Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the NFC Forum?
How will NFC technology make business easier?
What are the commercial drivers for NFC technology?
How long is NFC expected to be valued by the market?
When will we see broad market deployment? What is the forecasted opportunity for NFC?
How does NFC technology work?
How does NFC technology build on existing technologies?
Which standards organizations acknowledge NFC technology?
What ISO/IEC standards do the NFC Forum specifications support?
What are the data transmission rates?
What is the difference between an NFC-enabled device and an NFC tag?
What is the difference between a card and a tag?
How is NFC different from or related to other wireless/RF technologies?
What are the operating modes of NFC devices?
Which specifications have been issued?
Which specifications will be issued next?
Do I need to be an NFC Forum member to get the NFC specifications?
Do you charge for the specifications? Do you license them? If so, under what terms?
Why does the NFC Forum have an IPR policy at all?
What intellectual property is covered?
When are members asked to license their intellectual property?
Do members have to license their IPR?
Which patents are not covered by the NFC Forum IPR Policy?
Are member companies compensated for licensing their patents?
Are pending patents included?
What if a member does not wish to license their patents?
Do new members have to review patents that might apply to specifications written before they joined?
What is the process for members?
Who owns the copyright in specifications?
What is the Forum’s role?
How will the NFC Forum ensure compliance to its specifications?
Will this program include conformance testing, interoperability testing or both?
How do I recognize an NFC device or target?
Where can I get the N-Mark?
Where is the N-Mark in use?
NFC for Business
What is the NFC Forum?
The NFC Forum is a not-for-profit industry organization whose mission is to advance the use of Near Field Communication technology by developing specifications, ensuring interoperability among devices and services, and educating the market about NFC technology. About 140 companies, many leaders in their markets, have teamed up to achieve this goal. See www.nfc-forum.org for more information.
How will NFC technology make business easier?
NFC technology provides simplicity and ease of use. Users hold NFC-enabled devices together to access services, interact with content, set up connections, make a payment, or present a ticket.
Many corporations use contactless ID cards to control access to their facilities and networks. NFC can reduce the cost of card issuance and management. NFC-enabled devices can also simplify login to enterprise networks.
As NFC technology penetrates throughout the office, we will see WLAN settings, printer IDs, and building maps picked up by NFC-enabled devices, allowing mobile workers to work in any office location.
What are the commercial drivers for NFC technology?
NFC technology makes sense for service providers and device manufacturers for many reasons.
- Reduced cost of electronic issuance. Multi-issue ticketing operators, like mass transport operators or event ticketing operators, see phenomenal cost reductions in electronic ticketing. Security-sensitive airlines have already moved to "e-ticketing" in order to reduce costs.
- Increased revenue from interactive services. Mobile network operators and content providers earn revenue when users choose to use value-added services. NFC surrounds the user with advertisements and valuable information within easy reach.
- NFC-enabled devices drive consumption of rich media content. NFC will fuel the market for advanced personal devices that consumers use to purchase, play, store, and share rich media content.
- Consumer preference for NFC-enabled services. Users may have no choice about which ticket they use for a service, but they typically can choose how they pay. Convenience is a strong differentiator and more convenient payment will drive adoption of contactless and NFC technology.
How long is NFC expected to be valued by the market?
NFC is based on existing contactless infrastructure around the world that is already in use by millions of people on a daily basis. NFC is not a fashionable nice-to-have technology, but actually a technology that makes peoples' lives easier – easier to pay for goods and services, easier to use public transport, and easier to share data between devices.
At the heart of NFC’s benefits is its simplicity of use – bringing two objects together is intuitive for everyone, young or old. NFC is building on existing systems and human actions, so it has a very good chance to be valued and used for many years to come.
When will we see broad market deployment? What is the forecasted opportunity for NFC?
Analysts have provided various market projections. Jupiter Research has projected that up to 700 million NFC-enabled mobile phones will be sold by 2013, representing up to 25 percent of the market at that time (November 2008). Jupiter Research has also projected that NFC Mobile Payments will exceed $30bn by 2012 (September 2009).
In Japan, FeliCa, which is a similar passive mode contactless technology, has already been implemented with payment as a primary application.
About NFC Technology
How does NFC technology work?
