Leading Mobile Device Makers Pledge Support For Carrier-Led NFC Venture Isis. Isis, the carrier-led joint venture between AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, is today announcing support for its mobile wallet system from the majority of leading device makers, including HTC, LG, Motorola, RIM, Samsung and Sony Ericsson, as well as from NFC hardware provider Device Fidelity.
All of the handset makers are now committed to introducing handsets that will include Isis’ NFC and related technology standards. Isis represents the carriers’ attempt at inserting themselves into the mobile wallet and mobile payments space in order to compete head on with other mobile wallet providers, including those from credit card companies, banks and platform providers, like Google with its Google Wallet program for Android handsets. The technology in Isis’ mobile wallet uses NFC, or “near field communication,” which enables short-range wireless transactions at point-of-sale. NFC forecasts vary, with ABI Research estimating 35 million handsets shipped this year, and double that next year.
Katango brings circles to Facebook, ratifies Google+ circles. Katango brings Google+ circles to Facebook, making Facebook better. Much much better. It’s a shame Katango is just an iPhone app right now. Katango is an iPhone app which makes managing Facebook friends and privacy easy. It’s what katango calls – personal crowd control. For the sake of simplicity and relating to something we already know, this is what I call Circles as in Google+ circles.