NFC Symposium

Swedish ecommerce platform provider Jetshop has provided NFC World with the preliminary results of a landmark project designed to find out how the ability for shoppers to use their mobile phone to make a purchase directly from a printed poster will affect traditional retailing.

A new take on the conventional department store concept has been undergoing testing at Stockholm Central Station, with the aim of discovering how the new generation of mobile-connected ”poster stores” will impact the future of retailing.

Author: Sarah Clark

Link to article: http://www.nfcworld.com/2012/03/23/314738/mobile-superstore-trial-sets-out-to-discover-how-poster-shopping-will-change-the-future-of-retailing/

Mobile Payments Boot Camp is the 2nd international conference held by Midfield Media on the subject of NFC Technology.

In terms of the good responses from the recent NFC Symposium, we decided to initiate this strategic boot camp in Stockholm November 15th 2012.

The market scale of mobile payments is growing day by day, it surely verifies that mobile devices enabling mobile payments and the classic chicken and egg problem is not an issue anymore.

We are inviting all stakeholders in the ecosystem to agree on rules and responsibilities to build successful business models.

At NFC Symposium we heard from great case studies, got inspiration from leading organizations, now is the moment and time to move forward. We will take a closer look of the technological part, find out different collaboration strategies for financial institutions and mobile operators, analyse the value chain and coordination of the stakeholders – maybe we just need to replace A with C in ABC?

Key insights of Mobile Payments Boot Camp

• Insights of mobile payments technology, solutions and security. The Role of NFC in Mobile Payments.
• Mobile payments replacing cash in business transactions- B2B, C2B and G2C,
• Building new ecosystem – successful multi-bank, multi-telecom financial services platform, legislation and regulation
• Mobile revolution in retail – opportunities and challenges
• Mobile marketing and mobile research, mobile banking vol. 2

Welcome to NFC Symposium Academy’s first session – Mobile Payments Boot Camp 2012

Do not hesitate to contact me regarding speaking and partnership opportunities! If you have any questions or suggestions please send me an email: lena.visocka@midfieldmedia.com

Liene Visocka, Content Director, Mobile Payments 2012

The participants shared a multitude of exciting ideas and results from successful NFC trial runs conducted in numerous countries.
NFC technology has historically been over-hyped and, indeed, at times disappointed. The lack of phones on the market, in which the NFC-chip can be incorporated, and the consequent lack of demand for further development of the NFC services, has created a “chicken and egg” situation. Things are clearly about to change.

Samsung, Nokia and Andriod manufacturers have announced the launch of mobile phone models with the NFC-chip embedded in 2012. The killer test for wider market implementation of the NFC technology will be whether the next generation of iPhones picks up the technology. Stand by for action at the next NFC-Symposium.

Leading Swedish mobile phone operators, Telia, Tele2, Telenor and 3, which have set up a joint company, 4T, offering mobile payments and, have suggested that they might launch NFC services in 2013. Since these operators have much to gain from incorporating the technology in their devices, it was a somewhat hesitant announcement that perplexed delegated stakeholders. But things may not be what they seem, agendas may be opaque, and strategies may not be altogether in plain view for potential competitors. As business models develop rapidly, we do indeed live in times of change. Operators will become banks, or at least offer financial services. The NFC ecosystem is developing more rapidly than is apparent. There are major future revenue streams at stake.

One thing is clear: as NFC enabled devices are put in the hands of consumers, we will all be the ones defining the services they provide, and in fact decide who survives as the next generation NFC ecosystem forms.

Author: Emil Apelgren

Emil Apelgren is a frequently published Freelance Writer for multiple University related publications at Lund Technical University, Sweden. Mr. Apelgren visited The NFC Symposium 2012 in Stockholm for the purpose of sharing NFC Tech with the Swedish Student and Research community.

The debate about NFC and mobile payments rages on. There’s questions over which handset platform to support, which devices are certified, the lack of real NFC standards, how to enable the secure component on the various cellular networks and so forth? To a novice this all sounds very complex? Shouldn’t we worry about adoption rates? When will mobile hit critical mass? ISYS versus Google Wallet versus Visa’s play versus PayPal, etc, etc?

