Sony Ericsson preparing NFC chips for Android smartphones
Google already promised at the launch of Google Wallet that NFC technology would be coming to more Android handhelds beyond the Nexus S. Sony Ericsson is helping out.
Answering the call for near field communications chips is NXP, which will provide "complete embedded, secure NFC solutions."
Specifically, Sony Ericsson will be implementing NXP's NXP PN65 NFC solution for its upcoming Android-based handhelds intended for featuring mobile payments support. That NFC option will also include a radio controller, the typical NFC software and embedded security measures such as advanced cryptography.
However, neither Sony Ericsson nor Google have announced specific smartphone models that will sport this NFC power. It also has not been announced when we could expect to see these Android-based Sony Ericsson mobile devices ready to make purchases via Google Wallet.
If Google plans to roll out its Wallet mobile payments service nationwide this year (beyond the beta tests in New York City and San Francisco this summer), then the Goog is going to need many more NFC-enabled Android smartphones swirling around to make it a success.
And for Sony Ericsson, this could be a real coup for the cell phone maker. It's Android handsets haven't been complete smash hits in the past, and the Xperia Play already has enough pressure riding on it. If Sony Ericsson can produce some awesome and competitive smartphones at the right price point running Android 2.3 or higher with NFC on-board, then it could beat out other mobile device manufacturers that are likely working NFC-enabled phone themselves.
Related: