That doesn't mean that we won't see other applications for NFC-enabled phones in the next two to three years, says Walter. We will need to see big retail groups, mobile operators and banks cooperate closely to nurture an NFC ecosystem based on a sound business model that works for all of them - and that could take some time. Retailers and banks will need to see some clearly defined benefits in security, convenience and cost-reduction before they adopt NFC in a big way. It took a good 10 years from when banks first started talking about EMV until it become common in South African shops - and even now the rollout isn't 100% complete. In South Africa, it is the capital-intensive process of rolling out point of sales terminals by stores, hotels, restaurants, services firms and other merchants that will be the big barrier to adoption, believes Walter. The growth is exponential, but even in advanced markets, NFC looks like it could be two to three years away from mainstream adoption. With just 30 million NFC handsets sold in 2011, these devices represent a tiny fragment of the overall mobile phone market. Shipments are forecast to touch 700 million units in 2016. According to research by Berg Insight, global sales of handsets with NFC increased ten-fold in 2011 to 30 million units. Yet we are still a long way off from the critical mass that would really justify massive investment in the technology by banks and retailers.ĭespite the many experiments with NFC as a payment technology in the international market, it still is an immature technology far from the mainstream. Most of the major handset manufacturers are bringing NFC to market in the latest models of their mid to high-end smartphones. But, as yet, there are not enough NFC compatible handsets in the market, nor is there a compelling commercial model for the rollout of the technology in South Africa. NFC has proven itself to be a viable technology in field trials in countries such as the US, and South African banks are reportedly also trialling NFC.

It will enable consumers to make secure payments to compatible point of sale terminals or to another user's smartphone. NFC is a short-range wireless technology that will eventually allow people to use their mobile phone as a wallet.

There is little appetite among institutions to drive adoption of yet another new point-of-sale payment technology just as the end of their protracted rollout of the EMV credit card standard is in sight.

Nokia asha 303 skype free download