Japanese telco NTT Docomo has teamed up with Sony and NXP Semiconductors to trial technology that lets shoppers make NFC payments without having to take their phones out of their pockets.
The system taps NXP's Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology which can track user movement and 360 degree positioning with location accuracy of a few centimetres
A concept POS device that uses the UWB technology and NXP's mobile chipset, along with the Sony Felica Rfid system, enables contactless payments without users having to take their handset out of their pockets or bags.
The partners say the technology could be used for payments in-store, at drive-throughs, at parking meters, and to ping people marketing messages.
Toyoaki Kobayashi, deputy senior GM, FeliCa Business Division, Sony Imaging Products & Solutions Inc, says: "The demonstrated use cases utilizing fine-ranging capabilities can deliver further benefits derived from FeliCa-based services."