Everything Everywhere to push NFC in the UK

MOBILE OPERATOR Everything Everywhere is doing a big push on Near Field Communications (NFC) devices, aiming to get most of its customers onto the mobile payments service by 2012.

The operator announced yesterday that it will launch the NFC enabled variant of the Samsung Galaxy S in France. Although Everything Everywhere wouldn't confirm that the NFC enabled Samsung Galaxy S is coming to the UK, let's just say that we wouldn't be surprised to see it tip up.

Another NFC handset will be launched in the UK this Thursday, Jason Rees, director of mobile payments for Everything Everywhere told The INQUIRER. This follows the launch of the Samsung Tocco Lite, which is also NFC enabled.

Rees added that NFC is being used by the operator in France for tourist information as well as vouchering. The operator is working with "a number of retail partners in the UK" and is adding things like loyalty cards to the offering.

Rees said, "For mobile payments to become the norm is not far off. First we will have cards and phones operating side by side. First we will be getting the devices out, then we will work on consumer awareness."

He added that 2012 will be a big year for NFC, despite many being locked into two year contracts that will stop them from getting NFC phones in the near future.

Those locked into contracts who really want NFC can fork out for a pay as you go (PAYG) handset. However, the operator will be trying to entice people in early by sending them NFC enabled SIMs. It will also be getting the NFC enabled variants of as many handsets as it can.

Call us traditional but we're not sure if we're ready to drop our wallets any time soon, as there's something somewhat comforting about keeping your money and your phone separate. Whether we'll be eating our words next year is anyone's guess. µ