A new mobile phone technology called near field communication (NFC) will begin to replace traditional wallets and purses from 2011, according to a new research report.
Banks and mobile network operators will both be seeking to make money from the introduction of the new mobile payments technology, the report predicts, and are set to go head to head in a bid to gain control of the market.
"NFC technology will be used to replace everything from credit cards and loyalty cards to bus and train tickets, library cards, door keys and even cash," says Sarah Clark, author of 'NFC: The Road to Commercial Deployment'. "What hasn't yet been decided, however, is who will win the battle to provide consumers with their new hi-tech mobile wallets."
The UK, France, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Taiwan and Korea will be the first countries to get the new mobile wallets, the report predicts. The US, Canada, Spain, Germany, Italy, Norway, the Czech Republic, Romania and Australia are also expected to be early adopters of NFC.
Businesses ranging from retail and travel to fast food, consumer goods, tourism and entertainment are all expected to be affected by the arrival of NFC services. Government and educational service providers will also be impacted by its arrival.
"Decisions made in 2010 will be critical in determining which mobile network operators, which banks, which industry suppliers and which service providers become the leaders in the field," she adds.
"Ultimately, only two or three companies in each country will succeed in building a major new business providing NFC services to businesses and consumers. The winners could be banks or mobile operators, or even a new entrant to the market."
Consumers with NFC-enabled phones will be able to simply touch their phone to a 'smart' poster or product label containing an RFID chip to sign up for a loyalty programme, collect a money-off coupon, download a trailer for a new movie, access the latest travel information or go straight to a product's website to read customer ratings and reviews and compare prices.
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