The UK’s Vodafone, O2 and Everything Everywhere (Orange and T-Mobile) networks have collaborated on an NFC joint-venture that will put the squeeze on businesses to start offering NFC as a payment option for customers, and allow customers of any network with any NFC-equipped phone to use the service. They’re hopeful it’ll launch sometime before next year. [Everything Everywhere]
“Me! Me! Memememe!” cries HP, as they realise everyone around them has either signed deals or developed their own NFC services. According to BusinessWeek, both tablets and phones with NFC are being planned by HP, and could be available by late-2011. [BusinessWeek via BGR]
So hang on – not only do punters have to shell out hundreds (or even thousands) to get to London, plus however much a ringside ticket will cost, and now they’re being guilt-tripped into buying a novelty handset with NFC? It’s certainly a “souvenir”, I suppose.
Starting in Turkey, iPhone users will soon be able to use Visa’s NFC payment system at one of the 40,000 cash registers signed up to the scheme. For now those iPhones will need an iCarte dongle, plus the compatible app.
Near field communication isn’t anything new, but according to BusinessWeek, Google wants in – maybe even this year. It’d let users swipe their phones on a checkout reader, paying for small purchases automatically, much like the Nexus S does already. [BusinessWeek]
