Use of Near Field Communication (NFC) contactless payment technology in mobile devices is expected to begin “an explosive growth phase” from next year, according to new figures from iSuppli, buoyed by support for the technology from major industry names such as Nokia and Google/Android. The research firm said that worldwide shipments of mobile phones with built-in NFC capability will rise to 220.1 million units in 2014, up by a factor of four from 52.6 million in 2010. In 2014, 13 percent of phones shipped will integrate NFC, up from just 4.1 percent this year. “The mobile payment revolution [is] on the verge of being unleashed by NFC,” said iSuppli’s Jagdish Rebello. “With NFC technology expected to be integrated into Nokia’s cell phones and Google’s Android operating system, the first shots of this revolution will be fired next year.”

Nokia has said it will support NFC in all new smartphone models introduced in 2011, while Google has announced support for NFC in Android 2.3 (aka Gingerbread), set for release this week. Apple is also thought to be planning to support NFC in the next version of the iPhone. Support is also building among operators. In the US, AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile have launched a joint venture known as ISIS that will develop a mobile payment system based on NFC with a full nationwide rollout scheduled for 2013. “iSuppli believes that 2012 will be the make-or-break year for NFC,” said Rebello said. “With all the ongoing and planned NFC trials in different regions of the world—as well as support for the technology by major stakeholders, including wireless operators, financial institutions and banks—it is imperative that business models be established that allow each of the nodes to see value in offering the service.”