Nice to become France’s NFC City

The city council has won funding from the French government for a ‘pre-commercial’ NFC test in partnership with three mobile operators plus transport operator Veolia and the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis.

CITY OF REFERENCE: Nice has won government funding to conduct a 'pre-commercial' NFC trial
CITY OF REFERENCE: Nice has won government funding to conduct a ‘pre-commercial’ NFC trial

Nice has won government funding to become the ‘city of reference’ for a pre-commercial phase of NFC testing, involving the local transport operator and three mobile operators.

To begin with, from the Spring of 2010, 3,000 residents will be able to pay for tram and bus tickets and get information on routes and times using NFC phones. Additional NFC-based services are also due to be available at local museums, cultural events and on the campus of the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis. Further NFC functionality is expected to be rolled out gradually, in a bid to turn Nice into France’s ‘NFC City’.

The initiative is being led by Nice city council, whose deputy mayor, Christian Estrosi, is the driving force behind the project. Bus and tram operator Veolia Transport and three French mobile operators — Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom — are all to take part in the pilot along with the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis. The French banks are also expected to take part in the project, although none have formally signed up to date.

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