Scholars test peer-to-peer NFC services

March 2007- In Hagenberg, Austria, 100 students and staff at the University Of Applied Sciences Of Upper Austria are trying out an advanced Near Field Communication (NFC) implementation on campus. Equipped with NFC-enabled phones, the group is evaluating a range of services including micro payment, building access, an employee identity card and a peer-to-peer (P2P) information “Take-Away” service - the first live demonstration of its kind.

Launched in November 2006 and running until July 2007, the trial involves 50 university students together with 50 professors, lecturers and employees. Each has a Samsung X700n handset incorporating NXP's PN531 NFC chip, together with a SmartMX solution featuring MIFARE and JCOP functionality. One key feature of the device is its ability to start J2ME applications when the SmartMX chip is read by an external reader.

The trial implements four NFC applications, two of which are MIFARE- based: the access control system and the employee identity card. A third service, the micro payment application, makes use of a MIFARE / JCOP combination to create an “NFC Wallet”.

The NFC Wallet functionality is based on J2ME applications. These provide a user-friendly GUI on the handset, allow users to recharge the wallet over the air and view available credit. The wallet can be easily recharged via a GPRS connection, secured through AES encryption, to a transaction server at the mobile network operator's bank. The handset also incorporates a web interface that lets users see details of their accounts.

Lastly, based on NFC's peer-to-peer functionality, the P2P Information Service allows users to “take away” pre-customized information and read it offline on the handset. Placing the handset onto the reader of the P2P information service terminal initiates authentification, after which data is downloaded. Users can subscribe to different information channels, such as menus of the campus eateries, time tables, lecture announcements and RSS feeds. A special news browser allows the information to be read, as well as offering subscription options.

The trial will provide insights into the challenges to be faced when implementing real-world NFC applications. It will also aid service providers and system integrators in the development of new NFC applications for process optimization, ticketing and payment.