Widget or no widget: this is the question. Go native.

Lately, I had some interesting discussions with my colleagues at sicap on how to best facilitate the on-boarding of service providers whose applications will be offered and promoted by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) via their stores and used via their wallet. Well, actually there seem to be two schools: one of them says that service providers should develop just one piece of software per mobile operating system (so-called native applications). The second one says that service providers may prefer a development using widgets which are independent from the mobile operating system. Let’s look at it more closely:

Mobile Identity - Reveal yours !

Last week, Nice became the centre of the digital identity world with not only one but four related conferences on the French Riviera. I would like to share three important developments with you.

• GSMA Mobile ID Programme
• Mobile ID Technology
• TEE standard

How to deliver great NFC user-experience. Case Study.

NFC break through seems being just in front of us when believing the expert voices. The initial hurdles have been overcome (phone, SIM & reader availability) and quite some NFC trials have been put in place by the mobile network operators (MNO). It is time now to think how to charm the customers so that they massively adopt the technology. If enchanted by their NFC user experience, a lot of them will share their experience on facebook, linkedin and other G+ so that it may become viral.

NFC: To Secure or not to Secure?

Much controversy subsists as to the security of

Near Field Communication transactions. While

defenders of NFC technology are convinced that

the very short range between the device and the

reader make it inviolable or argue that security is

not a big issue in NFC applications, others

believe that security risks will hamper the takeoff

of NFC services.

Is your NFC set up really ready for commercial success: The ultimate checklist.



After many successful NFC trials over the last years, especially in Europe, it is now time to turn them into real commercial services. The mobile operators started sourcing TSM (Trusted Service Management) platforms, maybe even wallet solutions, as well as NFC enabled SIM cards & handsets and are feeling technically ready to launch massively the NFC services.  But we noticed that many questions are still not answered by the typical TSM only or TSM & Wallet set up, and this could harm the success this of new era.

Mobile operators should proof check their NFC set up against the 7 following points:  

6 reasons for mobile operators to move to NFC now, or not at all

As discussed in a previous post, NFC services and the inherent security of the operator-owned SIM will put the operator back in the driving seat, with a walled garden of secure services. But why should mobile operators decide now if they want to move to NFC? Is the market really ready for NFC services? Why not apply a wait & see strategy to follow how the market is evolving and how the competitors are behaving and challenge them later on?

How is NFC going to create more loyal subscribers?

NFC services and the inherent security of the operator-owned SIM will put the operator back in the driving seat, with a walled garden of secure services. To market their services and retain business, operators need to create an “NFC wallet”. This is not to be confused with a mobile-money wallet which is essentially a mobile bank account for deposits and withdrawals, since it is portfolio of virtual credit, loyalty, travel or gift cards. NFC is of course not reserved for monetary transactions, but can be used for example instead of a key for companies and individuals to gain access to their home, a hotel room, the office etc.

Use the NFC wallet as application store

The NFC wallet can be used as an application store where subscribers discover, download and manage the services.