Orange and T-Mobile (via their UK joint venture Everything Everywhere) are going to roll out NFC mobile payments this summer. The payments processor is Barclaycard. Reportedly more than 40,000 stores are set to accept NFC-based mobile payments.

According to the release:

• The UK’s first commercial contactless mobile payments service, to be rolled out by Everything Everywhere and Barclaycard by early summer (second quarter of 2011)
• The new service will offer consumers greater convenience and control on the high street with over 40,000 stores ready to accept contactless payments
• Industry backed secure SIM-based payments approach, ensures excellent purchase protection for consumers
• Latest move builds on Everything Everywhere and Barclaycard’s ongoing partnership, which has already produced a co-branded contactless credit card and the forthcoming Orange Cash pre-paid contactless card

The Google Nexus S is compatible with the service. And the iPhone 5, slated for summer 2011 release, is apparently going to have NFC built in. It's not clear how many other handsets will work with the new system.

Contactless payments allow users to waive their device in front of a terminal to conduct the payment transaction. Many will be watching the UK roll out to see how well it goes.

There are many other ways to do mobile payments/mobile wallets without NFC, however. And those methods will likely gain acceptance in the US before the requisite NFC infrastructure is developed. 

See related posts:

• Apple, NFC and You & Me
• Hulu for Mobile Payments: Carriers Form Isis Joint Venture
• Starbucks Is the 'American Idol' of Mobile Payments
• Starbucks Will Mainstream Mobile Payments
• Carriers Conspire Against Credit Cards to Rule Mobile Payments
• iPay: Will iTunes Become a Payments Platform?