Sequent Sponsors Sprint Hackathon Contest to Enable Branded NFC Applications

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sprint has joined forces with Sequent to enable Sprint's Pinsight Touch™ program with NFC-enabled smartphone apps and services. Sprint's Pinsight Touch program leverages Sequent secure-element TSM and Sequent Wallet Management Platform to provide secure management and smartphone apps access to millions of Sprint Android Smartphones.

At the Sprint Developer Program Hackathon event today, Android application developers will get access to Sequent's Software Developer Kit (SDK), enabling them to easily integrate secure NFC transactions such as wallet transactions, access and transit into their applications. Sequent developers and executives will be onsite at the event, which is part of MobileCON 2013, to assist application developers and name the winner of the $3,000 cash prize for Best NFC App.

Using the Sequent SDK, card issuers, merchants and vendors can add secure NFC transaction capabilities to their applications for the first time. Sprint consumers can make NFC transactions with no additional hardware or software required—a win-win for consumers, merchants and card issuers.

NFC has become a de facto standard and smartphone makers increasingly are adding NFC technology to their handsets. Many Sprint handset models are already NFC-enabled, with even more to be added later this year and throughout 2014. According to IMS Research, industry-wide shipments of NFC-ready phones are expected to grow ten-fold from 120 million in 2012 to 268 million in 2013 to 1.2 billion units in 2017.

Sprint has tied-in Pinsight Media+™, the mobile media company powered by Sprint to incorporate a suite of media tools into the Pinsight Touch program which can assist issuers and merchants in driving the discoverability of their mobile applications and maximizing customer acquisition.

"Pinsight Touch gives businesses innovative ways to provide secure transaction services to users through familiar applications they know and trust," said Kevin McGinnis, vice president of Pinsight Media+ at Sprint. "The addition of Sequent to Pinsight Touch can let Sprint customers access secure applications, enabling them to potentially leave their wallet and transit pass at home."

"We're very excited to provide the technology that opens a new world of opportunities for issuers, developers and brands working with Sprint," said Robb Duffield, CEO of Sequent. "Our relationship showcases how the Sequent platform is changing the way mobile users are transacting business—and how easy it is for merchants, card issuers and mobile network operators to immediately take full advantage of secure, mobile-application opportunities."

For more information about Sequent's Application Developer Program, visit http://sprinthackathon2013.eventbrite.com/.

About Sequent

Sequent is a leading provider of Trusted Service Manager (TSM) and wallet management software and services that enable banks and card issuers to provision and manage card credentials on the secure elements of mobile phones. Its wallet-enablement platform and SDK enable the easy addition of Near Field Communication (NFC) payments and other credentials into branded, mobile apps for consumers. For more information, visit http://www.sequent.com.

About Sprint

Sprint offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint served more than 53 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2013 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Learn more at www.sprint.com.

About Pinsight Media+

Pinsight Media+ is a mobile media company powered by Sprint. Working directly with brands, advertisers and app developers, Pinsight Media+ delivers unique mobile advertising, mobile commerce, analytics and other premium services leveraging Sprint's 53 million customers and beyond. For more information, visit www.pinsightmedia.com.

SOURCE Sequent Software