ST wins NFC design-in with LG mobile phone

LONDON — LG Electronics has developed a mobile phone that offers Near-Field Communication (NFC) capability courtesy of the ST21NFCA NFC controller IC from STMicroelectronics NV.

LG's KU380-NFC phone is due to be demonstrated at the Cartes & ID exhibition in Paris, Nov. 4 to 6, on the ST and Gemalto stands. The KU380-NFC phone features Paypass contactless payment capabilities enabled by a SIM card, as well as contactless reader functions. The KU380-NFC phone will allow mobile network operators to validate and accelerate NFC technology deployment.

The KU380-NFC mobile phone has an "open architecture" and supports ETSI standards, such as the Host Controller Interface (HCI), Single Wire Protocol (SWP) for communication with the SIM card, in addition to 13.56-MHz RF communication standards. First KU380-NFC prototypes are being demonstrated using a Gemalto (U)SIM card, fully compliant with all relevant ETSI standards, and featuring both Reader and Paypass applications.

"The KU380-NFC phone, the first in the market to use the ST21NFCA NFC controller, is the result of a successful collaboration between LG Electronics, Gemalto and ST," said Laurent Degauque, Telecom and NFC Marketing Manager, STMicroelectronics.

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