Nokia has recruited the makers of the megahit "Angry Birds" game to give a boost to short-range technology that may become the wireless standard for consumers paying for merchandise with a swipe of the handset.

The cellphone maker is working on completing an upgrade of its Symbian software in coming months that will switch on the near-field communications capability on its C7 smartphone, said Sixten Sandstroem, a Nokia manager responsible for business partnerships in so-called NFC. The model, which went on sale with T-Mobile USA last month as the Astound, is Nokia's first widely sold handset that carries the NFC function.

Rovio Mobile, maker of "Angry Birds," is taking the mobile-phone game to its next level with an NFC-enabled version. "Angry Birds Magic" will give players 20 additional screens in which they fire birds from a slingshot at structures built by their enemies. Five playing scenes are available from the start. Users must then find other players with NFC-equipped phones and tap handsets with them to unlock further levels.

Source: Tbo.com