Orange, France announced a major rollout of NFC-based contactless mobile payment technology across its European footprint. Announced at a meeting with mobile handset manufacturers held in Paris this week, new NFC-enabled SIM cards will be introduced for Orange postpaid customers beginning in the second half of 2011. Its home market of France appears to be its initial focus, with the operator planning to equip at least 500,000 of its French customers with compatible devices by the end of next year.
Orange, told handset vendors that it is aiming for over half of new smartphone models that it buys to be compatible with the technology. “Orange is the first European operator to make such a clear commitment to the development of mobile contactless services,” said CEO Stephane Richard in a statement. "To make it a reality for our customers, Orange is working with other operators, banks, retailers, transport and service providers to create an eco-system which will stimulate the development of services adapted to everyone’s needs."
Orange said the new technology will enable users to validate transport tickets, pay for concerts or make purchases in local shops by swiping their phone over an electronic reader. Coupled with mobile applications, mobile contactless services can also give users information such as transport timetables, opening hours or directions. In France, the latest announcement builds upon the ‘Cityzi’ commercial payments pilot running since May 2010 in Nice, in which Orange is involved.
This service will be launched commercially across France in 2011, making it one of the world’s first mass-market commercial contactless services. The 'Player One Cityzi' handset will be sold across France from January, and further models will follow.
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