The software giant has expanded its Microsoft Tag platform to include support for NFC tags as well as QR codes and its own tag technology, ahead of the expected release of the first Windows Phone NFC devices in 2012. More
The core trusted service management (TSM) platform to be used by the US NFC joint venture between AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless will be provided by France-based Gemalto. More
The coffee giant is using NFC-enabled posters to promote a rewards campaign that will see everyone who checks in to Starbucks via social network Jiepang getting a voucher for a free drink upgrade — but only if a total of 30,000 check-ins is reached by the Christmas deadline. More
Adding NFC temperature sensors to cases of wine “will motivate importers to verify quality conditions, give retailers more information to share at point of sale, and lead consumers to check the quality of what they are buying,” says the wine tracking specialist’s founder. More
The UK will be the next country to get Google Wallet, following its US launch in October 2011, according to Les Echos... More
The trial will see five hundred bank staff using BlackBerry NFC smartphones to make MasterCard PayPass payments, and the technology used will in future also support the country’s national transportation ticketing technology. More
“Recent reports that Verizon is blocking Google Wallet on our devices are false,” says Verizon. “We are continuing our commercial discussions with Google on this issue.” More
A new survey from KPMG has found that 41% of shoppers now use their phone to research products and services in-store and consumers are increasingly willing to share data with advertisers if it saves them money — but concerns over mobile payments security and privacy issues remain. More
Australian grocery giant Coles is to upgrade its Ingenico point-of-sale terminals to support contactless payments, CNet Australia reports... More
Japanese entertainment ticketing agency Boardwalk, whose shareholders include mobile network operator NTT Docomo, has announced plans to upgrade its system to support NFC... More
US-based vending machine technology provider Cantaloupe Systems has equipped 6,000 units in San Francisco, Chicago and the mid-Atlantic region to accept Google Wallet, AllthingsD reports, while Chicago-based Mark Vend plans to convert half its 2,000 machines in the first half of 2012... More
“Advent International hopes to help grow Oberthur Technologies through potential external acquisitions which may further enhance the technological development and complement existing know-how,” says the investment firm. More
Telecoms research institute ETRI has established a standard way for Korean merchants to deliver receipts to NFC mobile phones, allowing stores to cut out the need to print paper sales slips. More
The mobile banking platform provider will use $18m of new funding for “the development of new payments-related mobile products and services targeted at financial institutions and mobile network operators.” More
The BlackBerry maker is to showcase the potential of the NFC functionality in its latest smartphones via smart posters and tokens distributed by street crews in Australia. More
The handset maker’s lead delegate to the NFC Forum and its head of NFC business development for the Americas have now left the company. The UK-based VP of industry collaborations will leave at the end of December. More
Six hundred US financial institutions that use mFoundry’s mobile banking platform will be able to add NFC payments to their apps, following a deal signed between the technology provider and payments network MasterCard. More
The telecoms giant, which runs the Movistar network in Spain and Latin America as well as O2 in Europe and Vivo in Brazil, has announced it will use a central trusted service management solution provided by Giesecke & Devrient to roll out NFC services in Europe next year. More
Dickson Chu, the high profile head of digital networks at Google Wallet financial services partner Citi, has left the banking group to head up a new merchant solutions division at local deals provider LivingSocial... More
Mobile network operators KPN and Vodafone have signed a cooperation agreement with bankers ABN Amro, ING and Rabobank — but T-Mobile has pulled out of the ‘Sixpack’ partnership and will follow its own route to market. More