NFC Forum Expands Membership, Unveils Technology Architecture

Strategic Insights -

The NFC Forum, a non-profit industry association advancing Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, has announced the addition of HP as its latest Sponsor Member, as well as three new Associate Members. This brings the total membership to 85 organizations, solidifying the NFC Forum's position as a leading authority on NFC technology. The Forum's technology architecture, unveiled recently, serves as the foundation for interoperable NFC products and services.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NFC Forum now has a total of 85 member organizations, with HP joining as the latest Sponsor Member.
  • The Sponsor Members, which hold seats on the Board of Directors, include leading players in key industries around the world, such as HP, MasterCard International, and Visa International.
  • The NFC Forum's technology architecture will define a modular NFC device architecture, and protocols for interoperable data exchange and device-independent service delivery, device discovery, and device capability.
  • NFC technology allows consumers to perform safe contactless transactions, access digital content, and connect electronic devices with a single touch.
  • According to ABI Research, millions of NFC-enabled tags are already deployed worldwide.

Statistics:

  • Total NFC Forum membership: 85 organizations
  • Number of Sponsor Members with seats on the Board of Directors: 12
  • Frequency range of NFC technology: 13.56 MHz
  • Typical distance of NFC operation: a few centimeters
  • Number of million NFC-enabled tags deployed worldwide: millions (according to ABI Research)
  • Number of years since the NFC Forum was launched: 2004

Sources:

  • NFC Forum press release (date not specified)
  • ABI Research (no date specified)
  • NFC Forum website (http://www.nfc-forum.org/news/)
  • NFC Forum About page (http://www.nfc-forum.org/about/)