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Near Field Communication and all contactless technology

NFC Times Exclusive: Samsung Electronics has split the NFC chip supply contracts for its new Galaxy Note 3, possibly the first major NFC device that has multiple chip suppliers, NFC Times has learned.

NFC Times Exclusive: Chip supplier Inside Secure plans to support Mifare Classic on its new embedded secure element for NFC phones and contends it does not need a license from Mifare owner NXP Semiconductors because the technology is in the public domain. A representative of NXP warned against the move.

At least two-thirds of NFC phones shipped this year will pack embedded secure elements–offering the potential for service providers to put payment and other secure applications on the chips and avoid working with mobile operators.

Samsung Electronics has changed NFC technology suppliers for its flagship Galaxy S 4, switching to an NFC controller from Broadcom and a large-memory embedded chip from STMicroelectronics, running software from Oberthur Technologies, NFC Times has learned.

The embedded chip in Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 will eventually come preloaded with payment applications from other brands, in addition to Visa payWave, the device maker revealed Thursday, in announcing its much-anticipated Galaxy S 4 smartphone.

BARCELONA – Visa and Samsung Electronics have announced a landmark agreement that will see a Visa payWave application preloaded on the embedded secure elements in forthcoming NFC-enabled Samsung devices.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – NFC technology this year is likely to make its way into a greater variety of consumer products, including televisions, DVD players, digital cameras, even an automatic vacuum cleaner, if demonstrations at last week’s International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas are any indication.

The 10-year anniversary of the official birth of NFC came and went quietly on Sept. 5, 2012.

One of Hong Kong’s largest banks and a major telco have announced plans to commercially launch NFC payments during the first half of 2013, putting a MasterCard PayPass credit application onto SIM cards issued by PCCW mobile.

China Mobile reportedly plans to sell 10 million 3G NFC phones next year and to sign up 3 million users, according to a presentation by the telco’s vice general manager for e-commerce Wednesday at the NFC & Mobile Money Summit.