Tag: mobile technology

Gemalto to aid in mobile commerce initiative from China Telecom

| June 13, 2014

Gemalto chosen by China Telecom to assist in launch of new NFC SIM card

Gemalto, a leading digital security company and applications developer, has been chosen by China Telecom to assist in the launch of its new UpTeq Multi-Tenant NFC SIM card. The telecommunications company is looking to establish a stronger presence in the mobile commerce space and may only be able to accomplish this through its adoption of NFC technology. NFC currently makes up the backbone of the mobile commerce world, but many companies have yet to fully embrace the technology.

SIM card to bring NFC capabilities to smartphones in order to promote mobile payments

Gemalto will support the commercialization of China Telecom’s new NFC SIM card. This card will be able to provide smartphones that are not inherently equipped with NFC technology the ability to participate in mobile commerce. Devices using the SIM card will be able to make use of a wide range of applications that make use of NFC as well, including shopping and entertainment applications.

Consumers throughout China are becoming more mobile as smartphones become more available

Mobile Commerce NFCSmartphone penetration in China has surpassed 66%, with more than 3 million mobile point-of-sale systems set up throughout the country. The vast majority of these systems are equipped with NFC technology and can only be used by devices that are NFC-capable. Currently, these devices are still relatively rare in the global market. While some device makers have plans to launch NFC-enabled smartphones in the coming years, others are looking to bring NFC capabilities to current devices without having to force consumers to wait for or purchase new devices in the future.

Companies are looking to take advantage of the growing mobile market in China

China is currently considered one of the most active markets when it comes to mobile commerce. The country’s largest retail organizations have begun to focus on the mobile field quite heavily, hoping to engage an ever growing consumer base that is relying more heavily on mobile technology. Companies that provide convenient services, such as making NFC-enabled SIM cards more available, are likely to win favor with mobile consumers.

Fashion may dictate the future of wearable technology

| June 12, 2014

Fashion is playing a role in people’s interest in wearable devices

Acclaimed technology firm Intel has claimed that wearable devices are as much about fashion as they are about technology. Wearable technology is beginning to see a great deal of exposure and new devices that offer a wide range of features are finally becoming commercially available. It may be years before these devices become as popular as smartphones and tablets, and their popularity may be intrinsically tied to their appeal as fashion accessories.

Many people are concerned about their fashion choices

Fashion happens to be a serious matter for many people. A large portion of the population spends a great deal of time thinking about what to wear and how their clothing and accessory choices will affect how they are seen. This has been something of a concern for many people for centuries and fashion has often directed the course of technology, especially when it comes to using technology publically. Cell phones initially won favor among consumers because they were both convenient and fashionable to use at the time. Smartphones quickly won popularity because of their more discreet nature and the fact that they served as a sort of status symbol when they were first introduced.

Wearable devices are too cumbersome for most people

Wearable Technology - FashionIntel notes that many people currently see wearable devices as “geeky” or ugly. People are unwilling to use these devices because many of them are cumbersome in design and do not lend themselves well to people’s fashion tastes. While some of these devices may be very attractive from a technology standpoint, they are not so from a fashion perspective, and that may be the reason why people are not as excited for these devices as tech firms want them to be.

Intel contest aims to reward developers that take fashion into account

Intel has launched its own competition hoping to encourage tech developers to take fashion into more consideration. The company is offering a $500,000 grand prize for those participating in its Build It Development Track. The contest is meant to promote wearable devices that are both environmentally friendly and attractive from a fashion perspective.