ByteLight, a Boston startup that provides lighting-based software, has launched a new reader. The Light Field Communication reader, which the company calls the first of its kind, is meant to provide an alternative to radio-based Near Field Communication software, providing retailers with another way to verify a customer's presence during tap-and-go check-ins and checkouts with any smartphone, according to a news release.

ByteLight also announced that it has entered into a partnership agreement with Appconomy, a cloud-based retail platform and mobile solutions provider with dual headquarters in Shanghai, China, and Austin, Texas, for the inaugural pilot of ByteLight's LFC readers and software-as-a-service solution with multiple retailers in China using The Appconomy Platform. The joint solution will allow the retailers to redeem and reward customers checking into stores, engaging in loyalty programs and making purchases, according to the news release. 

"Existing NFC readers are expensive, cumbersome and designed to support only payments, not customer loyalty and redemption," ByteLight's Dan Ryan, co-founder and CEO, said in the release. "In addition, despite a decade of hype, NFC adoption remains stagnant and is still unsupported by Apple over six generations of iPhones. Our LFC reader is designed to be a simple, cost-effective and universal solution for enabling mobile loyalty and rewards. There's no need for retailers to wait another decade for NFC to become widespread, since LFC already works on every smartphone today. And as for supporting payments — stay tuned."

According to ByteLight, its LFC readers transmit a signal via short-range light, which is picked up by a shopper's camera-equipped mobile device by touching or bringing it within close proximity. LFC readers allow customers to skip unlocking phones, launching check-in applications or searching for the store they're in by simply tapping the phone near the device, the company said. The readers plug into existing POS systems to securely verify customer location for mobile customer loyalty and redemption programs.

"We're thrilled to be entering into a partnership with ByteLight for the inaugural pilot of LFC readers," said Steve Papermaster, Appconomy's co-CEO and executive chairman of its board of directors. "With more than 350 million enabled smartphone users and a rapidly growing middle-class, China is the epicenter of the mobile commerce movement."

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