STMicroelectronics and LG Electronics Demonstrate Multiple NFC Services on LG KU380-NFC Mobile Phone

(Business News & Technology News, 6 Nov 2008)

STMicroelectronics (ST) and LG Electronics (LG) have announced an NFC (Near Field Communication) demonstration of LG's KU380-NFC phone, which uses ST's ST21NFCA system-on-chip. The KU380-NFC phone, which is among the first NFC-enabled handsets, features Paypass contactless payment capabilities enabled by a (U)SIM card, as well as contactless reader functions.

The KU380-NFC phone enhances flexibility for service developers by supporting applications running either on the terminal processor or on the (U)SIM card. Taking advantage of the ST21NFCA capabilities to support both NFC card-emulation and reader modes, the KU380-NFC phone will allow mobile network operators to validate and accelerate NFC technology deployment.

ST and LG have achieved the flexibility of the KU380-NFC mobile phone by combining an open architecture with the latest ETSI standards, such as the Host Controller Interface (HCI), Single Wire Protocol (SWP) for communication with the (U)SIM card, in addition to 13.56MHz-based RF communication standards. First KU380-NFC prototypes are being demonstrated using a Gemalto (U)SIM card, fully compliant with all relevant ETSI standards, and featuring both Reader and Paypass applications.

"The KU380-NFC phone, the first in the market to use the ST21NFCA NFC controller, is the result of a successful collaboration between LG Electronics, Gemalto and ST," says Laurent Degauque, Telecom and NFC Marketing Manager, STMicroelectronics. "Collaborating with these two leaders and pioneers in NFC technology deployment, on an end-user product that features all NFC operating modes, is a great opportunity for ST to show the benefits of the ST21NFCA's open architecture."

"Through this world premiere, and thanks to the efficient collaboration of STMicroelectronics and Gemalto, two global leaders in their respective businesses, LG is showing its strong commitment to innovate and anticipate customers needs," says Frédéric Christophe, Director Engineering and Standards, LG Electronics Mobilecomm France.

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