Near Field Communication is based on inductive-coupling, where loosely coupled inductive circuits share power and data over a distance of a few centimeters. NFC devices share the basic technology with proximity (13.56MHz) RFID tags and contactless smartcards, but have a number of key new features.
How does NFC technology build on existing technologies?
NFC is based on pre-existing contactless payment and ticketing standards that are used on a daily basis by millions of people using their devices worldwide. These standards determine not only the "contactless" operating environment, such as the physical requirements of the antennas, but also the format of the data to be transferred and the data rates for that transfer.
Which standards organizations acknowledge NFC technology?
NFC Standards are acknowledged by ISO/IEC (International Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission), ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute), and ECMA (European association for standardizing information and communication systems).
What ISO/IEC standards do the NFC Forum specifications support?
NFC Forum compliant devices in NFC Forum Reader/Writer mode must support the RF requirements for ISO/IEC 14443A, ISO/IEC 14443 B and FeliCa as outlined in the relevant parts in the ISO 18092.
What are the data transmission rates?
NFC data transmission is measured in Kilo Bits Per Second (kbps). The NFC standard supports varying data rates, again to ensure interoperability between pre-existing infrastructure. The current data rates are 106kbps, 212kbps, and 424kbps.
What is the difference between an NFC-enabled device and an NFC tag?
An NFC-enabled device can operate in reader/writer and peer-to-peer mode, and may operate in card emulation mode. An NFC tag is typically a passive device (for example, integrated in a smart poster) that stores data that can be read by an NFC-enabled device.
What is the difference between a card and a tag?
A card and a tag are technically the same. However, contactless cards used in ticketing and payment today include additional technology to store secure data.
How is NFC different from or related to other wireless/RF technologies?
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a standards-based, short-range (a few centimeters) wireless connectivity technology that enables simple and safe two-way interactions between electronic devices, allowing consumers to perform contactless transactions, access digital content, and connect electronic devices with a single touch.
Bluetooth wireless technology was designed to replace cables between cell phones, laptops, and other computing and communication devices within a 10-meter range.
Wi-Fi technology was designed and optimized for Local Area Networks (LAN); it provides an extension or replacement of wired networks for dozens of computing devices within a +100-meter range.
ZigBee wireless technology is a standard enabling control and monitoring capabilities for industrial and residential applications within a +100-meter range.
IrDA is a short range (< 1 meter), line-of-sight communication standard for exchange of data over infrared light. IrDA interfaces are frequently used in computers and mobile phones.
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags. An RFID tag is a small object that can be attached to or incorporated into a product. RFID tags contain silicon chips to enable them to receive and respond to queries from an RFID reader/writer.
Contactless smart cards incorporate a chip (microprocessor) that communicates with a card reader through RFID technology. Examples of contactless smart card communications are ISO/IEC 14443 and FeliCa, which allow communications at distances up to 10 cm.
What are the operating modes of NFC devices?
NFC devices are unique in that they can change their mode of operation to be in reader/writer mode, peer-to-peer mode, or card emulation mode. The different operating modes are based on the ISO/IEC 18092 NFC IP-1 and ISO/IEC 14443 contactless smart card standards.
- In reader/writer mode, the NFC device is capable of reading NFC Forum-mandated tag types, such as in the scenario of reading an NFC Smart Poster tag. The reader/writer mode on the RF interface is compliant to the ISO 14443 and FeliCa schemes.
- In Peer-to-Peer mode, two NFC devices can exchange data. For example, you can share Bluetooth or WiFi link set up parameters or you can exchange data such as virtual business cards or digital photos. Peer-to-Peer mode is standardized on the ISO/IEC 18092 standard.
- In Card Emulation mode, the NFC device appears to an external reader much the same as a traditional contactless smart card. This enables contactless payments and ticketing by NFC devices without changing the existing infrastructure.
NFC Forum Specifications
Which specifications have been issued?
The NFC Forum has issued 12 specifications to date:
- NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) defines a common data format between NFC-compliant devices and tags
- Record Type Definition (RTD) specifies rules for building standard record types
- Four specific RTDs (Text, URI, Smart Poster, and Generic Control) are used to build standard record types
- Connection Handover defines how to establish a connection using other wireless communication technologies
- Operations Specifications for Four Tag Types (1/2/3/4) enable core interoperability between tags and NFC devices
- Logical Link Control Protocol (LLCP) defines a protocol to support peer-to-peer communication between two NFC-enabled devices.