There are those that will argue that it will be many years before mobile payments is mainstream. You’ll hear figures like 2014, 2016 or even later bandied around as to when mobile payments will hit mass adoption. However, I believe the primary measure to focus on when looking at these sorts of predictions is first and foremost exhibited customer behavior – the predilection to a shift in the way they pay, bank, purchase or shop. If you look at consumer behavior, the story is very simple. The great mass is not only ready for mobile payments, they are racing towards it as fast as they can whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Link to article: http://www.finextra.com/community/fullblog.aspx?blogid=6232

15 February, 2012, Helsinki –Mobey Forum has today released a white paper entitled: ‘Control Points in Mobile Wallets’,which analyses how the rollout of the mobile wallet will be dictated by the various stakeholders involved in its development and deployment.

The paper identifies seven key areas, or ‘control points’, within the mobile wallet ecosystem that will influence the delivery of the technology to end users, and highlights the controlling roles that different stakeholder groups will play in the commercial operation of its supporting infrastructure.

Amir Tabakovic, Head of Market Development at PostFinance and Chair of the Mobey Forum Mobile Wallet Task Force, comments: “There is clearly much interest in the commercial potential of mobile wallets from organisations operating in the mobile financial services industry. There is also considerable competition for market position among key players striving to win the interest of consumers. If the mobile wallet is to develop to its full potential, it is important to understand how the mobile wallet landscape can be influenced and in particular how stakeholders can control one or more parts of the ecosystem.”

This is the second in a series of mobile wallet white papers from Mobey Forum, the global bank-led industry association driving a prosperous mobile financial services ecosystem, which aims to provide the industry with a new level of thinking on what is required of stakeholders to facilitate widespread adoption of the mobile wallet.

Link to article: http://www.mobeyforum.org/Press-Documents/Press-Releases/Mobey-Forum-Defines-Control-Points-within-the-Mobile-Wallet-Ecosystem

Strategies for Financial Institutions, Mobile Operators & Enterprises to Implement mCommerce Services in Developed and Emerging Markets

The second edition of the Mobile Commerce Guide features a compilation of industry thought leaders and innovators examining the best practices and lessons learned from mobile commerce deployments. The guide will help readers better understand mobile commerce strategies, mCommerce deployments, and current challenges.

Contributions include: Citigroup, Royal Bank of Canada, GSMA, Globe Telecommunications, IBM, Citizen’s Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank, Informa Telecoms & Media, Mobey Forum, Telefonica, Tower Group and the Mobile Marketing Association.

Link to article: http://marketing.sybase365.com/forms/WW12MCDWNLDMCommerceGuidePDF

The European Payments Council (EPC) published the second edition of its ‘White Paper on Mobile Payments’ (see related files below) which is now available for public consultation. The EPC encourages all Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) stakeholders to provide feedback by 23 March 2012. To share comments, please use the dedicated feedback questionnaire made available by the EPC (see related files below).

Link to article: http://www.europeanpaymentscouncil.eu/news_detail.cfm?news_id=284

Nyheter De svenska mobiloperatörerna tvivlar inte på nfc-tekniken. Men innan den kan slå igenom behövs fungerande samarbeten med bankerna. Det diskuterades på konferensen Nfc Symposium i Stockholm igår.

Med avslutning i dag har företag och branschorganisationer från hela världen träffats för att diskutera nfc-teknikens möjligheter i Stockholm. CS var på plats och hörde bland annat François Lecomte, vd för Forum des services mobiles sans contact, en intresseorganisation som ska främja kontaktfria betalningar i Frankrike.

Han pekade på det kanske viktigaste hindret att komma förbi om mobila betalningar med nfc ska bli verklighet: För att tekniken ska få brett genomslag krävs att både bankerna och mobiloperatörerna ställer sig bakom den. För mobiloperatörerna finns egentligen bara fördelar. För bankerna är ekvationen inte lika enkel. De måste investera i en ny betalningsform, utan att för den sakens skull konkurrera ut de egna plastkorten.

– Bankerna vet vad de kan förlora, plastkorten, men vet inte vad de kan vinna än, sa François Lecomte.

