Madrid, Munich, 2nd December, 2011 – Telefónica’s new Digital unit and Giesecke & Devrient have reached an agreement to establish a single European-wide platform for Near Field Communication (NFC) services. By the terms of this agreement, Giesecke & Devrient will provide the Trusted Service Manager (TSM) technology required for this solution, such as over-the-air (OTA) transfer and personalization of NFC applications.Giesecke & Devrient will also deliver the life cycle management of Telefónica’s NFC application platform and will be one of the suppliers of NFC-enabled SIM cards.
Telefónica will introduce new NFC-based services,made available to end users through a wallet application, starting with deployment in Europe over the next few months. This new NFC management platform on Telefónica’s network will also be made available to third-party service providers, including financial institutions, transit operators, and loyalty partners.
Giesecke & Devrient’s TSM solution comprises a whole range of functions to manage NFC services over the air via the wireless network. These include administration, personalization, and software updates for NFC-enabled SIM cards.
Joaquín Mata, Global Head of Financial Services at Telefónica Digital said: 'The final goal for Telefónica is to build an open NFC ecosystem ensuring interoperability and offering service providers a friendly environment to deliver NFC services reaching a large number of mobile subscribers. Giesecke & Devrient is one of Telefónica’s strategic partners in building this new ecosystem and has the required technological know-how to turn NFC services in a commercial reality.'
Michael Kuemmerle, member of the Management Board and Group Executive of Mobile Security at G&D, said: 'Our innovative TSM solutions give network operators and service providers a way to introduce innovative NFC services quickly, easily, and securely. The wireless network offers a great deal of flexibility in the administration of these services. We are very pleased that Telefónica has chosen to work with us as their trusted partner; their decision underlines our global technology and service leadership in this promising market.'
NFC-enabled devices can communicate wirelessly over a range of a few centimeters. This makes the technology suitable for a host of new services, such as payment with cell phones, access to public transportation or redemption of coupons in loyalty programmes.
Telefonica has been working hard on NFC technology the last years to acquire all the necessary expertise and know-how and be one of the industry leaders on this field. After running a number of successful commercial trials in different locations like Sitges (for payments), Pilsen (for transportation), Distrito NFC (with employees covering several use cases) and other locations, now is the right time to plan a wide deployment of NFC services.
Financial services is a key focus area for Telefónica’s new Digital division which has been formed to lead its growth in the new digital world. Through a combination of research and development, partnership, investment and acquisition, Telefónica Digital will bring innovative products and services to market that allow it to drive continued growth in the core telecommunications market, as well as in new digital service areas.
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