INSIDE Contactless, Sagem Orga and TazTag Collaborate on NFC Mobile Payment Device

INSIDE Contactless, Sagem Orga (News - Alert) and TazTag recently announced the joint development of a new method of delivering NFC payment functionality.

Based on TazTag's innovative TazCard, the new device is currently in pre-alpha testing and shows the feasibility of an option that facilitates NFC contactless payment transactions while providing full NFC functionality for other applications.

Eric Fouchard, CEO of TazTag said that recent announcement marks a milestone in the development of commercial products for NFC payments, other NFC applications, and demonstrates the flexibility of their TazCard NFC platform. Eric added that TazTag is excited to be partnering with technology leaders like INSIDE and Sagem Orga to develop a variety of innovative solutions based on their TazCard platform.

The TazCard is a special-purpose, Java-based handheld device capable of supporting a variety of NFC applications, including payments, which is about the size of an ordinary credit card. For this new payment device, INSIDE's Java-based test payment application has been installed on a Single Wire Protocol (SWP)-enabled SIM card developed by Sagem Orga, which is connected to the INSIDE MicroRead NFC controller built into the TazCard. The TazCard utilizes INSIDE's Open NFC protocol stack. The TazCard is able to provide the user with a full NFC experience for payment and other NFC transactions with its 3.5-inch color touch screen.

Jean-Christophe Tisseuil, Head of Marketing and Business Development, telecommunications product line at Sagem Orga said that the TazCard innovation clearly demonstrates the versatility of their NFC-enabled SIM card and their interest in reaching beyond mobile phone applications to provide secure elements for innovative NFC products.

The SIM-based, SWP-compliant solution can be used for payment, identification, ticketing, loyalty and more. Through an accessory, it can be connected to MNO networks.

Charles Walton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for INSIDE Contactless (News - Alert), said that their partnership with TazTag is part of an ongoing commitment to support companies creating innovative NFC solutions based on the MicroRead platform.

INSIDE's third-generation MicroRead NFC chip provides the mature NFC implementation. The award-winning MicroRead suite combines third-generation silicon, multiple host interface support, the Open NFC protocol stack and APIs, a field-proven reference design and robust standards support.