About NFC Forum
The NFC Forum is the global standards and advocacy association for near field communications (NFC) technology. They have been working on transaction-free technology and solutions across various industries. As a member-led organization, the Forum’s mission is to promote the use of NFC technology by developing specifications, ensuring interoperability between devices and services, and increasing market awareness.
The NFC Forum aims to bring the convenience of near-field technology to everyday life, enabling organizations to provide secure, touch-based interactions and intuitive, reliable experiences to users around the world. The forum’s member-driven activities include specification and test case development, certification programs, and special interest groups to identify and promote transaction-free technologies across a growing number of industries.
Recently, Mike McCamon, executive director of the NFC Forum, revealed major news about the new version of NFC. According to him, the new version of NFC plans to expand the transaction range six times to a maximum of 30 mm. This news caused great concern in the industry. McCamon said the expanded transaction scope is an important part of the NFC Forum’s new three- to five-year technology roadmap.
Currently, the minimum transaction range of NFC technology is 5mm and the maximum transaction range is 2cm. The latest information from the NFC Forum official website shows that their future blueprint will increase the transaction range to 3-4cm, which means that the minimum usage range of NFC will expand from 5mm to 3cm, an increase of six times. “The idea is that, as your phone comes in transaction or close proximity of the payment terminal, the connection could start and then also complete the transaction much quicker. And also you won’t have to be as precise. All of us have had this experience of taking our phone and kind of moving it around trying to find the right sweet spot on the terminal,” McCamon says. “The idea is with your increased range, you’d be able to not have to do that.”
In addition to expanding the scope of transactions, the new technology roadmap also includes a series of innovative measures aimed at enhancing the practicality and user-friendliness of NFC technology. This includes allowing new data formats to be stored directly on NFC tags, introducing device-to-device connectivity and providing users with a more convenient and faster interaction experience. As an influential organization, the NFC Forum continues to set standards and drive the global adoption of NFC technology. Their efforts aim to bring the convenience and security of near-field communications into all aspects of our lives, providing users with an intuitive and reliable experience. By promoting interoperability and driving advancements in the field, the NFC Forum ensures that NFC technology remains at the forefront of wireless connectivity and data transfer solutions.
