Tag: nfc technology security

Study predicts the rise of NFC technology in mobile commerce

| March 28, 2013

NFC Technology on the riseNFC technology beginning to gain more traction in mobile commerce

NFC technology has begun to lose some of its luster with consumers in regards to mobile commerce, but that does not mean that the technology is going away any time soon. Though many consumers have reservations concerning the use of NFC technology in mobile commerce, NFC remains one of the cornerstones of mobile payments. The technology enables mobile devices to conduct transactions for goods and services and helped expose people to the concept of mobile commerce. Despite the importance of the technology, NFC-enabled mobile devices are still quite rare. This may soon change.

Study shows that more NFC-enabled devices are incoming

A new study from ABI Research, a leading market research firm, suggests that the number  of NFC-enabled devices around the world will surpass 500 million in 2014. The study predicts that at least 285 million NFC devices will be shipped around the world this year, with heavy shipments being seen in large markets like the U.S. and some parts of the Asian Pacific. Mobile device makers are currently the strongest supporter of NFC-enabled devices and are expected to labor intensely to show that these devices can be useful, especially in the realm of mobile commerce.

Galaxy S III helps promote NFC and shed light on the challenges it faces

Currently, the most popular NFC-enabled mobile device is the Samsung Galaxy S III. This smartphone is equipped with NFC technology that has been lauded as an ideal way to share digital content among consumers. The fact that the smartphone can be used to participate in mobile commerce has received relatively little attention since its launch last year. The Galaxy S III has, of course, been used for mobile payments, but it also represents the challenges that device makers have with promoting the mobile commerce capabilities of NFC-enabled devices, namely raising awareness and encouraging consumers to actually pay for goods using their smartphones or tablets.

NFC technology may not be ideal for mobile commerce

The study from ABI Research shows that device makers are ready to embrace NFC technology, but mobile network operators may have more trouble supporting the technology and its use in mobile commerce. NFC technology has no inherent security features, as it acts simply as a transmission technology capable of sending and receiving digital information. Therefore, the security measures needed to keep consumers safe are the responsibility of device makers and mobile network operators. Network operators have, thus far, shown little interest in incorporating significantly more robust, and more expensive, security measures in order to support NFC technology.

Secure Element Manager wins Visa approval

| January 21, 2013

secure element manager visa approvalSecure Element Manager has been approved by Visa for the BlackBerry 10

Leading technology company, and creator of the BlackBerry platform, Research In Motion has received approval from Visa for its NFC-based mobile commerce platform, known as Secure Element Manager. The platform is designed to be used with the company’s next generation BlackBerry 10 device. Thus, owners of the BlackBerry 10 will be able to make mobile payments for products thanks to the device’s support of NFC technology and the approval for the system granted by Visa.

Platform may help with security concerns

Visa has shown a great deal of interest in mobile commerce in recent months. The company has become one of the major players in this emerging industry through its various partnerships and the services it provides mobile consumers. The Secure Element Manager helps address one of Visa’s most significant concerns when it comes to mobile commerce: Security. As such, the platform has won the support of Visa, which will allow its customers with BlackBerry 10 devices to use their accounts to make mobile payments.

Security continues to be a problem for mobile commerce

Security has long been an issue that has made mobile commerce somewhat unpopular. NFC technology itself does not boast of any latent security features. As such, many believe that the technology can be easily exploited. If NFC technology is exploited, a consumer’s financial information may be at risk of theft, creating a serious problem for those involved in mobile commerce. Until recently, there have been few efforts to bolster the security of mobile commerce.

Secure Element Manage meets Visa expectations

The Secure Element Manager not only helps keep the financial information of consumers safe, it also acts as a management platform for various mobile commerce systems. The platform meets the strict requirements that Visa has adopted concerning mobile commerce systems, making it one of the few systems that Visa is willing to support. Moreover, it is the only mobile commerce platform for the BlackBerry that has the full support of Research In Motion.