3GSM will be the setting of the latest large-scale demonstration of Near Field Communication Technology (NFC) -- the easy-to-use short range wireless technology. Royal Philips and Telefonica Moviles Espana,a Spanish mobile operator, will demonstrate the simplicity of NFC technology by providing 200 selected attendees of the 3GSM World Congress with NFC-enabled Samsung SGH-X700 mobile phones to be used in a variety of applications throughout the conference and exhibition area. With the NFC-enabled Samsung SGH-X700 mobile phones, the 200 participants can conduct various transactions throughout the Congress, including secure payment and exhibition and conference access, simply with the swipe of their mobile phones.

One of the most important new mobile communications technologies to be showcased at 3GSM, NFC is the most promising new wireless technology to hit the market in recent years. NFC is seeing significant market traction with major commercial trials currently running in France, Germany, Taiwan and the United States. The large demonstration at 3GSM by Philips, co-inventor of the NFC technology, Samsung and Telefonica Moviles Espana, gives the mobile industry's most influential players the chance to experience the convenience themselves.

"Contactless payment is proving to be one of the most compelling applications of NFC technology because consumers immediately see the benefits. Who doesn't like the idea of spending less time waiting in line to make purchases, or carrying fewer items with them when they go out? NFC also benefits retailers who can serve more customers and see fewer people walk away from long lines," said Frans van Houten, CEO, Philips Semiconductors.

According to Gartner research vice president Stan Bruederle, in addition to being well suited for contactless payments using your mobile phone, NFC can be used for simply establishing secure wireless connectivity connections with your mobile phone and other devices using wireless universal serial bus (USB), Bluetooth, and other connectivity technologies.

"We see NFC as an important new option that consumers will be requesting as part of their new services," stated Juan Luis Mirabet, consumer general manager of Telefonica Moviles Espana. "It extends the ways in which mobile phones can be used, and we're pleased to have the opportunity to meet existing and emerging consumer demands by providing new applications and services, as well as enabling a truly mobile lifestyle where they can connect anytime, anywhere."

Secure contactless payment: Paying for items has never been easier. Each phone comes equipped with e-money that can be spent at a specially equipped kiosk at the Philips booth. By using the touch-screen kiosk, users can easily select and pay for their choice of CDs, DVDs and books using the NFC-enabled phone. After the transaction, the money is deducted from the purse and a message pops up on the phone screen indicating the balance account.

Exhibition and conference access: When users wish to access the conference or exhibit area, they simply pass their NFC-enabled phone in front of the entrance booth just by holding their NFC phone close to the PDAs being used at all entrances for access. The PDA reads the phone, confirms the validity of the badge, and in an instant, the transaction occurs and the authorized attendee can enter the conference.

Other applications and services that are part of the demonstration include on-site registration, information exchange with the lead retrieval system, an electronic business card with the user's personal registration data stored on the phone and the opportunity to win prizes.