Telefónica selects Giesecke & Devrient to deliver seamless NFC solutions across Europe

Telefónica selects Giesecke & Devrient to deliver seamless NFC solutions across Europe

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.

Vodafone Acquires Bluefish Communications

Vodafone Acquires Bluefish Communications

Vodafone Global Enterprise – the business within Vodafone which manages the communications needs of its largest multinational customers – is strengthening its professional services arm through the acquisition of European IT and communications consultancy, Bluefish Communications Ltd.

Bluefish will form the nucleus of a new Unified Communications and Collaboration practice within Vodafone Global Enterprise, which will focus on advising multinational companies on how to get the most from their mobile, fixed line and IT services, as well as offering guidance on the adoption of cloud services.

The practice will also advise large corporate customers on how new collaboration services, such as video conferencing and presence awareness, can boost their business’s performance. Unified Communications seeks to make fixed and mobile communications more efficient, optimise and reduce costs, and enable better collaboration between employees, business partners and clients. Bluefish has been recognised as one of the fastest growing technology companies in both the UK and Europe. The acquisition will expand Bluefish’s geographical reach as it becomes part of Vodafone Global Enterprise’s global team.

Further services on offer to Vodafone’s multinational customers will include:

- An audit of existing infrastructure and future communication needs.

- Advice on moving to a communications strategy that spans mobile, fixed line and IT.

- Management of system integrators and vendors to ensure an effective and unified communications network closely aligned to business strategy.

Nick Jeffery, CEO of Vodafone Global Enterprise said: “The acquisition of Bluefish further develops our expertise in unified communications and broadens the range of services we can offer to our multinational customers. Having the right information at the right time, in the right place, has never been more important to business success and this acquisition will enhance our ability to advise multinationals on how to maximise value from their communications.”

The value of the gross assets being acquired is £3.14m.

Telefónica presents its vision for smart cities based on M2M solutions

Telefónica presents its vision for smart cities based on M2M solutions

Madrid, 29 November 2011.- Barcelona opens its doors today to the SmartCity Expo, the first European event with a global focus on smart cities. This is a forum in which companies in the sector, government bodies and research centres can share plans to drive sustainable economic and environmental growth in cities, as well as provide solutions to address growing population density.

In 2011, half of the world's population lives in cities and this number is expected to increase to 70% by 2050. Furthermore, by 2016, 30% will live in megacities, known as such because they will have a population of more than 25 million people.

With this in mind, Telefónica envisages wide use of ICT from ubiquitous communications and sensor networks to new procedures involving interaction between machines (M2M solutions). Integration and interoperability will be necessary for the solutions that are developed to support city infrastructures. Global sponsor of the fair, Telefónica’s value proposal focuses on a combination of key components like energy, the economy, looking after the environment, health and safety.

Within this framework, Telefónica has presented today in Barcelona its vision of the development of future smart cities based on M2M (machine to machine connection) services, such as Smart Building, Smart Grid, Electric Vehicles and Telemedicine solutions, among others.

Telefónica is in the midst of the process of transforming itself to be a frontrunner in the new digital environment with the creation of Telefónica Digital, a new entity focused on seizing opportunities arising in the digital world and helping Telefónica grow through research and development, venture capital initiatives, global alliances and digital services like cloud computing, mobile advertising and M2M solutions.