AUSTIN, Texas, June 3, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NFC SOLUTIONS SUMMIT -- The explosion of mobile device usage and newly available technologies are expected to redefine the way users interact with the world, and the technologies receiving the most attention today are Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and Host Card Emulation (HCE) with Near Field Communication (NFC). The Smart Card Alliance explores the opportunities and challenges for BLE mobile technology in a white paper released today at the 2014 NFC Solutions Summit, "Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 101: A Technology Primer with Example Use Cases."
"BLE 101: A Technology Primer with Example Use Cases" is available for free download at http://www.smartcardalliance.org/pages/publications-bluetooth-low-energy-ble-101-a-technology-primer-with-example-use-cases.
"Today the inclusion of BLE in smartphones is growing rapidly and, as a result, the technology is attracting a lot of attention for many applications including location-based services and payments," said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. "This white paper serves as a primer on BLE, compares it with other mobile technologies and outlines integrated solutions that can benefit consumers."
The white paper was developed by the Smart Card Alliance Mobile and NFC Council to provide an educational resource on BLE, describing what it is, how it's used, how it fits with other mobile technologies and what security aspects should be considered for BLE-enabled applications. The white paper:
- Defines BLE, including the key features that can benefit businesses and consumers
- Explores the origins of BLE's development, the BLE design principles and the applications to which it can respond
- Discusses BLE in the context of possible applications for, but not limited to, venue management, event management, retail customer relationship management, food services, transportation, payment and access control
- Details case studies that illustrate category-specific issues and stimulate thought on how to overcome constraints and explore new applications
- Compares BLE with similar technologies, such as WiFi, GPS, NFC and QR codes; the comparison identifies BLE's advantages and disadvantages and discusses how technologies may complement each other to enrich the application experience
- Discusses security as it relates to BLE's use for payments, mobile marketing and mobile commerce
The Smart Card Alliance is also developing "Host Card Emulation (HCE) 101," a primer on HCE that will discuss the security considerations that accompany HCE implementation and outline various use cases for both payment and non-payment applications. The HCE 101 white paper will be released this summer.
The 2014 NFC Solutions Summit continues through tomorrow, June 4, at the Renaissance Arboretum Hotel in Austin, Texas. For updates from the conference, follow @SmartCardOrgUSA on Twitter and use #NFCSolutions to participate in the conversation.
White Paper Contributors
Participants involved in the development of the "BLE 101" white paper included: Advanced Card Systems Ltd.; Booz Allen Hamilton; Capgemini USA Inc.; CH2M Hill; Cubic Transportation Systems; Discover Financial Services; First Data Corporation; Fiserv Inc.; Giesecke & Devrient; Heartland Payment Systems; Identification Technology Partners; Ingenico; Intercede; IQ Devices; Morpho; NXP Semiconductors; Oberthur Technologies; Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
About the Smart Card Alliance Mobile and NFC Council
The Smart Card Alliance Mobile and NFC Council was formed to raise awareness and accelerate the adoption of payments, loyalty, marketing, promotion/coupons/offers, peer-to-peer, identity, and access control applications using NFC. The Council focuses on activities that will help to accelerate the practical application of the technology, providing a bridge between technology development/specification and the applications that can deliver business benefits to industry stakeholders.
The Council takes a broad industry view and brings together industry stakeholders in the different vertical markets that can benefit from mobile and NFC applications. The Council collaborates on:
- Educating the market on the technology and the value of mobile and NFC applications
- Developing best practices for implementation
- Working on identifying and overcoming issues inhibiting the industry
About the Smart Card Alliance
The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.
Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought. The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S. and Latin America. For more information please visit http://www.smartcardalliance.org.