MICROS Systems Inc., a provider of hardware and software solutions for the hospitality industry, and point of sale provider VeriFone Systems Inc., have announced a new point-of-sale solution that lets consumers pay their restaurant tabs using mobile phones enabled with Near Field Communications (NFC) technologies. The solution also works with traditional payment cards as well as facilitating mobile applications for things like line busting and coupon redemption.

"Widespread adoption of NFC requires a restaurant solution, but consumers are not willing to hand over their mobile phones to the wait staff," Paul Rasori, VeriFone senior vice president of marketing, said in the announcement. "MICROS and VeriFone are combining forces to deliver a low-cost, services-based solution that allows restaurants to provide NFC-payment convenience to consumers without having to make a large, up-front investment."

The new solution delivers the first mobile point-of-sale service specifically aimed at helping restaurants use NFC-enabled applications. The new solution integrates VeriFone's PAYware Mobile Enterprise mobile POS system, which converts smartphones and mobile devices into wireless POS terminals, with MICROS' table-management and order-management solutions.

"This integration with VeriFone will enable MICROS to provide multiple mobile products on one single platform, rather than requiring separate devices for separate functions," MICROS Chief Technology Officer Michael L. Russo said in the announcement.

The new solution is should be available in the second half of 2012.