Google to introduce smartwatch and NFC ring, bake payments into Android KitKat

Android 4.4: Screenshots indicate that KitKat could feature built-in NFC payments

As speculation builds for the likely launch of the Google Nexus 5 and new Android KitKat operating system later this month, rumours suggest Google could also unveil a smartwatch and NFC ring.

Both Droid Life's Kellen Barranger and Android Police's Artem Russakovskii suggest a smartwatch, codenamed Gem, could be on its way to rival Samsung's recently announced Galaxy Gear.

Barranger also points to another potential device, known as Sauron, that could be an NFC ring likely used as an accompaniment to the Nexus 5 for unlocking the smartphone.

These new devices could also link up with another possible move, to include native support for NFC payments within KitKat.

Softbank offers Fujitsu Arrows A NFC phone with finger sensor

Japanese carrier Softbank has unveiled the Arrows A 301F, an NFC smartphone built by Fujitsu that includes a fingerprint reader on the rear of the phone for unlocking the device.

The Arrows A comes with a 2,660mAh battery that lasts for three days on a full charge and takes just ten minutes to charge up for 24 hours usage.

The device is powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 800 2.2GHz quad-core processor, runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and features a 13.1 megapixel camera complemented by a 5-inch 1080p display.

The Arrows A will be available in black, white or pink from December 2013.

Sprint is going to press his Isis 'open' platform for NFC and will not offer his own purse

Spint, the third-largest U.S. mobile operator has announced the release of its highly anticipated mobile commerce platform based on NFC, with plans to introduce a new "open" model for payments, transport ticketing, access control and commercial applications, all using NFC.

Sprint announced that its new platform Pinsight Touch is designed to be open to third-party developers and service providers, with a concept that is intended to grant greater access to the secure element in NFC phones from Sprint, than models such solution providers purse as Isis and Google. Sprint said that the platform will connect with a targeted advertising service Pinsight Media +. But Sprint has no plans to create its own mobile wallet.

As first reported in June 2012, Sprint plans to use embedded chips in devices NFC, which he sells for the creation of an open model Touch.Also, as previously reported, the platform will support applications purses and other service providers. They can be a bank that wants to introduce payments using their bank or shop applications with loyalty cards.