RE: BENQ, Microsoft...and Sirit...From one of wings links. Note that BenQ has assigned 200 R&D engineers to this project. Think they're committed to this?
BenQ to launch NFC phone by end of 2007
06/23/2007 (CENS)
The Taiwan-based BenQ Corporation, a brand supplier of communication devices, is to launch its E21 smartphone embedded with near field communication (NFC) solutions as its first NFC phone by the end of this year, according to company sources.
BenQ has targeted the 1.5 million passengers of Taipei's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system as the major segment for its first NFC phone, which incorporates not only the Easy Card, an IC card with electronic payment for public transport in Taipei, but also electronic wallet and security system, according to Hank Horng, BenQ`s general manager in charge of sales in Taiwan.
Accordingly, BenQ is looking to work with Farglory Land Development Co., Ltd., an affiliate of Taiwan's Farglory Group, to apply its NFC phones as part of the security system in the firm's construction projects. However, at the moment, the two sides have to overcome technical problems, like power supplies and uses of different solutions as built-in panels or subscriber identity module (SIM) cards.
Meanwhile, BenQ has unveiled its SF71 collapsible mobile phone, the brand's last dual-branded or BenQ-Siemens handset. Horng said that BenQ will resume its BenQ-branded business, and is scheduled to launch three new models, including E72, M7 and T51, at the end of August, and the T80 and E21 by the end of this year.
He emphasized that BenQ is focusing on own-brand handsets, assigning 200 R&D engineers to brand development in light of the increasing possibility of integrating all its product lines with network functions.
Incidentally, Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. has contracted Nokia to launch a total of 500 NFC phones embedded with the Easy Card function by the end of June, with such phones having been tested and approved by the Taipei MRT people.
In addition, another Taiwan-based telecom provider, Taiwan Mobile Co., Ltd., worked with Taipei Fubon Bank and MasterCard International on Mobile PayPass, a mobile-phone-based payment system, on a trial basis early this year. Such service has been fully trial tested and will be officially launched by the end of this year.