SK Telecom introduces NFC enabled SIM cards

SK Telecom , a Korea based telecom operator , has just introduced its next generation USIM cards which add NFC capabilities to phones lacking it. NFC is used to enable cell phone based payments , mobile advertisements and even peer to peer communications.

The USIM will perform normal SIM card duties while also adding a 13.56MHz near field communication antenna and an NFC controller onto the same chip. SK Telecom is a major proponent of NFC technology and has made it a requirement for all future smartphones which it will stock.

“The sharp increase in the number of handsets that offer NFC function through NFC on USIM is expected to fuel the spread of NFC-based services and lead to the development of diverse related services,” says SK Telecom.

[ Source - NFC World Via - @JoaoLuisC ]

Photo Sharing through NFC in Nokia Symbian Belle Phones

We had the chance to check out the NFC feature in the newly announced Symbian Belle Phones. You can transfer photos from one phone to another by merely tapping the phones together.  Watch the video below to see the technology in action. In the first part of the video a photo is clicked with a Nokia 600 and is sent to another device via NFC or Near Field Communication.  In the second part a wallpaper is shared in a similar fashion.

NFC is expected to go main stream in the coming years and looks like Nokia might benefit from the early mover advantage. The Google Nexus S Android phone also supports NFC. The iPhone 5 is rumored to sport NFC.

The application of NFC is not limited to file sharing but can be used for mobile payments , gaming and as authentication tokens. One of the biggest deployments of NFC is in Japan and you can pay for your train fare with your phone.

If you interested to know more about NFC head here

HTC Stunning to Hit China Next Month, HTC’s First NFC Device

HTC is no doubt one of the leading smartphone brands in the world, and they launched some amazing devices in past few months. Now they are planning to launch their first ever NFC enabled device and it will hit the biggest mobile market in the world, China. It will be launched as HTC Stunning and it will be launched officially next month. With this device, users will be able to make payments through China UnionPay’s credit cards. HTC Stunning features a 4-inch display and the device looks a lot like the HTC Incredible S. President of HTC Engineering and Operations Fred Liu said that:

“HTC believes that mobile payments will become an indispensable function for smartphones, and we expect to jointly establish a complete industry chain of mobile payments based on such a strategic alliances”

So our friends in China, are you planning to get one next month?

Source: Asia Droid