Telia Sonera, 3 och 4T, mobiloperatörernas gemensamma bolag för mobila betalningar, fanns också på plats. Samtliga var tydliga med att de tror på nfc-tekniken som framtidsstandard. Eftersom att de tekniska förutsättningarna är på plats väntas nu också flera mobiltelefoner med stöd för tekniken att lanseras i Sverige. Även teknikutvecklingen talar för den saken: Nfc-komponenter blir billigare, vilket minskar motståndet från mobiltillverkarna.

Ur operatörernas perspektiv är alltså inte fråga när nfc kommer, utan till vad det ska användas.

4Ts vd Johan Ragnevad betonade även att bolagets teknik även stöder mobilbetalningar med sms samt över webben.

– Nfc är bara ett av verktygen i vår verktygslåda. Vi lanserar inga tjänster med närfältskommunikation i år, vi har mycket att göra innan det, sa han.

Bent Bentsen, projektledare på DnB NOR, berättade om hur banken tillsammans med Telenor gjort tester med nfc i Oslo. Responsen från användarna var tydlig på en punkt: för att få dem att börja använda tekniken måste den fungera med alla olika mobiltelefoner och i princip överallt i handeln.

Author: Ida Lindkvist, Computer Sweden

Link to the article: http://computersweden.idg.se/2.2683/1.429190/bankerna-vet-vad-de-kan-forlora

As the first store in Sweden ICA To Go in Kista (Stockholm) launches a digital loyalty card with NFC technology. Smart phones that lack native support for NFC can use the technology thanks to an NFC tag that will be distributed in the store.

The new loyalty card, based on NFC (Near Field Communication), is built into the ICA To Go app for iPhone and Android. The app is launched today, 25 January.

- NFC is the future technology that will simplify our customers’ lives. We are very excited to see how the customer will react to this. Through the test, we can learn more about their behavior and how they accept the new technology, says Samuel Young, Director of digital media at ICA Sweden.

Every lunch purchased, gives the customer a stamp in their loyalty card which is visible directly in the app. After six collected stamps the seventh lunch is for free. – Prior to the opening of Kista, we started thinking about how we could attract the target audience in here. Many of them are very interested in high technology. Previously, we worked with paper loyalty cards for our loyal customers. At ICA To Go in Kista we saw the opportunity to test the loyalty with tomorrow’s technology, says Eva Kimborn Heivert, Project manager for ICA To Go.

For mobiles without built-in support for NFC technology, ICA To Go developed a tag that can be attached to your mobile. Those whose phones have NFC built can just download the app and start using the loyalty card in the store. Through the app, all users can tell friends or share through Facebook and thus collect more stamps.

About ICA To Go
ICA To Go is a retail concept that has existed within ICA (Sweden’s leading retail company) since 2010. ICA To Go is aimed at health-conscious city dwellers who want quick and easy meal solutions of high quality. The range consists of meals for breakfast, lunch and snacks. All meals are prepared on carefully selected ingredients. Today there are three ICA To Go stores in Stockholm.

For more information:
ICA’s press telephone: 070 253 66 60

We are most certainly living in an exciting time in technology: everything is changing, and mostly for the better. In a prediction published by Digital Arts the following ten developments will change the way you interact with the digital world.

• 1. Dual-Core Processors Become the Norm in Smartphones
• 2. Optical-Disc Drives Disappear From New Laptops
• 3. Data-Only and Reduced-Voice Cell Phone Plans Proliferate
• 4. Facebook Accounts Become Necessary to Do More Stuff on the Web
• 5. NFC Facilitates Mobile Payments, Peer-to-Peer Networking

Imagine tapping your phone to a receiver at a register, and instantly paying for an item without fumbling for your wallet. Or getting into a movie theater with a similar tap of your phone. Or being able to load your transit card onto your phone, using a simple tap to deduct money for every trip on the subway.

All of that is already possible with the help of near-field communication chips, which transfer small amounts of data through a short-range, low-friction connection.

The latest versions of many of the Smart phones on the market are built to let app developers take advantage of the many uses for NFC, such as setting up peer-to peer connections between phones simply by tapping the phones’ backs to each other. So without a doubt, in 2012 you’ll see more phones with these chips built into them, as well as more apps that employ the technology.

