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Orange and China Mobile to cooperate on the adoption of interoperable, SIM-based NFC standards(ENP Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ENP Newswire - 18 December 2012 Release date- 17122012 - Orange and China Mobile have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that aims to accelerate the commercialization of mobile contactless services by integrating standardized technical protocols based on the SIM card into their respective services. Mobile contactless services, often known as Near Field Communication (NFC) services, facilitate transactions enabling users to validate transport tickets or make purchases in local shops simply by swiping their phone over an electronic reader. By adopting internationally recognized standards for embedding the secure technical protocols directly into the SIM-card, the two operators will participate in the development of a market in which users can access NFC services regardless of their device or operator. NFC services are expected to become a major growth driver for the telecoms industry in the coming years. Orange and China Mobile share a common belief that, for such services to take-off on a global scale, the industry needs to work together in order to adopt a common set of standards that operate within a fully-interoperable business platform. The two companies have agreed to work together on these themes with a view to ensuring: the large-scale adoption of SIM-based NFC services and the availability of compatible devices in a open and transparent way, the interoperability of such services in a way that will facilitate the emergence of a wide range of applications, and the development of standardised solutions that will provide consistency across eco-systems, regardless of the mobile network operator or third-party involved in providing the service, and regardless of the device used. 'In order to encourage the wide-spread take-up of NFC services, the industry as a whole needs to find ways to offer NFC services that are simple, transparent and secure,' said Thierry Millet, Orange's Vice President of Mobile Payment and Contactless solutions. 'By working together with China Mobile, we hope to show that the development of a SIM-card based approach using recognized standards will be a key factor in winning over consumer confidence as NFC services become more and more prevalent over the coming years.' 'Many major mobile network operators including China Mobile promised to adopt SIM-based NFC standards and promote the launch of new products,' said Shen Hongqun, Vice President of the Data Service Department of China Mobile headquarters. 'By signing this MoU between China Mobile and Orange, the two MNOs can cooperate in the fields of service model design, marketing strategy, product standards for mobile payment, the promotion of NFC services and handsets based on SWP-SIM1 and to develop a harmonized ecosystem based on standard solutions.' Through this partnership between two major players from Europe and Asia, Orange and China Mobile will contribute to the industry-wide effort coordinated by GSMA to draw up a global vision to facilitate the development of an open SIM-based NFC market over the coming years. 1/ The Single Wire Protocol (SWP) is a specification defining a unique connection point between the SIM card and a NFC chip in a mobile phone. about Orange France Telecom-Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with sales of 45.3 billion euros for 2011 and has 170,000 employees worldwide at 30 September 2012, including 105,000 employees in France. Present in 33 countries, the Group has a total customer base of 227 million customers at 30 September 2012, including 169 million mobile customers and 15 million broadband internet (ADSL, fibre) customers worldwide. Orange is one of the main European operators for mobile and broadband internet services and, under the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies. With its industrial project, 'conquests 2015', Orange is simultaneously addressing its employees, customers and shareholders, as well as the society in which the company operates, through a concrete set of action plans. These commitments are expressed through a new vision of human resources for employees; through the deployment of a network infrastructure upon which the Group will build its future growth; through the Group's ambition to offer a superior customer experience thanks in particular to improved quality of service; and through the acceleration of international development. France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris (compartment A) and on the New York Stock Exchange. For more information (on the internet and on your mobile): www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com, www.orange-innovation.tv or to follow us on Twitter: @presseorange. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Brand Services Limited, Orange France or France Telecom. press contact: +33 1 44 44 93 93 Tom Wright, [email protected] [Editorial queries for this story should be sent to [email protected]] ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) (c) 2012 Electronic News Publishing - |