NTT Docomo teams with KT Corporation on NFC

Japanese and Korean operators to develop cross-border services for contactless mobile payments, ticketing, coupons and more.

The two companies are developing common NFC specifications that will be incorporated in devices, networks and billing platforms.

Here's another example of how far Western markets lag their Asian counterparts. Contactless payments may be all the rage in Europe and the US, but there are few commercial services.

Docomo has been providing NFC-based Osaifu-Keitai mobile-wallet services in Japan since 2004. KT has been operating a post-paid mass transit service in South Korea since 2002.

With this partnership, they will target customers travelling between the two countries using compatible Android handsets. They aim to launch in their respective markets of Japan and South Korea from around the end of 2012.

The ultimate goal is globally compatible NFC services, and this is why Docomo has also formed strategic tie-ups with Visa, Samsung and SIM card vendor Gemalto.