• 6. Processing Enters the Cloud
• 7. HTML 5 Takes the Stage
• 8. IPv6 Starts Rolling Out
• 9. Consumers Borrow More Books, Movies, and Music
• 10. Fewer (but Better) Tablets Arrive

Seeing how NFC will be one of the most important technological revolutions in 2012, why not join the NFC business platform and find out how you can leverage of the new technology?

Looking forward to seeing you in just a couple of weeks!

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

Very interesting article about how some in the NFC community are already using this platform to fight globalization and protect local enterprises!

A project in Normandy, France, is being developed and proposed to local authorities for approval.  Its objective is to create a virtual store of NFC services for French enterprises, which would allow them a platform to use as a tool to develop these services.  Jean-Marc Vauguier, the MD of Pole TES (the group behind the project) explains the reason behind the initiative:  “the danger is that groups like Apple or Google kill or lower the competitiveness of certain sectors through their ecosystem.  Taking as example NFC taxi services which a user will be able to use with his smartphone when walking in front of an NFC poster.  A service proposed by Google will list only companies, with whom it has signed an agreement, excluding the others.  It will on top of that take a 30% commission on the service.  The service users will thus lower their awareness of the competition, to their detriment.”

A great example of using the system, not to fight it, but to protect your environment!

For avid readers of French, here is the link to the article:

http://www.lesechos.fr/entreprises-secteurs/tech-medias/actu/0201779055333-sans-contact-un-projet-normand-pour-contrer-apple-et-google-259947.php

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

What is, according to you, the most crucial matter in enabling mass adoption of NFC services in the Nordic market today?
Definitively, a global vision on the mobile NFC revolution that is close to happen! As per handset manufacturers announcements, NFC is to be integrated in most smart phones in the next couple of months, thus realistically a third of population may be equipped within the next 2-3 years. This is a great opportunity to associate value added internet services to proximity requirements: open or secured services.

Open, means tag reading for contextual information delivery or check-in for instant promotions or social network activities. Secured is a requirement for highly trusted transactions, such as EMV payments, as well as offline transactions capabilities. And most mobile NFC services still have to be invented…

What is the most important aspect of coordinating the NFC stakeholders?
So far, the entire ecosystem must work on coopetition mode – eg. cooperation for future competition – versus a proprietary approach. All stakeholders must be involved: MNO’s, bank and commerce, public transport and service providers, as well as public decision makers like cities and government. Breaking silos is crucial because the Mobile NFC revolution is going to break existing paradigms. For example, this is not a big deal for a bank to issue contactless payments, but this is e competitive position for getting more trusted relation on customer’s mobile. This example is valid for any service provider who will have to cross the chasm between virtual and real worlds. Last point is to leverage territories who are offering spaces for testing new services delivery and teach end-users on multiple NFC interaction’s capabilities. This is requiring serious local coordination in order to prepare next massive adoptions.

What are you looking forward to the most at the upcoming NFC Symposium?
As a managing director of French association focusing on mobile contactless services take-off, I’m conscious that we must target our efforts at European scale. Thus, I’m expecting to learn from each other’s experiences and see how we can leverage our joint efforts to improve European competitiveness, generate growth and create local employments. We need to network together and value our efforts to handle this key strategic new market, our way.

François Lecomte, Managing Director, Forum des services mobiles sans contact

What is, according to you, the most crucial matter in enabling mass adoption of NFC services in the Nordic market today?
The most crucial matter is of persuading people, offering a real benefit and to get standardizations. Building partnerships with key persons and include relevant and important players from an NFC ecosystem. Besides that: In times of constant availability of information and increasing networking of everyday personal objects, ease of operation is a decisive factor for future innovations

What is the most important aspect of coordinating the NFC stakeholders?
The most important aspects are;

• To get a clear idea and view of what NFC is helping in everyday life.
• To permit the best possible use to be made of its advantages, it is necessary to draw up suitable specifications and to guarantee the compatibility of services and equipment.

Basically the same rules apply for NFC as for many new technologies: the development time and the subsequent agreements which are required in worldwide committees have a long lead
time. However, many important hurdles were also cleared during this long-distance run.

