Tag: near field communication

NFC technology to be used for Wii U payments and in-game purchases

| February 8, 2013

NFC Technology Wii UThe prototypes for the devices that are enabled with these chips are expected to be released this year.

The Wii U GamePad already includes a function that is enabled with NFC technology, but most users aren’t even aware of it, as it is not extensively discussed on any level, except among developers and intense gamers who talk on the internst.

This is because it isn’t yet used for anything, at the moment.

Even Skylanders, which is shipped with its own reader for NFC technology, does not use it for any purpose. That said, even though it is coming to the forefront once again, most of the purposes for its use have not yet been finalized.

When discussing the topic with investors, Satoru Iwata, the CEO, said the NFC technology plans were not yet concrete.

Iwata said that there are two primary branches of ideas being considered by Nintendo for the use of NFC technology. The first is for toys in the style of Skylanders. The second is to be able to read credit cards so that purchases and payments can be made through the Wii U devices.

As a for instance of the first type of use for the NFC technology, Iwata said “For example, we can create cards and figurines with NFC and design our video games to work in conjunction with them.” He also stated that “Also, an increasing number of arcade games are utilizing IC cards which can read and write data in order to record users’ scores and it is possible for Wii U games to connect with them.”

There are a number of different developers who are working with Nintendo on this type of idea. Iwata said that by the end of 2013, it is likely that there will be something more finalized to show for it, and that some more solid examples will become available. As of yet, however, it appears that the company remains in the concept phase.

Other possible uses for NFC technology that have previously been mentioned by Nintendo include payment cards. In theory, this would make it possible to use an e-money card and either wave it over the device or tap it in order to make a mobile payment.

NFC technology based mobile payments system piloted in Brazil

| February 4, 2013

NFC Technology mobile payments BrazilTIM, a Brazilian carrier, has announced that it is beginning the new program using near field communication.

Wireless carrier from Brazil, TIM, has just revealed that it is launching a mobile payment pilot service that will be based on NFC technology in order to test the effectiveness within the region.

The program is running as a part of a partnership with Banco Itaú, a bank in Brazil.

It is also working with MasterCard, in addition to Redecard (a point of sale manufacturer) and Gemalto, which is a digital security provider. This joint venture pilot project will include a small beta testing group as well as the participation of 100 Rio de Janeiro and São Paolo restaurants.

The carrier has explained that they wish to learn more about the use and behaviors around NFC technology.

This pilot will help them to get to know the way that consumers wish to use NFC technology, what their expectations may be and how it works for restaurants. It will also provide the opportunity to train their employees internally and observe the type of challenges that they may expect as a result of a more extensive rollout.

Based on the results that they experience due throughout the length of the pilot program, TIM has said that it is considering expanding the use of NFC technology enabled mobile payments. This could mean that if the program is successful, the nearly 70 million subscribers at that company will have access to the service as soon as the second half of this year.

According to the TIM Brazil CMO, Roger Solé, “TIM has innovation as a strategic pillar and, once again, comes out ahead with the test of a technology that promises to be an important evolution of mobile. This partnership with Itau and our quest to evaluate the NFC model demonstrates our concern to offer solutions that bring more convenience to customers.”

The NFC technology enabled credit cards will be MasterCard branded. These will be used by the few participants in the pilot program. The over-the air account provisioning will be supplied by Gemalto. They will also be providing their well respected services management solutions. MasterCard PayPass tech will be used for making payments at the restaurant points of sale.