Samsung cooperates with SmartLink to develop the ,Contactless Companion Platform'

Jörg Suchy from Samsung Semiconductor wrote an article in https://contactlessintelligence.com/2016/05/11/vir...

He formulates some very interesting questions: "What if the phone is not the user’s form factor of choice? Would NFC services be more successful if we were accessing them in a different way?

What if these services could easily be transferred from one NFC device to another? In this world, the phone’s not only a means for mobile payment – it turns into a convenient distribution and management interface for NFC services and moves them onto other companion devices..." 

Jörg answers this questions as follows:  

"With a growing user base, this capability could extend the range of NFC usages beyond already existing services and groups. And if we could replace cash, keys, access, transport tickets or loyalty cards within a single passive device, it could lead to a real, positive impact on our lives.

To work towards this vision, Samsung has been cooperating with Swiss company SmartLink to develop the Contactless Companion Platform. This innovative platform is a direct result of the previously introduced, CIPURSE-based, OCAP (Open Contactless Application Platform) but with a dedicated focus on wearables and standards.

Here is a potential use case for the Contactless Companion Platform: When you are planning a run or a visit to the spa, you don’t necessarily want to take your phone with you, but a bit of hassle-free pocket money. And here is where the CCP comes in: Request €10 on your NFC phone for a wearable and transfer a token with limited validity (e.g. a 6 hour time stamp) with a simple tap.

Using the same simple method, you could transfer money to the wearable of your kids for usage at school or outdoor activities. Here you could add more token properties, such as validity, amount, and the shopping location. Based on the backend system intelligence, the money loaded onto the wearable can then only be spent at, for example, the school canteen or designated tennis club.

But the Contactless Companion Platform is not just limited to payment. With the same process, transport or event tickets, vouchers, coupons, door keys, and many more could easily be transferred from an NFC phone to a wearable, a key fob, or any other form factor of choice equipped with a minuscule chip and antenna. Apart from NFC phones, other load and top up options can of course also be used. Merchants could use the POS and activate services during the payment process, for example. An IT-infrastructure equipped with a contactless reader could distribute services; this could be anything from your laptop up to your local ATM. The simplicity of the concept is what makes it truly exciting.

Running the CCP are Samsung’s contactless smart card products. They have industry certification and are available in volume today. Using Dual Interface chips for the Contactless Companion Platform has the advantage that the CCP runs independent from the companion main system and doesn’t consume any battery power.

Furthermore, existing wearable products could be upgraded immediately by adding the CCP. High security is achieved due to smart card technology, token concept and token properties.

The Contactless Companion Platform has a dedicated focus on standards and wearables. This platform targets every NFC phone user and is considered to support EMV, closed loop payment, transport, access control, and value added services globally.

With such a versatile platform and a growing use of wearables, isn’t it time to leave the phone behind?"

source: https://contactlessintelligence.com/2016/05/11/vir...