What are you looking forward to the most at the upcoming NFC Symposium?
I am looking to meet relevant people, networking, get an update from the international NFC scenery, to get the latest rumors, to see examples for my own business and get ideas. Besides that: Finding companies and solutions for our projects, and to see, that we still are on strategy.

Markus Huber, Head of Innovation and New Business Development, RMV

Seamless Distribution AB said it believes it has developed a mobile payment method that replaces the need to shop with credit and debit cards, thus saving money for merchants who no longer would have to pay card-related fees.

Seamless is awaiting patent approval for its SEQR mobile pay application, which enables clerks to scan a barcode displayed on a mobile phone screen to authorize a payment drawn from the customer’s bank account.

Link to article in Swedish: http://www.idg.se/2.1085/1.418432/svenskar-ska-gora-kontokorten-till-historia

Link to article in English: http://www.americanbanker.com/issues/176_234/seamless-mobile-payment-credit-cards-transaction-fees-1044606-1.html

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

Oberthur Technologies, the world’s second largest provider of security and identification solutions and services based on smart card technologies, announced today that the company has partnered with Visa Europe and Valitor to launch Iceland’s first mobile contactless payment project.

Using Oberthur Technologies’ SIM card device, which provides integrated support for NFC (Near Field Communications) for power mobile contactless payments, the partners will work with Iceland’s key mobile network operators, to select 1,000 participants for the initial adoption in January 2012.

The full-scale pilot will begin in the second half of 2012. Due to Valitor’sestablished relationship with the Icelandic banks, combined with 600 mobile contactless Point of Sale terminals already existing in the greater Reykjavik area, this new technology will be easily available to the majority of the country’s population.

The partners chose Iceland as the ideal test market for the project based on the size of its population and its concentration in the Reykjavik area. Combined with high mobile and cardusage , Iceland’s population profile will enable the partners to monitor cardholders and retailers responses to mobile contactless payments ahead of the full commercial deployment programmed by end 2013.

Link to the article: http://www.oberthur.com/press_page.aspx?id=373&otherid=112&menuId=182&divisionId=0

In the article below, you can read about the recent announcement of a joint venture between the four major mobile operators in Sweden.  This collaboration is made in an effort to further the roll out of NFC in the country, with plans of new service offerings to come as early as summer 2012.

Three of the mobile operators in the joint venture (Telenor, 3, TeliaSonera) will take part in an exciting Mobile Network Operator Panel Debate at the upcoming NFC Symposium, January 25^th-27^th, 2012.  They will discuss, amongst others, how the operator community is driving standardized deployment of mobile NFC; and, how mobile network operators are to coordinate with financial institutions.

Link to the article:  http://www.nfctimes.com/news/swedish-telcos-form-mobile-payments-joint-venture

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

In the article posted below you can take part in the thoughts of a digital branding director; expressing his enthusiasm over the possibilities of NFC. When asked about what NFC can do for brands; the answer was quite clear; a lot! NFC is explained as an amazing tool to drive demand and purchasing behavior, due to its unique possibilities for personalized advertizing. It should make for some interesting and valuable reading.

Link to article: http://www.wpp.com/wpp/marketing/digital/what-nfc-can-do-for-brands.htm

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

What is, according to you, the most crucial matter in enabling mass adoption of NFC services in the Nordic market today?

First of all the business models must be in place and all stakeholders must be smart about how they invest and realize that this is a high volume low margin game. Secondly the most important use cases and applications must be identified. And thirdly, they must be executed well. They must have immediate appeal and be significantly better than the alternatives.

What is the most important aspect of coordinating the NFC stakeholders?

All key stakeholders must understand that it is a joint cross-industry effort. It is not about us and them. It’s about the end users.

What are you looking forward to the most at the upcoming NFC Symposium?

I am looking forward to seeing firsthand evidence of key Nordic industry players coming together and (hopefully) agreeing on the same common goal.

