Use cases being trialed include delivery of up-to-date ski and weather reports to phones when devices are waved past NFC-enabled active posters, and integration of NFC with SMS and barcode-based infrastructures in bars, restaurants and shops to offer customer loyalty schemes. For example a coupon picked up from a smart poster offering discounts at a local restaurant, might be redeemed through the NFC phone using a SMS or barcode system later that evening. “Widespread adoption of NFC applications requires simplicity for users. Being able to integrate this exciting technology with existing contactless, MIFARE and barcode environments is crucial to achieve this,” commented Florent Frederix, Head of Sector RFID, Information Society and Media Directorate General, European Commission. “This first open interoperability trial will be a key milestone in positioning Europe as a globally competitive player in the NFC area which will become an important technology for the emerging Internet of Things.” “The trial requires us to bring together different technologies and partners to support our common goal,” commented Francesco Prato, Executive Vice President Ennova Research. “We expect the service and platform deployed in the Veneto region will be ready for widespread commercial deployment in 2010, coinciding with the integration of NFC into significant numbers of mobile phones.” The trial, organized by StoLPaN, is being managed by research company Ennova Research, and relies on the support of Cattid of the University of Rome, the Regione Veneto local government and AFF Hungary. The trial will use different types of NFC-enabled phones, contactless point of sales terminals from Ingenico, NFC and MIFARE technology by NXP Semiconductors, the service platform by Ennova Research and the security levels by the University of Technology of Graz. www.stolpan.com