Reuters is reporting that Sony from Japan and Netherlands-based NXP Semiconductors (formerly Philips) will create a joint venture to “plan, develop, produce and market a secure chip that will include both companies’ contactless chip card formats: Mifare and FeliCa”. These are reportedly two of the most widely used formats in secure contactless chips (using Near Field Communications (NFC)) and the JV is expected to get going midway through next year.
Far more important is the support the move is getting from operators…”14 operators including China Mobile, Vodafone, Cingular — owned by AT&T Inc and BellSouth Corp — and Telefonica would support one common NFC format on the mobile phones they distribute for their networks”. The good news for the rest of the industry is that other contactless card operating systems and applications will also be supported by the joint venture.
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