The GSMA has partnered with nine carriers to add extra functionality to its NFC Badge service at Mobile World Congress 2014, eliminating the need for visitors to present photo ID onsite.

Customers of Bouygues Telecom, Bharti Airtel, Dialog, Du, Etisalat, KT, Orange, Tata and Telstra will be able to take part in a pilot identity validation process that checks information held by their carrier — such as name and telephone number — and combines this with an automated photo ID check.

"This process will confirm the attendee's identity and enable validation of the NFC Badge before the attendee arrives at the event," the GSMA says. "Pre-validation of the NFC Badge via mobile will eliminate the need for having to show identity documents for entry into Fira Gran Via".

The expanded functionality is available to Android NFC phone users and iOS device owners who have or collect a free Incipio Cashwrap NFC case. The solution has been developed for the GSMA by Apigee.