Tag: NFC SIM cards

Morpho NFC-enabled SIM cards could make mobile payments more available

Morpho, a developer of SIM cards for mobile devices, has announced that it will be supplying a new brand of NFC-enabled SIM cards to the MobiPag project, which is based in Portugal. The MobiPag project comes from a consortium of Portuguese companies that have a strong interest in mobile payments. These companies are eager to see mobile payments become more common throughout the country and believe that NFC SIM cards may be the best way to see this hope become a reality.

NFC technology continues attracting criticism

NFC technology is one of the most important tools in the world of mobile commerce. Most of the world’s mobile payments platforms have been based on this technology in the past. The technology itself is relatively simple, as it allows for digital information to be collected and transmitted over short distances. NFC technology has been the target of harsh criticism for its uses in mobile payments recently, largely due to the low availability of NFC-enabled mobile devices.

NFC SIM cards could help draw more people to mobile payments

Because most mobile payments services are based on NFC technology, only mobile devices that are equipped with the technology can make use of these services. NFC-enabled mobile devices are still quite rare throughout the world, effectively limiting the number of people that can participate in mobile commerce in any significant way. An NFC-enabled SIM card could solve this problem, however, as such a card would give a mobile device NFC capabilities without actually being equipped with the technology.

Simple solution may yield powerful results

Morpho believes that its NFC-enabled SIM cards will help draw more consumers into mobile payments through the MobiPag project. These consumers will be able to make payments with nothing more than their mobile device thanks to these SIM cards. Overall, this solution may lead to a major surge in Portuguese mobile payments that could establish the country as one of the most active mobile commerce hubs in the world.

Vodafone to launch new mobile commerce application in 2013

Vodafone Australia, one of the country’s leading mobile network operators, has teamed with Visa to launch the Vodafone SmartPass, which will be available to consumers next year. Vodafone has taken note of the growing interest Australian consumers are showing in mobile commerce and is taking steps to provide consumers with new service that align with the demands of customers. Visa is also keen to meet the rising demand for mobile commerce and has been working to develop a platform that consumers can use to make payments with their smart phones.

Application allows for mobile purchases

The Vodafone SmartPass is a mobile application developed for the Android platform. The application allows users to make purchases using the financial information associated with a prepaid account. Though the Vodafone SmartPass can access the information associated with this account, the application does not create the account itself. Consumers will need to attain an NFC-enabled SIM card from Vodafone in order for the application to work properly.

NFC SIM card adds extra layer of security

The NFC SIM card contains a blank account that can be filled with cash from consumers. This is meant to add an extra layer of security to the platform, addressing some of the concerns consumers have had recently regarding the overall safety of mobile commerce. The prepaid account is not capable of drawing money from an existing bank account. As such, consumers will need to manually refill their accounts if they make regular purchases, or they can set up a specific date when their account will be filled automatically, per approval.

Scarcity of NFC-devices may slow growth of mobile commerce

Minor purchases can be made with a simple wave of a smart phone, while larger purchases will require additional authorization. Vodafone and Visa expect that mobile commerce will continue to generate hype and become a more popular practice amongst consumers. NFC-enabled mobile devices are still rare, however, so the growth of mobile commerce may be slowed until these devices become more available to consumers around the world.