The Near Field Communication (NFC) Forum, a non-profit industry association that promotes NFC technology, has announced that four Technical Working Groups are now active in the areas of NFC Devices, Reference Applications Framework, Security, and Testing.

     The Technical Working Groups are initially focusing on specifications that allow manufacturers to develop interoperable devices and services, based on common protocols for the basic link between devices, common data formats for device-independent service delivery, and specifications for compliance testing and certification of devices. 116.30.151.81 This article is copyright 2005 UsingRFID.com.

     The NFC Devices Technical Working Group (TWG) handles the baseline NFC functionalities. The NFC Devices TWG will:

 

Develop principal functionality for device-to-device, reader/writer and card-emulation operating modes;
 
Develop and maintain specifications for interoperable data exchange and protocols for device discovery and device capability.

The Reference Applications Framework TWG defines specifications and recommendations for the main use cases of NFC. This TWG will:

 

Specify how to configure and initialise other wireless links like WLAN and Bluetooth easily by using NFC, and confer with other special interest groups;
 
Develop a "SmartPoster" application that enables the storage of content like SMS, phone numbers and URLs on smart tags.

The Security TWG was created to handle security and data protection issues. This group will:

 

Define common security requirements and a modular security architecture for NFC-based communications;
 
Provide support and guidance to other working groups on security-related topics.

The Testing TWG handles interoperability and compliance issues and will:

 

Develop test methodology and concepts;
 
Develop and maintain test specifications and processes for compliance testing and approval.

Near field origins
     NFC technology for short-range wireless connectivity is a technology that can allow users to access content and services, transact payments and store tickets on their smart phones, PDAs and other consumer electronics by just holding NFC-enabled devices next to each other. NFC evolved from a combination of contactless identification and interconnection technologies. It operates in the 13.56MHz frequency range, over a typical distance of a few centimetres at most.

About the forum
     The NFC Forum is a global standards development and advocacy group dedicated to advancing Near Field Communication technology, ensure interoperability, educating the public about its benefits, and furthering its implementation around the world.

     The group also announced the addition as a forum sponsor of Renesas Technology Corp., a producer of integrated semiconductor system solutions for mobile, automotive and other markets.

     More than twenty organisations have joined the Forum since February 2005, bringing its total membership to 47. The most recent companies to join include All-In-1-Card.com, Bouygues Telecom, Deutsche Postbank AG, First Data International, France Telecom, Infineon Technologies, Ingenico, Inside Contactless, LogicaCMG, Melexis, Meridea Financial Services Ltd., mobilkom austria, National Technical Systems Inc., NexgTelecom Co., Ltd., Plantronics Inc., Schindler, Siemens AG, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, ViVOtech Inc., Vodafone and Yoonison BV.

 

 

 

               

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