The partners are keen to extend the payment functionality delivered to trialists as part of the O2 Wallet and are actively discussing the opportunities to develop the trial service further in 2008. Possible developments include PIN capability, over GBP 10 purchases and reloadable / credit funds capability.

The O2
AEG Europe, which operates The O2, will also be looking into how the NFC handset can be used to enhance the customer experience at The O2. All trialists will be able to use their NFC handsets to gain entry into the blueroom at The O2 - the exclusive bar for O2 customers and guests in the venue. The experience will be managed by O2 Angels whose own NFC handsets will display the name of the trialists enabling a personalised greeting into the blueroom.

Cath Keers, Customer Director, O2 UK continued: “This trial is going to provide insights which will prove crucial to getting the customer experience right as we bring NFC on mobile to market. But the trial is just the start of this journey. For this to work we will need the whole ecosystem to come together which means mobile operators, banks and retailers all working together to fulfill a shared vision. If we get this right we can place the UK at the forefront of technology innovation.”