Manchester City Football Club is to trial new mobile
phone technology giving fans access to their stadium and pay for
goods at club retailers.
The Near Field Communication (NFC) technology trial, to be run
by electronics giant Philips, will see around 100 Manchester City’s
season ticket holders using NFC-enabled Nokia handsets to get into
the stadium.
The handsets can be swiped against a reader to act as an
electronic ticket or to allow purchases in the stadium’s retail
outlets. The devices also channel information back to the club’s
marketing team.
The City of Manchester stadium is one of several in the UK to
have Philips Mifare infrastructure – which supports the electronic
access system – built into it.
Five of Manchester City’s premiership rivals – Arsenal,
Liverpool, West Ham, Reading and Wigan – also have the built-in
Mifare infrastructure.
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