CARTES is ‘The’ show for the global smartcard industry. It’s once a year in Paris, France, and the whole industry gathers together to discuss market trends, make announcements, demo new products/services, organize strategic meetings, and drink Champagne. This year, it seems that the smartcard industry is massively going to focus on mobility, hence on NFC. Out of eleven conferences organized at CARTES, five (C06, C09, C10, C15, and C17) will indirectly address the question of NFC deployment, and one conference (C14) will have NFC as its principal topic. The word “NFC” should be in every mouth, and hopefully in every ear.

CARTES takes place in November, and traditionally reflects the next year’s activity. The 2007 edition did not give much space to NFC, and indeed 2008 hasn’t been the great year that we all would have expected for NFC. In the view of the 2008 edition, we can hope that 2009 will be an important milestone for the emerging NFC business because all stakeholders, it seems, are finally taking place on the start line. Indeed, NFC handsets (series production) should be available at the end of 2009, and financial institutions, transportation systems and MNOs have one year to prepare for a global rollout.

Toro will go to CARTES, Toro will make demos, Toro will organize strategic meetings and, we hope, Toro will drink Champagne.

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