Wireless chip maker Broadcom is buying out Innovision Research & Technology for $47.5 million, according to businessweek.com.

Broadcom has reportedly acquired the short-range data communications company specifically for its NFC products and technology. 
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Veteran smart phone provider RIM has an opportunity to step up and lead the mobile industry, even in the face of increasing competition from Apple and Google, according to analysis from the Gerson Lehrman Group.

In order to take the reins, GLGroup says RIM has to invest new business avenues, including mobile payment, mobile advertising and revamping the BlackBerry App Store. 
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Gartner has released a new report naming the Asia-Pacific region as the leading market for mobile payment adoption, with the number of users in the region predicted to increase by 50% from 41.8 million last year to 62.8 million by the end of 2010, according to ZDNet Asia.

Gartner also expects the number mobile payment users worldwide to jump from 70.2 million 108.6 million over the same time period, representing a 54% increase. 
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The NFC Forum, a non-profit industry association aimed at advancing the global use of NFC technology, announced the winners of the NFC Forum Global Competition 2010 at the organization’s all-member meeting in Karlshamn, Sweden.

The competition was divided into two sectors: the Commercial Track for business ideas that address a specific market, business, or consumer need or want, and the Research Track for the academic community, including university student teams and institutions. 
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Dubai’s Simage Technologies has unveiled its new contactless terminal, a multi-function device designed for use in financial services, the public sector, transportation and mobile communications.

The compact, portable contactless terminal features a touchpad screen, printer and multi-biometrics support for user authentication, and supports ISO 14443 Type A/B standards as well as the ISO 21481 standard for NFC-enabled devices. 
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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. 
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MasterCard PayPass stickers, now available for Citi credit cards can be affixed to the back of any mobile device and used to make contactless payments at merchants that accept PayPass transactions.

Citi’s contactless MasterCard PayPass sticker is supplied by Oberthur Technologies. In early summer, Citi will roll out a PayPass locator app that searches and maps the nearest PayPass merchants. The plan is to also release location-based services that would enable consumers to find deals close to them. 
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