-- International NFC Alliance to promote convenient cross-border
mobile NFC services
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 25,
2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Asian telecom operators Chunghwa
Telecom (Taiwan), HKT
(Hong Kong), KDDI (Japan), and SK Planet (South Korea) are jointly announcing the
formation of the Asia NFC Alliance, with the support of the GSMA,
today at MWC 2014. The Alliance aims to extend existing NFC
services beyond national borders to further accelerate the adoption
of convenient and compatible NFC services worldwide.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140225/NY71512)
"Formation of this Alliance aims to expand the service coverage
of individual telecom operators in creating a seamless experience
for the consumers while travelling across national borders. As of
today, Alliance members include the major telecom operators from
Taiwan, Japan, South
Korea and Hong Kong. Our
near-term goal is to promote common standards and a technology
development platform for new applications, beginning with the
domestic markets of our members. In the long term, we hope to
expand this NFC Alliance into a global organization to create
convenient services across borders worldwide," said Lin, Kuo-Feng,
Chairman of Asia NFC Alliance.
"The GSMA is delighted to support the Asia NFC Alliance, as it
endeavors to accelerate the deployment of NFC services in
Asia. Cross operator
interoperability, and common platforms to easily develop and deploy
services are key enablers to attract service providers and grow the
NFC ecosystem. By working together with the Asia NFC Alliance, we
hope to lay down a solid foundation for subscribers to experience a
wealth of top quality NFC services across Asia – and to build best practice for other
regions," said Pierre Combelles,
Business Lead, Digital Commerce, GSMA.
Convenient mobile NFC services are already being offered for a
variety of applications in several countries independently,
presenting travel information, online booking of tickets and
hotels, coupon download, mobile payment and more. However, these
NFC services are currently limited to mobile operators within their
home markets. There has, however, recently been a joint cooperation
between KDDI and CHT offering a smart poster service in tourist
shopping areas, and NFC coupons from KDDI and SK Planet.
The Asia NFC Alliance wishes to expand the service coverage of
these mobile operators from within a single country to the whole
Asian region, and furthermore to provide global mobile NFC services
across industries, including transportation, retail, finance, and
tourism etc. Subscribers will be able to access convenient and
compatible NFC applications across national borders to enjoy a
mobile lifestyle on their NFC-enabled handsets, whether in
Taiwan, Japan, Hong
Kong, South Korea or other
countries in the future.
The Asia NFC Alliance has proposed three-stage development
goals: to develop international compatibility of NFC technology; to
serve as an information platform for NFC development; and finally,
to attract more members from the industry, to fulfil the ultimate
goal of collaboration in providing a border-less mobile NFC service
across industries.
Quotes from all members
"The founding of the Alliance is an important step forward in
the development of cross-border NFC mobile services, bringing to
our customers the greatest benefits while traveling aboard, as well
as to visitors to Hong
Kong."
-- Richard Midgett, Managing
Director of Wireless Business
HKT
"We hope that this alliance will be an open organization for
the expansion of overseas cooperation services. We aim to actively
promote collaboration with telecommunications carriers not only in
Asia but in Europe and America, and create a world in
which users in every country can avail themselves of NFC
services."
-- Takashi Tanaka, President
KDDI
"Many exciting services will launch with NFC Alliance. SK
Planet will actively participate with Smart Touch (Open TSM) and
Mobile Commerce Services."
--JH Kah, CEO
SK Planet International
"Taiwanese and Asian consumers mostly have high acceptance in
the latest technology, so mobile NFC applications have gained
widespread attention and expectation in Asia markets. With the foundation of the
Alliance, we will work collaboratively on the seamless and complete
NFC experience from domestic area to Asia!"
--LIN, Kuo-Feng, President
Chunghwa Telecom Mobile Business Group
About the Asia NFC Alliance
The Asia NFC Alliance was established in 2014 by mobile
operators in Asia to offer safe
and seamless coverage across borders for Asian consumers to enjoy
all kinds of services with their mobile devices, anytime, anywhere,
without geographic restrictions. The founding members are CHT
(Taiwan), HKT (Hong Kong), KDDI (Japan), and SK Planet (South Korea), with the support of the
GSMA.
About HKT
HKT (SEHK: 6823) is Hong Kong's
premier telecommunications service provider. It meets the needs of
the Hong Kong public and local and
international businesses with a wide range of services including
local telephony, local data and broadband, international
telecommunications, mobile, and other telecommunications businesses
such as customer premises equipment sale, outsourcing, consulting
and contact centers. Together with the highly successful media
business of its parent company, PCCW Limited, HKT offers innovative
media content and services across the PCCW Group's unique
quadruple-play platforms – fixed-line, broadband Internet access,
TV and mobile.
About KDDI
Based in Tokyo, Japan, KDDI
Corporation is a leading global communication service provider and
has number of overseas offices are 100 in 28 countries. KDDI offers
quality services and effective solutions for both consumer and
business partners. KDDI's brand "au" delivers mobile and fixed-line
services facilitating convenient and effortless communication
experience for consumers in Japan.
With multitude of and ever-expanding ICT realm ranging from FMC
networks to data centers, applications and security strategies
strengthen KDDI's business clients. KDDI group strives forth
another step closer to become a truly global company through
diversity, integration and persistent expansion into international
community. http://global.kddi.com
About SK Planet
SK Planet, established in October
2011 as a wholly owned subsidiary of SK Telecom, leads the
revolution of online and mobile service platform with its Digital
Contents, Integrated Commerce and Advertising & Marketing
Businesses.
About Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd
Chunghwa Telecom (TAIEX 2412, NYSE: CHT) is the leading telecom
service provider in Taiwan.
Chunghwa Telecom provides fixed line, mobile, Internet, and data
services to individual and business clients in Taiwan.
