Articles explaining NFC Page 8

eTicket technology brings more than just a switch from paper tickets to smart cards, with new developments bringing both challenges and benefits for the future

VDV eTicket Service is the operator of the VDV core application, which is now the standard platform used for eTicketing in Germany, benefiting millions of people mainly in urban areas. It sees itself primarily as the system developer, rather than administrator, and has new initiatives planned to allow for use of NFC smartphones, increased safety management and international standardisation. ‘RFID im Blick’ talked with Niels-Zeino Mahmalat, Managing Director at VDV eTicket Service, on the challenges and future for eTicketing systems.

Niels Zeino-Mahmalat, Managing Director, VDV eTicket Service, in interview with ‘RFID im Blick’

RFID technology leader SMARTRAC has announced a new version of its popular NFC BullsEye tag featuring Sony’s FeliCa Lite-S chip. This Sony-based SMARTRAC BullsEye tag provides 224 bytes of user memory, and an enhanced security feature that enables mutual authentication by message authentication code (MAC), making it ideally suited for all typical non-payment NFC applications.

NFC in Fashion Retail: The combination of NFC smartphones and RFID data has definite potential.

Using NFC to develop ways of improving the shopping experience is not a new idea. What’s new is making the RFID-generated data available for customers with NFC-enabled smartphones. Alexander Gauby, from Sys-Pro, sees the potential to combine these two technologies and bring customers who are currently shopping online back into the stores. „We want to combine online and store shopping and help companies to take the opportunity to increase their market share.“ This new approach is reinforced by the experience of other sustainable RFID roll-outs.

Alexander Gauby, Head of RFID Business Development, Sys-Pro, interviewed by „RFID im Blick“

NFC and UHF are enablers for the digital world

Many product manufacturers want to communicate interactively with the consumer. So what could be better than using an NFC-enabled smartphone? If NFC tags are integrated within certain products, new opportunities open up for customer interaction, brand protection or product tracking, explains Alexander Schmoldt, Murata Electronics in his interview. This expert who ‘thinks outside the box‘ describes UHF integration as an alternative to NFC in mobile phones and explains where this will take them.

Alexander M. Schmoldt, Business Development Manager, Murata Elektronik, interviewed by „RFID im Blick“

Get in and drive off

The market for contactless payment systems is growing. At the same time the range of applications for RFID readers is getting wider, whether for payment with “Tap & Go“ at the vending machines or for credit card-assisted ticketing in public transport. “Ticketing growth is expected, especially in vending,“ says Andreas Löw, Feig Electronic. The reading device manufacturer is preparing for the burgeoning market with a new generation of readers, which support contactless credit cards and NFC applications. Particular attention is being directed at vending applications and open-loop ticketing.

Andreas Löw, Marketing and communication Manager, Feig Electronic, in interview with „RFID im Blick“

How do you see the market trend in the medium-term future?

“The conformance tests are to a large extent completed, and the GSMA-documents are filled with information. However, in terms of interoperability, there is still potential for new test cases, and thus potential for new tools. Regarding technology, the future will be exciting. Real end-to-end testing remains a challenge for NFC-services. Secondly, the eUICC (embedded UICC) is still under discussion and alongside with it a new system architecture which will also require a new approach to testing. With a view to market development; I also see a fragmented environment in the future: I expect the physical Secure Element to stay existent. The MNOs will stick to their SIM-card running systems and the banking sector will hold onto HCE. I cannot see a space for SD-cards in the mediumterm future.”

Hajo Sandschneider, Director of Product Management and Marketing, COMPRION, interviewed by “RFID im Blick”

Schreiner PrinTrust at the Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona

From March 2 to 5, Schreiner PrinTrust will be showcasing the latest generation of the EMV compliant NFC-Sticker at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Simply attached to a cell phone, the NFC-Sticker turns any mobile phone into a cashless means of payment. As Schreiner PrinTrust fulfills the requirements of the MasterCard® Global Vendor Certification Program the label can be used like a contactless credit card at all PayPass™ terminals worldwide.

Improving the consumer experience and enabling a new era of merchandise visibility: those are SMARTRAC’s showcases to retailers, brand owners and consumers visiting its booth hall 9B14 at EuroCIS 2015 in Dusseldorf, Germany, from 24-26 February. During the event, labeled as “The Leading Trade Fair for Retail Technology”, the RFID technology leader will present its RFID and NFC portfolio, and demonstrate solutions and use cases implemented with renowned partners from across the industry.

NFC Handset Conformance Tests

Robust and validated tests are the basis for secure NFC-based services

The introduction of NFC-services was a fast-paced development. However, these services can only work reliably when the technology and interfaces – in particular, those concerning the UICC as a secure element – are adequately tested. These tests for mobile devices, which not only thoroughly test the individual interfaces, but also their interplay regarding the application, are now mandatory.

Hajo Sandschneider, Director of Product Management and Marketing, COMPRION, interviewed by Dunja Kandel, „RFID im Blick“

COMPRION GmbH, the leading manufacturer of test solutions for cell phones, extends its involvement in EMVCo activities. Testing for mobile payment is now required by the mobile operator association GSMA through their NFC Handset Test Book. COMPRION joins EMVCo as a Technical Associate. The company offers its experience and expertise in detecting communication problems of the contactless interface used for mobile payment.