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Sirit to Enable NFC and Contactless Support for Windows Mobile(R) Operating System
Wednesday 12. March 2008 - Collaboration with Microsoft Aimed at Accelerating the Adoption of NFC and Contactless Technology in Windows Mobile(R) Phones
Sirit Inc. (“Sirit”) (TSX: SI), a leading provider of radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology, announced today a collaboration with Microsoft Corporation to bring near field communication (“NFC”) and contactless support to the Windows Mobile(R) operating system. By leveraging Sirit’s embedded software and technology, the companies aim to speed the adoption of NFC and contactless technology in Windows Mobile powered smartphones and the development of Windows Mobile powered NFC applications.
NFC is expected to have a significant impact on mobile phones and devices as well as consumer electronics. Leading analysts predict that up to 1/3 of all mobile phones will be NFC-equipped within the next 3-5 years which will enable mobile phones to operate as electronic wallets, electronic tickets and access control devices.
To date, a significant barrier to the rollout of NFC devices and applications has been the lack of readily available support for NFC and contactless in embedded operating systems. To overcome this barrier, Microsoft intends to develop application programming interfaces (APIs) and other native support in the Windows Mobile operating system for NFC and contactless technology, thereby providing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and applications developers with a consistent and easy-to-use platform for developing NFC devices and solutions. Microsoft will use Sirit technology and expertise as an important part of its development and testing program.
“As a Sponsor level member of the NFC Forum, Microsoft believes in the significant benefits that NFC and contactless technology bring to the wide range of devices powered by the Windows Mobile operating system,” said David Turner, Director of Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft. “Sirit demonstrates NFC expertise and technology, as evidenced by their work helping OEMs bring NFC products to market. We plan to utilize this expertise and Sirit’s NFC software technology to bring NFC and contactless support to the Windows Mobile operating system.
“The Windows Mobile operating system is at the heart of a broad range of devices that will be enhanced by NFC and contactless technology,” commented Chris Leong, Vice President, NFC and Contactless, Sirit Inc. “We are pleased that Sirit’s technology and expertise will help bring NFC and contactless to Windows Mobile powered smartphones. We look forward to utilizing the expertise and knowledge we develop in this collaboration to help Microsoft’s customers and partners develop NFC and contactless devices, applications, and solutions.”