Near Field Communications Handsets and Tags, NFC Pilots and Projects

TazTag launches TazBox for a contactless home or office

Monday, June 21, 2010

TazTag has announced the launch of its new TazBox , a device designed to give users the ability to use contactless technology in the home or office.

The new product contains the infrastructure needed to use all NFC-enabled devices such as smart phones or the TazTag’s own TazCard, as well as next-gen loyalty and payment cards.


TazTag says the device is geared towards home care and services, acting as a link between users and service providers using its internet connection via its Zigbee gateway. The company says it can also be used to demonstrate new NFC mobile phones in phone stores and points of sale.

The TazBox is powered via electrical socket and can be placed on any desk or counter, requiring no connection to a computer.

The device, which connects to the back-end either via Ethernet, WiFi or 3G, also features a customizable design and a color touch screen. [end] 

Office Depot has joined Home Depot as the second U.S. retailer to test PayPal’s point of sale payments solution, according to TG Daily.

Customers at select Office Depot stores can now make payments directly from their PayPal balance by simply punching in their mobile phone number and PayPal PIN. The solution requires only a software update at the point of sale for the merchant, and customers do not need to use a payment card, contactless fob or NFC-enabled phone to make a transaction.

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A new survey from Euro Kartensysteme shows that Germans are starting to embrace the idea of contactless and NFC payments.

Out of 1,040 Germans aged 18-59, 43% responded that they would like to make contactless payments if given the opportunity, of which 58% percent would make their payments with a debit card card, 41% with a credit card and 50% with an NFC phone.

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Turkcell, Turkey’s largest mobile operator, has announced the launch of its Cep-T Cüzdan NFC mobile wallet application on BlackBerry Bold 9900 smart phones.

Turkcell subscribers with NFC-enabled Bold 9900s can now use the mobile wallet service to make contactless payments at any MasterCard PayPass-enabled point of sale across Turkey, as well as abroad.

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On Track Innovations has received a U.S. patent for adding contactless capability to existing mobile handsets through contactless SIM technology.

U.S. Patent No. 8,090,407, aka “Contactless Smart SIM,” covers the capabilities necessary to turn existing mobile handsets into NFC-enabled devices through the use of a SIM card and a specifically designed antenna, all while keeping the phone and operating system “fully agnostic,” says OTI.

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Superdrug, one of Britain’s largest beauty and health retailers, has introduced contactless payment for its in-store customers, according to Retail Gazette.

Created by Streamline and Visa Europe, the contactless system will enable customers to make payments of up to £15 (approx. USD $23) by simply waving their contactless bank card at the more than 50 participating Superdrug stores in London and Liverpool.

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Visa Europe has announced that NFC-enabled smart phones from Samsung, LG and Research In Motion have been certified for use with Visa payWave, Visa’s mobile application for payments at the point-of-sale.

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