DoCoMo and KT to drive cross-border NFC services

NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s leading cellular carrier, has teamed with Korea’s KT Corporation to develop cross-border near field communication (NFC) solutions that will work in both countries. The services, which will include mobile payment, mass-transit ticketing and promotional coupons, are due for launch in both markets from the end of 2012.

The two firms are developing NFH specs for devices, networks and charging platforms, with current plans calling for contactless IC chips to be embedded in certain Android handsets. The project emerged from the carriers’ joint Business & Technology Cooperation Committee.

DoCoMo, which has often sought to popularise the fruits of its own development on the wider world stage, has also said that it plans to submit an outline of the common specifications to various industry associations and standardisation bodies, including the GSMA.

“With the ultimate goal of building an international environment for compatible NFC services, DoCoMo has formed strategic tie-ups with payment technology company Visa, NFC chip and mobile handset manufacturer Samsung and SIM card vendor Gemalto,” the Japanese carrier said in a statement.