Eskil Krag, Director Global Sales, TSM at Ericsson

Dear reader,

As we are closing in on the date for the NFC Symposium it is both reaffirming and delighting to read Gartners research and findings on NFC. Gartner’s 2011 Hype Cycle Special Report provides strategists and planners with an assessment of the maturity, business benefit and future direction of over 1,900 technologies, grouped into 76 distinct Hype Cycles. If you have a look at the cycle of emerging technologies you will find Private Cloud Computing, Internet TV and…NFC Payment at the very top of the curve. Read the whole report here.

Bearing this moment in time in mind, I think you should register for the upcoming NFC Symposium! Now is the time to get all the tools needed in order to maintain market share when consumer mass adoption explodes!

Link to article: http://www.nfcworld.com/2011/11/01/311057/new-report-compares-the-prospects-for-mobile-payments-technologies/

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

In this recent article you can find out everything you need to know about NFC and its amazing possibilities. It explains why the reason why every company from Google to Visa to McDonald’s to T-Mobile is singing the technology’s praises.” In their eyes, NFC is always bracketed by dollar signs, with thoughts of direct advertising and real-time customer data.” Read it and find out why it is high time to join the NFC revolution…

Link to article: http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2011-02/near-field-communication-helping-your-smartphone-replace-your-wallet-2010/

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

In the press release below you can read about the world’s first developed USIM card equipped with a Near Field Communication chip, called “NFC on USIM”, to enable NFC-based services on non-NFC handsets. That will probably take away one of the thresholds for mass consumer adoption of NFC technology. It also sends a clear signal to the retailers that it is time to invest in the creation of user-friendly NFC services to their customers.

Link to article: http://www.sktelecom.com/. You must first visit the website and then go to the press center where you can find the article “SK Telecom Becomes World`s First to Develop NFC-Enabled USIM Card”

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

In an exciting press release an industry organization of healthcare and technology companies and a non-profit industry association that advances the use of NFC announced that they will work together to expand standards-based connectivity technology in the health IT industry .

The healthcare industry is particularly interesting in regards to NFC since it has been one of the earliest adopters of NFC technology and offers many opportunities for innovated NFC-based solutions. Read the press release and find out about one of them!

Link to article: http://www.nfc-forum.org/news/pr/view?item_key=0986047c50bdb4848314f1427210ce91a8ff78aa

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

One of our participants at the NFC Symposium is SAS; which is one of the first airlines in the world to introduce a product that simplifies the journey and saves time for the passengers. Read the article here. (the article is in Swedish)

…or come and meet Lena Rökaas, Vice President Product and Customer Service SAS, on sight and discuss how NFC technology can be used to simplify and raise the customer experience.

http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/sas/pressrelease/view/malmoebor-blir-foerst-i-sverige-att-testa-nya-sas-smart-pass-621767

At the NFC Symposium retailers are taking part from all sectors to discuss potential services to offer consumers. Below is an interesting list of recommendations for retailers in regards to NFC rollouts. Enjoy!

MobeyForum’s recommendations for retailers

• • All actors within this space should be prepared even if they do not plan to roll out the service straight away.
• • Adding other services such as couponing, loyalty cards and so on – which are innovative and offer users increased convenience and ease of use – will help to create demand. Investment needs to be made in the merchant infrastructure.
• • In terms of card products for the new form factor, ensure customers can choose the same type as their plastic card format.
• • Focus on a single issuing strategy at the beginning.
• • Formulate a trusted service manager (TSM) strategy.

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

“This year’s partners and keynote speakers really reflect the continued expansion of the NFC ecosystem. The partners  who will be taking the stage at NFC Symposium will offer a variety of perspectives, from mobile operators, handset makers and infrastructure suppliers to payment solutions, access control,  applications developers, all driving the NFC Revolution. The 2012 edition of the NFC Symposium is set to be a most exciting and dynamic.”

Daniele Truini, Business Adviser for NFC Symposium

Our latest confirmed speaker is Markus Huber, Head of Innovation and New Business Development, RMV. Markus will be talking on the topic of “Enhancing the passenger’s transit experience with NFC and mobile ticketing”

RMV is known for holding the world’s first NFC-based ticketing trial and one of the first to rollout the NFC technology. The driver has been to support Germany’s interoperable transit application and expand to its 5 million population service area. It will be very interesting to take part in the results and the path ahead for RMV’s adoption of NFC technology.

