Motorola is the latest company to move towards adding a
payment function based on Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology
to its line of mobile phones.
NFC is a short-range wireless technology that can be used for a
variety of functions, such as payment, identification and
communication.
When used for communications, NFC can allow a handset to
wirelessly transfer a digital photograph to an NFC-enabled
television or download digital music files from a computer.
The technology is also used in contactless smart cards for
payment and transport systems in Japan, Singapore and Hong
Kong.
Motorola plans to begin trials of NFC-enabled phones in the US
later this year, the company said. The phones will be used with
MasterCard International's PayPass payment service, it said.
Motorola did not specify where the trials will take place.
NFC-based payment functions have already been announced by
several handset vendors, including Panasonic Mobile Communications,
Sharp and Fujitsu.
They will make products compatible with a payment system
developed by Felica Networks, a joint venture between NTT DoCoMo
and Sony.
Nokia and Samsung Electronics have also announced plans to
incorporate NFC-based payment functions in their respective handset
lines.
Sumner Lemon writes for IDG News Service