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ViVOtech launches NFC technology for large-scale commercial deployments

ViVOtech's flagship near field communications infrastructure software is now available for large-scale commercial deployments, aimed to serve payment, retail and transit industries.

The new ViVOnfc Suite 2.8 is targeted to help NFC service providers commercially launch to reach millions of users. Now, the entire system of mobile network operators, trusted service managers, card issuers, marketing services companies, and merchants can securely provide and manage payment cards, coupons and tickets on NFC-enabled handsets.

"This new software release will enable mobile network operators or carriers, card issuers, and marketing companies to start implementing NFC mobile payments and marketing programs for commercial roll outs," said Mohammad Khan, president and founder of ViVOtech, Santa Clara, CA.

"Functionally, this software allows card issuers and retailers to provision credit, debit, prepaid, loyalty cards, as well as coupons remotely into NFC phones," he said."

"Efforts have moved from NFC pilots to now preparing for commercial roll outs. Nokia has announced the availability of a commercially available NFC phone in quarter four and other major world players are targeting limited commercial roll outs starting in the second half of 2010. We're definitely headed in the right direction."

ViVOtech is a provider of NFC mobile payments, promotions and over-the-air (OTA) provisioning infrastructure software, transaction management software, NFC smart posters, and contactless terminals.

NFC acts as a benefit to mobile commerce as well as a driver of mobile commerce because of its capabilities.

"NFC enables mobile phones to act as a payment devices," Mr. Khan said. "Additionally, NFC allows retailers and card issuers to target people directly using mobile phones."

ViVOnfc 2.8's architecture ensures lets users maintain the security of their card data and leverage a wide reach over the mobile carrier network. Merchants, card issuers and transit operators are now able to extend their brand image and online services to their customers' mobile devices.

Mobile carriers are now able to deploy scalable infrastructure to support payment, promotion and ticketing applications for the subscriber base.

"ViVOtech provisioning are used by carriers to enable banks and retailers to provision their cards, coupons, promotions into NFC phones," Mr. Khan said. "ViVOwallet software is pre-loaded into NFC phones, allowing cosnumers to receive and carry multiple cards and coupons in NFC phones, and use their phones to redeem coupons and purchase goods."

The ViVOnfc 2.8 release is comprised of the ViVOplatform Issuer Server, ViVOplatform Control Server and ViVOwallet mobile application.

The ViVOnfc Issuer Server resides on-site, either at the issuer's or at the outsourced partner's location, providing secure card provisioning services for NFC mobile handsets.

The Control Server provides administrative services to facilitate multiple payment, loyalty, and promotion applications through an embedded or SIM-based secure element on a mobile payment device.

Mr. Khan said the new technology will benefit marketers.

"Marketers are excited with NFC mobile phone-based coupons and promotions as it allows them to provide personalized promotions or coupons to their customers," Mr. Khan said.

"Customers will have these coupons on their NFC phones as they make purchases in physical stores by waving NFC phones onto contactless/NFC readers to redeem the coupon electronically," he said.