Inside Secure has announced an expanded partnership with ZTE to integrate its NFC technology into the Chinese handset maker’s GSM and next-generation Android-based TD-SCDMA smart phone platform.

The deal will see ZTE using Inside’s MicroRead NFC controller chip and its companion Open NFC  protocol stack in its phones. ZTE is a top five handset vendor globally and sold 90 million units in 2010. The company has recently started making inroads in Western Europe, where ZTE reported its fastest growth, as well as in Japan and the US.

“Both smartphones and feature phones are essential to our long-term success in the global handset market, and NFC is quickly becoming an important component of these platforms,” says Wang Yongzhong, general manager of GSM and UMTS handset products at ZTE. “Our ongoing partnership with Inside Secure gives us access to mature, proven NFC technologies and superior support that enables us to bring our handsets to market quickly and cost effectively.”

“Today’s announcement is the latest result of our long-term relationship with ZTE in developing NFC solutions for their handset offerings, which now cover GSM 2G and TD-SCDMA 3G networks,” adds Inside Secure’s Simon Hu. “We look forward to strengthening our partnership with ZTE to provide best-of-breed NFC solutions as they develop more high-value handsets and continue to expand their operations throughout China and other regions.”

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