Host Card Emulation in Android: What Does it Mean? Android KitKat 4.4 spreads a new buzz around Host Card Emulation (HCE). HCE is wind in the sails of near field communication (NFC) based transactions. But what exactly is HCE? HCE is the virtual representation of a smart card using only software. It allows a mobile device to emulate a payment card and make NFC mobile payments. Transaction credentials no longer need to be stored inside the phone (the secure element) but can be hosted remotely: in the cloud. This offers more control and direct access to application issuers: it eases the use of NFC. Android dominates 81% (3rd quarter of 2013) of global smartphone shipments. Service Providers (SPs) are now able to offer direct services to a large majority of smartphone users. What does all this mean? HCE is now a viable alternative for many card emulation projects since no physical secure element is needed in the phone. Service providers now have more available business models and partners to work with. HCE is ideal for solutions where a physical secure element adds insufficient value to justify additional costs: loyalty – couponing – access control Service providers can also opt for a hybrid solution: use the flexibility of the cloud with the security of the physical secure element. The cloud offers greater processing power and greater storage to load any number of cards… …while the physical secure element contains the levels of accepted security. Interested to learn more? Watch our video!

1. Host Card Emulation in Android:
What Does it Mean?

2. Android KitKat 4.4
spreads a new buzz around
Host Card Emulation (HCE).

3. HCE is wind in the sails
of near field communication
(NFC) based transactions.

4. But what exactly is HCE?

5. HCE is the virtual representation
of a smart card using only software.

6. It allows a mobile device
to emulate a payment
card and make NFC
mobile payments.

7. Transaction credentials
no longer need to be
stored inside the phone
(the secure element)
but can be hosted
remotely: in the cloud.

8. This offers more control
and direct access to
application issuers;
it eases the use of NFC.

9. Android dominates 81%*
of global smartphone
shipments.
*3rd quarter of 2013: http://bit.ly/1cku3FI

10. Service providers are now able
to offer direct services to a
large majority of smartphone
users.

11. What does all this mean?

12. HCE is now a viable alternative
for many card emulation projects
since no physical secure element
is needed in the phone.

13. Service providers now have
more available business models
and partners to work with.

14. HCE is ideal for solutions where
a physical secure element adds
insufficient value to justify
additional costs:
• loyalty
• couponing
• access control

15. Service providers can also opt for a
hybrid solution: use the flexibility of
the cloud with the security of the
physical secure element.
SE
SE

16. The cloud offers
greater processing
power and greater
storage to load
any number of
cards...

17. ...while the physical
secure element
contains the levels
of accepted security.

18. Interested to learn more?
Watch our video!

19. Martin Cox
Global Head of Sales
m.cox@bellid.com
With over 20 years of expertise, Bell ID is considered the world’s leading provider of
lifecycle management solutions for tokens (e.g. smart cards, mobile NFC phones)
deployed in single and multi-application programmes.
www.bellid.com