A partnership between Mobile Distillery, a provider of mobile application production tools and testing services, and Twinlinx, a developer of dedicated hardware for NFC-compliant phones, has led to a prototype solution that could potentially turn Bluetooth-enabled handsets into full-featured NFC devices. Twinlinx, co-founded by former Gemalto and INSIDE Contactless executive Jacek Kowalski, selected Mobile Distillery due to its involvement in developing mobile applications.
Using the existing ability of most mobile handsets to run software written in Java ME, Mobile Distillery and Twinlinx have created a Java ME layer which can access Twinlinx’s Bluetooth NFC module named My-Max. This module – which takes the form of a small sticker that fits on the back of the handset – combines a Bluetooth receiver and NFC transmitter, as well as a chip that adds a layer of encryption, making sure any data sent using the module is secure. By using Mobile Distillery’s Celsius platform, an automated porting suite, developers of NFC applications can ensure their programs are compatible with many NFC mobile handsets.
Until now, the lack of NFC handsets has prevented these services becoming a worldwide phenomenon. This new solution removes this barrier, enabling any Bluetooth capable handset–approximately 60% of current devices–to also use NFC.
The first prototypes will be displayed in Twinlinx’ booth at CARTES and IDentification tradeshow in Paris Nov. 4-6. ![[end]](/resources/bullet/nfcnews-4.gif)
