Sony, Global HID team up to develop contactless smart card readers

HID Global will bringing its iCLASS card and reader technology to the table, which involves several security methods including a Trusted Identity Platform and encryption.

Whatever comes of this partnership should support Sony's FeliCa contactless card technology plus NFC-based applications.

FeliCa is already being used widely worldwide as over 315 million card chips are being circulated for transportation, electronic money and other endeavors around the world. Japan has incorporated the technology in at least 67 million cell phones.

That appears to be it for now as more details about specs and availability won't be announced until later this year.