Which specifications will be issued next?
The NFC Forum has issued 2 candidate specifications to date, which will be released after a verification period:
- Digital Protocol addresses the digital protocol for NFC-enabled device communication, providing an implementation specification on top of the ISO/IEC 18092 and ISO/IEC 14443 standards.
- Signature Record Type Definition (RTD) specifies the format used when signing single or multiple NDEF records.
Work on more specifications is well underway. As a not-for-profit organization with many members contributing different input and views, it takes time for the NFC Forum to reach agreement and progress toward our goals. Other specifications in progress include Simple NDEF Exchange Protocol (SNEP), the NFC Controller Interface (NCI), and the RF Analogue Protocol.
Do I need to be an NFC Forum member to get the NFC specifications?
It is in the best interest of the NFC Forum to make its specifications and technology widely available, so you do not have to be a member to download specifications free from the NFC Forum website.
Do you charge for the specifications? Do you license them? If so, under what terms?
What will you charge for the specifications?
All NFC Forum specifications and candidate specifications are available for download free on the NFC Forum website after agreeing to a “click-to-accept” license. The license terms and conditions are clearly explained in the Specifications section of the NFC Forum website at www.nfc-forum.org/specs.
NFC Forum Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy
Why does the NFC Forum have an IPR policy at all?
As an association, the NFC Forum does not want to adopt a specification that would infringe on patents that are not licensable. The IPR Policy establishes processes that ensure that all members commit to license their essential patents in specifications at Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory (RAND) conditions.
What intellectual property is covered?
Any patent is covered that is either essential for the specification itself or for any direct reference to an underlying technology included in the NFC Forum specifications.
When are members asked to license their intellectual property?
IPR election forms need to be provided when a member proposes a technical solution in a Working Group and also during the review and adoption process for the specification.
Do members have to license their IPR?
No, members have the right to refuse to license their patents, and a simple declaration in the IPR election form is sufficient. However, specifications with non-licensable intellectual property are likely not to be adopted, and work will be started within the Forum to avoid the non-licensable patent.
Which patents are not covered by the NFC Forum IPR Policy?
Not included are:
- Patent claims that are controlled by companies or individuals that are not Members of the NFC Forum
- Patent claims that are related to NFC Forum Specifications, but that are not Necessary Claims (i.e., not "essential")
Are member companies compensated for licensing their patents?
Members may request compensation under RAND terms.
Are pending patents included?
Yes, this policy covers both approved and pending patents.
What if a member does not wish to license their patents?
The member needs to identify the non-licensable patent in the IPR election form submitted during the adoption phase. In the case of any refusals to license, the appropriate committee must try to find alternative solutions.
Do new members have to review patents that might apply to specifications written before they joined?
Yes. New Members must provide IPR election forms for all existing and draft specifications for which the existing membership has already been asked to provide their IPR forms.
What is the process for members?
IPR election forms are in the IPR Policy document. Members do not need to do a patent search, nor do they need to indicate any specific IP they own.
Who owns the copyright in specifications?
The NFC Forum owns the copyright in its specifications, but Members still own the copyright in their individual submissions.
What is the Forum’s role?
Since members do not have to identify their specific patents, the NFC Forum does not maintain a list and does not give advice or guidance on any specific claim.
NFC Forum Testing
How will the NFC Forum ensure compliance to its specifications?
Interoperability is an important goal of the NFC Forum. We are currently working on the NFC Forum Certification Program for devices, and we expect to release more information in 2010.
Will this program include conformance testing, interoperability testing or both?
The NFC Forum Certification Program focuses on conformance testing, but interoperability testing is strongly recommended.
The NFC N-Mark
How do I recognize an NFC device or target?
The NFC N-Mark can appear on NFC-enabled devices and on everyday objects. It marks the spot on devices or objects where NFC technology works when they are brought close together. For example, you can bring a mobile phone near a poster to download information.
The N-Mark may also include an icon that indicates the type of service you’ll trigger or information you’ll receive from that mark.
Where can I get the N-Mark?
Visit the N-Mark webpage.
Where is the N-Mark in use?
The N-Mark has been used by various NFC Forum members in trials and projects around the world.