Keep updated with our new speakers here or on our twitter account.

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

At last year’s Contactless Monkey Awards Veolia Transdev won the category for transportation. This price is awarded to those companies or organizations that have incorporated contactless technology into their offering and structure and in doing so have contributed towards customer support and service.

NFC Symposium is proud to welcome Dominique Descolas, Digital Systems Director at Veolia Transdev as a speaker, giving a session with the following title;

“Simplifying the passenger experience with NFC technology: Veolia’s BPass launch in Nice”

Dominique Descolas will be in good company, speaking during the same day as another winner of this year’s Contactless Monkey Awards; Mark Fabes, IT Director, McDonalds UK.

Keep track of more speakers to come!

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

Needless to say, there are many stakeholders on the NFC market and many of them are working hard at driving the development forward. In the end though, the ones who will have to implement the NFC technology are the retailers and service providers to the consumer.

Therefore, NFC Symposium is particularly interested in having a look at what these stakeholders know and think about NFC. In a survey performed by Midfield Media with some 100 Nordic retailers/service providers, these were interesting findings;

When asked if they have ever heard about NFC technology and iWallet, 34.1% stated NO, 43.9% said YES, a little bit. 22% expressed a good awareness of NFC and anticipation for when it will be rolled out.

When asked if they would see it as an advantage to provide their customers NFC services, 76.8% said YES and the remaining 23.2% answered NO.

When asked if they are interested to learn more about NFC technology, 58.2% expressed a willingness to learn more about the possibilities.

The conclusion to draw is that there is a huge information gap to fill when it comes to the NFC and its possibilities. Stay tuned for future surveys!

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

At NFC Symposium 2012 key stake holders will share insightful sessions and case studies touching the focal point of the symposium; commercializing and using NFC to its full potential. One of those sessions will be given by McDonalds UK, which has installed contactless point-of –sale terminals in all its restaurants in the UK.

McDonalds UK IT Director, Mark Fabes, will give a key-note session on how McDonalds will use NFC technology to help drive people into their restaurant. Take part in the fast food giant’s considerations for possibilities in the loyalty space.

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

The latest addition to the NFC Symposium 2012 speaker list is Svein Krakk, the CIO and Vice President IS/IT of Nordic Choice Hotels. He will give a really interesting session on the one-of –a-kind NFC trial that has been conducted at Clarion Sign Stockholm.

It was the first trial ever to replace hotel room keys by NFC compatible mobiles. A selected number of hotel guests were able to perform their check-in and check-out with their mobile, saving them the queuing in line at the hotel reception.

Take part in this successful case study and listen to what other possibilities Nordic Choice Hotels sees in regards to NFC technology.

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, NFC Symposium 2012

Our mission is to provide all professionals with ways to share their knowledge and expertise. To accomplish this mission we serve as a catalyst for discussion, learning, and innovation.

We need your engagement to make the Nordic NFC Symposium be the leading event in the Nordic market!

Within the area of NFC there are constant developments and news. Therefore we kindly ask you for your expertise and who would you like to see taking the stage in Stockholm in January?

Please send us the following information:

Name:
Title:
Company:
Contact details:

And a brief summary of your business case/ a recommended business case

Contact Josephine Elofs by email at Josephine.elofs@midfieldmedia.com with any questions.

Over the course of three days, you will meet and interact with stakeholders within Near Field Communications from all of the Nordics – through plenum sessions, roundtable discussions, panel debates and many other networking activities, such as dinners and cocktails. Within the settings of exclusive Clarion Sign Hotel, this event presents an opportunity to network and benchmark with leading organizations and develops meaningful and valuable business relations at this very important stage of NFC adoption in the Nordics.

The Nordic NFC Symposium 2012 will feature fore front case-studies illustrating how to harness potential of commercialisation analysis of the value chain and its of stakeholders, take part in discussions on how to meet the modern customers demand enabling in technologies as services provided.

Without a doubt these will be inspiring and educational days, giving you insights on the leading innovative NFC commercialization strategies currently being applied.

We look forward to welcoming you at the Clarion Sign Hotel in Stockholm January 25th -27th, 2012

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, The Nordic NFC Symposium 2012