A local presence will allow the company to accommodate the growing demand for EMV testing of NFC mobile phones, as well as be in close proximity to some of the world's advanced mobile technology pioneers.

The rapid growth of the NFC mobile market in South Korea and an increase in FIME's Korean customer-base are the key driving factors behind FIME's decision to open its Seoul laboratory. FIME will work with mobile device manufacturers and network operators to provide integration testing and certification services, ensuring that NFC-enabled handsets are fully interoperable and compliant with industry standards and EMV payment specifications prior to market release.

The new facility will complement FIME's existing network which includes ISO 17025 accredited laboratories, and research and development centres in France, Taiwan, Canada, India and Dubai which serve the company's global customer base.

Pascal Le Ray, General Manager at FIME, comments: "FIME has been active in South Korea for the past six years. The region continues to become one of the most important and fast-growing mobile contactless markets in the world, making it integral to FIME's strategic vision for growth. With 20 million Koreans predicted to own an NFC-enabled handset by the end of this year*, it is evident that South Korea is quickly becoming a global leader in the development and deployment of NFC mobile technology."

Regarding FIME's activity in South Korea, Pascal concludes: "Over the coming months, we look forward to expanding FIME's local offering from EMV testing of NFC mobile phones to include EMV payment application testing and certification for contact and contactless smart cards and terminals. This will enable FIME to secure its position as a major player in the Korean contactless mobile ecosystem."