It’s hard to get a precise count of exactly how many MIFARE-based
smartcards are in use today, but the number is in the billions. MIFARE can be
found in more than 70 countries, servicing dozens of applications, from
transport and access to micropayments and more.
There’s no denying that smartcards have made everyday tasks easier,
saving time and adding convenience to things like riding the bus, entering a
hotel room or paying for a meal. But what if all those cards could be
replaced by a smartphone? There would be fewer things to carry (and lose), and
we would save on plastic and paper. Plus, the features of a smartphone app
could add extra services, like online purchases and support for loyalty
programs.
The good news is that the technology for making this happen is already in
place. NFC-enabled smartphones are compatible with the MIFARE infrastructure,
and can be used as smart card replacements. Simply tap the smartphone against a
MIFARE reader, the same way you tap a MIFARE smart card against the reader and
you’re done.
MIFARE4Mobile makes it happen
A new programming interface, called MIFARE4Mobile, helps mobile network
operators, trusted service managers and service providers manage MIFARE-based
services in NFC mobile devices. The interface is under the domain of the
MIFARE4Mobile Industry Group, which is made up of leading players in the NFC
ecosystem, including Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient, NXP, Oberthur
Technologies and STMicroelectronics.
MIFARE4Mobile is a single, interoperable API for remotely provisioning and
managing MIFARE-based services in the embedded secure elements and SIM cards
of mobile devices. It supports over-the-air (OTA) updates, so service
providers can access MIFARE resources in a secure element in a trusted and
consistent way. It also renders card content on the phone screen in a
convenient and flexible way, for a consistent user experience, and provides
full interoperability with other card formats.
The advantages of going virtual
Virtual MIFARE smartcards make transport, access, and payment that much more
flexible, and that much easier. The smartphone app can be configured to add
value with new capabilities, like using the phone to top-up an account, track
points in a loyalty program or receive a room key before arriving at a hotel.
OTA updates ensure the app is always up to date, and makes it easy to enhance
the service with new features.
Service providers considering a move to virtual MIFARE smartcards should keep
a few things in mind. It’s important, in the early phases of
development, to specify each handset model and operating system (OS) version
to be supported, so variations can be taken into account. It’s
important to do more than just copy the functionality of the plastic card,
because including value-added services is likely to be a key driver that draws
people to the new format. Also, promoting the new capabilities helps drive
acceptance and maximize the investment.
Get the details
MIFARE and MIFARE4Mobile are registered trademarks of NXP Semiconductors
N.V.
