Orange gets off to a flying start with NFC

The French telco France Telecom-Orange is taking part in a new trial of near-field communication (NFC) technology to enable passengers to pass through airport security checks using only their mobile phone. The trial, which involves Orange, handset manufacturer BlackBerry, airport security firm SITA and Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, will run over the summer and involve 50 frequent flyers. The smartphone holds information which allows the passenger to pass through security checks and boarding gates, while at the same time keeping the user updated with flight information.