Nokia Introduces NFC Phone

From MySanDe Nokia announces the world's first NFC enabled mobile productfor contactless payment and ticketing.

In my opinion, this is huge and will be the catalyst for M-commerce.

It will turn your cellphone into a credit card.

I have a piece coming out that outlines all of the technologies that will play pivotal role in M-Commerce.

ESPOO, Finland, February 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nokia today introduced a new product for secure mobile contactless payments and ticketing. The world’s first Near Field Communications (NFC) product for payment and ticketing will be an enhanced version of the already announced Nokia NFC shell for Nokia 3220 phone. It delivers the promise of NFC based services, covering service discovery, payment and ticketing. The Nokia NFC shell will provide the first opportunity for consumers, mobile operators and service providers to benefit from an easy, touch-based access to services and content.

"Visa is always looking for exciting, first-rate innovations that advance the field of contactless payment and we are pleased to join forces with Nokia in this pioneering effort," said Jim Lee, senior vice president, Product Technology and Standards, Visa International. "The development of the Nokia NFC shell serves as a natural extension of Visa’s contactless card and phone programs around the world. Moreover, it aligns well with Visa’s commitment to enabling payments anywhere, anytime, through any device."

We are pleased that Nokia is developing technology that will support MasterCard(R) PayPass(TM) contactless payment technology in a mobile handset. This is a natural extension to the successful PayPass market trial that we carried out together in Dallas, Texas in 2003. MasterCard’s research has consistently shown that consumers are interested in using their mobile phones for making convenient payments in the future," said Richard Fletcher, senior vice president, Mobile and Wireless Centre of Excellence, MasterCard International.

The Nokia NFC shell for payment and ticketing will be available in mid 2005. The product will be distributed to consumers through operators, and as such it will not be generally available as a traditional enhancement.