Cingular, Nokia team up on NFC trial

Cingular Wireless L.L.C., Nokia Corp, Citigroup and MasterCard Worldwide have teamed up on a trial of Near Field Communication technology.
The companies are testing mobile phones with MasterCard’s PayPass contactless payment capability in New York City. The trial is expected to last between three and six months.
Trial participants will receive NFC-enabled Nokia mobile phones with the MasterCard PayPass technology. Participants will be able to make purchases at any merchant that accepts MasterCard PayPass by holding their phone near the PayPass terminal.
“Carrying a mobile phone has become almost as common as carrying a wallet,” said Scott McElroy, vice president technology realization for Cingular. “This trial will continue to help us learn more about how NFC technologies work and how customers will want to use their phones as part of their real-world transaction process.”