INSIDE Contactless, Sagem Orga and TazTag have announced the joint development of a new method of delivering NFC (Near Field Communications) payment functionality. Based on TazTags TazCard, the new device is currently in pre-alpha testing and shows the feasibility of an option that facilitates NFC contactless payment transactions, while providing full NFC functionality for other applications as well.

“(This) announcement marks a milestone in the development of commercial products for NFC payments and other NFC applications, and demonstrates the flexibility of our TazCard NFC platform,” says TazTag CEO, Eric Fouchard. “TazTag is excited to be partnering with technology leaders like INSIDE and Sagem Orga to develop a variety of innovative solutions based on our TazCard platform.”

About the size of a credit card, the TazCard is a special-purpose, Java-based handheld device capable of supporting a variety of NFC applications, including payments. For this new payment device, INSIDEs Java-based test payment application has been installed on a Single Wire Protocol (SWP)-enabled SIM card developed by Sagem Orga, which is connected to the INSIDE MicroRead NFC controller built into the TazCard. The MicroRead suite combines third-generation silicon, multiple host interface support, the Open NFC protocol stack and APIs, a field-proven reference design, and robust standards support. With a 3.5-inch color touch screen, the TazCard is able to provide the user with a full NFC experience for payment and other NFC transactions.

“This TazCard innovation clearly demonstrates the versatility of our NFC-enabled SIM card and our interest in reaching beyond mobile phone applications to provide secure elements for innovative NFC products,” says Jean-Christophe Tisseuil, Head of Marketing and Business Development, Telecommunications Product Line at Sagem Orga. “We believe this device will enable card issuers to provide their customers with a viable NFC bridge – a key success factor towards market adoption of mobile NFC payments.”