Xperia smartphones geared for NFC

Sony Ericsson is set to have near field communications (NFC) technology built into its Android smartphones, reports 3G.co.uk.

Sony Ericsson has chosen NXP Semiconductors to integrate NFC chips in its Android Xperia smartphones.

The software that NXP provides is open source and will support Google Wallet, which is Android's Native NFC application.

The hardware solution that NXP will use will include an NFC radio controller and an embedded secure element which enables mobile transactions.

The Mobile Indian says with Google including the Google Wallet service in the Android operating system, it would not come as a surprise if more smartphone manufacturers start integrating NFC technology into their smartphones.

NFC is expected to accrue around $50 billion by 2014, with about 20% of all smartphones being integrated with NFC, according to Sell My Mobile.com.

NFC technology itself was co-invented by NXP Semiconductors, who also are said to have been a co-founder of the NFC Forum in 2004 when the technology was being developed and standardised.