Olympics phone coming from Samsung

April 3, 2011

Samsung is to make a special mobile phone for the Olympics that will use Visa technology to allow contactless payments.
The phone, which will use “Near-Field Communications” (NFC) will be branded a "Samsung Olympic and Paralympic Games" mobile handset. The device, and any other NFC-capable phone, will be able to pay for purchases at over 60,000 locations in London.

NFC’s short-range wireless technology is used for data exchange and is being gradually rolled out around the world. Although a new report from analysts Forrester said widespread adoption was “years away”, London 2012 organisers have said that it will play a significant part in the games. It is already built into a number of phones made by Samsung, including Google’s own Nexus S. Apple is also rumoured to be thinking about installing it in a future version of the iPhone.

Details have not yet emerged of the device that Samsung will use. The company says that it will be given to Visa and Samsung sponsored athletes, and also made available across the country and later around the world.

Mobile phone coverage will, however, not be available on London’s tube in time for 2012 after talks collapsed because of funding issues. Approximately 120 stations will, however, be equipped with wifi.

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