Philips joins forces with SMART System Technologies and 3united to simplify mobile multimedia
February 9, 2005
Leading semiconductor, content and service providers collaborate to drive Near Field Communication deployment
Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) today announced an alliance with leading content and service providers SMART System Technologies (SST) and 3united to deliver mobile entertainment applications as well as loyalty and reward programs via Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. NFC, developed by Philips and Sony, securely links wireless connectivity with contactless smart card technology, making it simple for Connected Consumers to access entertainment, information and payment services through their mobile phones.
Leveraging Philips’ expertise in the smart card space and its leadership in pioneering NFC technology, this joint effort will allow consumers to make purchases and redeem points or e-coupons by waving an NFC phone in front of a smart poster, contactless retail point-of-sale (POS) device or kiosk. It will also allow consumers to receive instant promotions and rewards based on the user’s location and preferences.
“NFC bridges the connectivity gap that exists in the short-range communications realm, ” said Sour Chhor, general manager of Contactless and Embedded Security, Philips Semiconductors. “It offers a secure and seamless means of distributing content and services in addition to managing loyalty and rewards programs, anytime, anywhere, with any personal communication device. With this technology, we’re connecting consumers to content and services in an intuitive way, making advanced multimedia services easy-to-use.”
Working with Philips in developing NFC applications, SST will be demonstrating NFC interoperability with its PowerPay solution, a large-scale deployment of its unique loyalty program, which is already active in many sports stadiums. SST is a leading provider of merchant-centric point-of-purchase loyalty and coalition marketing applications and services. Based in Austria, 3united is one of Europe’s market leaders in premium short message services (SMS), m-commerce and mobile content solutions. 3united already provides NFC interfaces for more than 500 premium services for national and international content providers, media enterprises and mobile network operators. SST has developed customized software for NFC phones and has integrated this with its hosted PowerPay solution.
“The ability to deliver real-time rewards and promotions to consumers based on mobile handset activity and purchases are unique benefits of combining the NFC chip with the mobile phone,” said Michael Richardson, president and chief operating officer of SST. “ Marketers will now be given the power to reward and provide incentives to consumers based on their purchases, purchase intent or loyalty to a brand or merchant. We see significant benefits to carriers worldwide as they become an integral part of delivering unique and highly-targeted messages to a willing audience of consumers.”
“As a market leader in delivering mobile content, it is a natural evolution for us to support NFC applications,” said Andreas Wiesmüller, chief marketing officer of 3united. “NFC offers both providers and consumers a wide range of advantages and new applications. Revenues generated through mobile services will rapidly grow with NFC because of its ease-of-use for the consumer. We are already fully equiped to support content providers in planning and implementing NFC projects.”
About NFC
NFC technology evolved from a combination of contactless identification and interconnection technologies. It combines the functions of a contactless reader, a contactless card and peer-to-peer functionality on a single chip. It operates in the 13.56 MHz frequency range, typically over a distance of a few centimeters. NFC technology is standardized in ISO 18092 and ISO 21481, ECMA (340, 352 and 356) and ETSI TS 102 190.
NFC is also compatible to the broadly established contactless smart card infrastructure based on ISO 14443 A, which is Philips MIFARE® technology, as well as Sony’s FeliCa™ card.
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is one of the world’s biggest electronics companies and Europe’s largest, with sales of EUR 30.3 billion in 2004. With activities in the three interlocking domains of healthcare, lifestyle and technology and 161,500 employees in more than 60 countries, it has market leadership positions in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, color television sets, electric shavers, lighting and silicon system solutions. News from Philips is located at www.semiconductors.philips.com.
About SMART System Technologies, Inc.
SMART System Technologies, Inc. (SST) is a leading provider of merchant-centric point-of-purchase loyalty and coalition marketing applications and services. The company’s PowerPay™ solution provides a quick and rewarding cashless payment experience to consumers, and a powerful marketing tool to sports properties, branded merchants and retailers. Leveraging ISO 14443 standards for proximity card technology, PowerPay is being used by thousands of consumers and multiple retail establishments in Detroit, Philadelphia and Seattle, representing the largest deployment of multi-application contactless payment and loyalty in North America. For more information, please go to www.SmartSystemTech.com.
About 3united
The Austrian 3united is one of Europe’s market leaders in premium SMS, m-commerce and mobile content solutions. In addition to its more than 500 operations for national and international mobile network operators 3united also creates solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises. Media enterprises, ticket providers, content providers, trade or brand product retailers can generate additional revenue, save costs and substantially improve customer loyalty through the mobile services offered by 3united. 3united provides high-quality products, tested in market operation. From concept to software development to operation in Europe’s most efficient premium SMS computing centre, 3united offers its customers comprehensive service to support their core business with mobile solutions. For more information, please go to www.3united.com.