Gemalto, NXP team on SIM-based NFC solutions

NXP and smart card provider Gemalto will jointly develop NFC solutions based on SIM cards. The move aims at using the inherent SIM security for NFC applications.

The activities will focus on applications that use the Single Wire Protocol (SWP) and the MIFARE contactless payment technology. The partners plan to define and develop SIM products for SWP-based solutions.

With the move, the companies intend to facilitate the definition of standardized SIM-based NFC products and applications and to provide a basis to provide MFC-enabled mobile handsets that fulfil the security and compatibility requirements of telecommunications providers.

"We expect that a significant part of NFC-enabled mobile handsets will use the SIM card as a security feature," explained Christophe Duverne, General Manager Identification at NCP. "Within our cooperation with Gemalto, we plan to define and support a common standard which will be compatible to the existing contactless infrastructure."

After the completion of the evaluation and specification works to secure compatibility of MIFARE and SWP, NXP plans to develop a SIM-enabled NFC chip as well as a separate SIM chip. Both devices will support the SWP protocol and aim at MIFARE applications.

Gemalto intends to develop a SIM card running the respective applications and a Trusted Service Management software for banks, transportation companies and telcos that coordinates deployment and personalization of contactless mobile payment applications.