EMERYVILLE, Calif., June 21, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- At QUALCOMM's BREW(r) 2007 Conference, being held June 20 - 22 in San Diego, attendees will be able to see innovation in action when NXP Semiconductors, Kyocera, Universal Studios and Kestrel Wireless demonstrate the mobile purchase and authentication of movie tickets and DVDs using an enhanced form of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The demonstration will feature Universal Studios Home Entertainment's upcoming release of The Bourne Ultimatum.
Using an NFC-enabled Kyocera mobile phone enhanced with QUALCOMM's uiOne(tm) offering and Kestrel's Radio Frequency Activation (RFA(tm)) technology, the demonstration will show how consumers can scan a 'smart' movie poster to receive information on upcoming show times and purchase tickets. They can then use their phone at a theater kiosk to print/present the tickets and upon leaving the theater receive an over-the-air coupon for the purchase of a DVD at a local NFC-enabled retailer. NXP Semiconductors is providing the NFC/RFA chips for use in the demonstration, with Kestrel demonstrating the additional benefits that result from product activation and authentication.
"NFC is enabling anytime/anywhere purchases. With RFA, we're making those purchases even more valuable," said Paul Atkinson, president and CEO of Kestrel Wireless. "The same technology that allows manufacturers and retailers to activate and authenticate products can be used as a tool to turn physical goods into tickets for virtual benefits. From digital bundles (like movie DVD and soundtrack download) to virtual coupons, consumers will interact with their products in new and beneficial ways while manufacturers and retailers create new and unique relationships with customers."
NFC is a wireless connectivity technology that enables convenient short-range communication between electronic devices. When two NFC-compatible devices are within approximately four centimeters of each other, they are able to establish a connection and transmit information back and forth. Current applications are primarily for use with mobile phones and include electronic keys, electronic wallets and e-tickets.
Kestrel's RFA technology works on top of NFC and makes possible product activation and authentication services. With activation, products are disabled at the point of manufacture and enabled only at the point-of-sale when certain criteria (such as payment) have been met. Product authentication ensures the product purchased is factory-original (not counterfeit or pirated) and purchased from a legitimate retailer. Together, these two services provide manufacturers and retailers with multiple benefits including theft prevention, reduction in packaging and increased distribution options. And when used with NFC/RFA-enabled mobile phones, new consignment opportunities arise such as on-demand activation of ink jet cartridges and DVDs.
"The ability to use a mobile phone as an information gathering device, wallet and shopping cart will change the way we interact with retailers and products in the future," said Christophe Bernard, staff manager, developer relations for QUALCOMM Internet Services. "With Kestrel's ability to activate and authenticate products, the products themselves become similar to virtual gift cards, providing consumers with access to additional content and benefits."
The demonstration will simulate a potential movie-goer/movie-buyer process in the not-too-distant future. While the demonstration showcases its application to DVDs, the companies stress that this technology can be used across all forms of consumer electronics, optical media and items such as ink jet cartridges and smart cards.
BREW solutions change the way people relate to wireless data services. By enabling discovery and delivery of high-value content, BREW creates opportunities for the wireless industry to enhance consumers' mobile data experience. QUALCOMM's comprehensive and targeted BREW Signature Solutions offer reduced time to market and lower capital investment for companies providing mobile products and services. Customers also can benefit from several modular BREW offerings including, uiOne, deliveryOne(tm) and QPoint(tm), which provide the foundation for customer-differentiated wireless data capabilities.
About Kestrel Wireless
Kestrel Wireless is a network-based service provider of business solutions and enabling technologies for retailers and manufacturers. Kestrel's proprietary RFA technology allows products to be disabled at the point of manufacture and enabled at the point of sale -- virtually eliminating the threat of theft and facilitating supply chain improvements including more efficient returns and "green" packaging alternatives. And product authentication provides the means for manufacturers and retailers to offer unique benefits to purchasers of legitimate products. Together, these solutions create billions of dollars in cost savings to manufacturers, retailers and consumers each year. www.kestrelwireless.com
QUALCOMM and BREW are registered trademarks of QUALCOMM Incorporated. uiOne, deliveryOne and QPoint are trademarks of QUALCOMM Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-looking Statements
This release may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of QUALCOMM and certain plans and objectives of QUALCOMM with respect to these items. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.