02 Wireless Festival goes high-tech

Swarovski crystal NFC-enabled VIP wrist bands

4 June 2007 12:58 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

This year's O2 Wireless Festival is going high-tech with the use of Near Field Communication that will give Oyster card swipe functionality to mobile phones, making it possible for people to wave their handsets to pay for purchases, download content or even share information.

O2 will be using NFC technology to control access into its backstage hospitality area at the festival, with a limited number of guests being provided with a special wristband which allows access simply by swiping it
past a NFC-enabled mobile phone.

Of course with it being a glammed up muso event, it won’t be just any old wrist band design – but a limited edition Swarovski crystal-studded 02 VIP-only effort.

Other tech-themed innovations include O2's mobile ticket sales (with £200,000 worth sold this year) and special O2 Bluetooth Stations that will let users up- and download festival pics or videos.

For those not in possession of a crystal encrusted wrist band, a mobi-ticket or any other kind of access to the actual event, a dedicated O2 Wireless Festival site will be available on O2 Active, offering festival content to download, travel news, schedules and exclusive backstage images.