping point for increased uptake of mobile payment technology, says Telsyte analyst Rodney Gedda.
  

• CommBank unveils enhanced mobile app

  Not to be outdone by one of its fiercest competitors, Commonwealth Bank (CBA) today unveiled an enhanced app using near-field communication (NFC) technology that allows users to bank and pay for products and services with their mobile phone.
  

• Students explore NFC's potential in search for wireless technology's killer app

  Students at the University of Technology, Sydney this week showcased ideas for using the short-range Near Field Communications (NFC) wireless technology present in many of the current generation of smartphones.

• Look, touch and feel: How your mobile interface will morph in 2012

  The mobile user interface is set for a range of changes in the next 12-24 months, creating new modes for users to interact with their devices, and with other devices nearby and network-based services.

• CommBank updates mobile apps, eyes social payments

  The CommonWealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has updated is suite of mobile banking applications with native apps for the iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone and the browser-based HTML5, with technology for near field communications (NFC) and social payments on the way.

• Google debuts Android 2.3 'Gingerbread', eyes tablets

  The latest iteration of Google's Android mobile operating system has arrived in version 2.3 – codenamed 'Gingerbread' – with support for larger, tablet-sized screens.

• Android will give NFC a boost, but challenges remain

  Android-based smartphones with NFC (Near Field Communication) will help turn mobile phones into wallets, but there are issues that have to be solved before that happens, according to analysts.

• NFC sees light at end of the tunnel with transit projects

  Short range communication using NFC (Near Field Communication) circuitry embedded in mobile phones has had a difficult journey to market, but it may soon see light at the end of the tunnel with increasing adoption for city transit projects, according to analysts.

• Broadcom sets its sights on NFC market with acquisition

  Wireless chip maker Broadcom plans to acquire Innovision Research & Technology, which specializes in short-range data communication, for approximately US$47.5 million in cash, Broadcom said on Thursday.

• IPhone mobile payments trial to begin soon

  Visa expects soon to begin trials of contactless payments system for Apple's iPhone, using a special case for the phone developed by DeviceFidelity.

• Mobile banking faces uphill battle in mature markets

  The mobile phone is turning into the platform of choice for banking in emerging markets. In developed markets, however, the phone has struggled to compete with existing payment methods, and the challenges aren't going away in 2010.

• Money transfers to become hottest mobile app, says Gartner

  Money transfers and payments over mobile phones will be among the top 10 most important mobile applications by 2012, market research company Gartner said on Wednesday.

• Nokia enters increasingly crowded mobile money market

  Nokia is getting ready to launch Nokia Money, which will offer basic financial services on mobile phones, it said on Wednesday.