NFC Forum Unveils Comprehensive Technology Roadmap Outlining Key Initiatives and Future Development Plans through 2028
The NFC Forum, the leading standards body for Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, has announced the release of its highly anticipated Technology Roadmap. This comprehensive roadmap provides insights into the future of NFC, highlighting its direction and expected product development, market, and business opportunities over the next two to five years. The roadmap, developed collaboratively by leading Forum members, will be presented during a public webinar on June 27, 2023, by a panel of senior Forum leaders.
The Technology Roadmap reflects the dedication to innovation and forward-thinking approach of NFC Forum members, which include prominent companies like Apple, Google, Huawei, Identiv, Infineon, NXP, Qualcomm, Sony, and STMicroelectronics, as well as the Forum’s extensive community of 400-member companies.
Outlined in the roadmap are five key innovation priorities that the Forum aims to address:
- Increased Power for NFC Wireless Charging: The current NFC Wireless Charging specification offers up to 1 watt of power, and the Forum intends to increase this capability to 3 watts. This enhancement will enable wireless power and charging in new and smaller form factors, revolutionizing industrial design and opening up new markets.
- Increased Range: Presently, NFC connections are limited to a range of 5mm. However, the NFC Forum is actively exploring ranges that are four to six times greater than the current operating distance. Even a modest increase in range will accelerate contactless transactions and actions, making them faster and more convenient. It will also enhance usability by reducing the need for precise antenna alignment.
- Multiple Purpose Tap: This feature aims to enhance the contactless user experience by enabling several actions with a single tap. The development of this feature is driven by use cases such as point-to-point receipt delivery, loyalty identification, and total-journey ticketing.
- Modernizing Device-to-Device Communication: The NFC Forum intends to empower NFC-enabled smartphones with Point-of-Sale functionality, also known as SoftPOS. This capability will enable businesses or individuals to accept payments anywhere, providing greater flexibility and convenience.
- Expanding NFC’s Data Sharing Capabilities for Sustainability: NFC will be enabled to share data on product composition and recycling information, meeting evolving consumer demands, regulatory requirements, and contributing to a sustainable circular economy.
Mike McCamon, the Executive Director of the NFC Forum, acknowledges the exponential growth of NFC technology and credits the Forum’s members for their dedication to innovation. He emphasizes that the planned features have the potential to significantly enhance payment processes, customer engagement with brands, device functionality, and access to sustainable products and services.
The Technology Roadmap was developed over the course of a year by the NFC Forum’s Roadmap Tiger Team, which gathered and prioritized inputs from various industries and Forum members. The draft roadmap underwent validation from members and liaison partners to ensure its assumptions and priorities aligned with stakeholders’ perspectives. By sharing the roadmap publicly, the Forum aims to generate awareness and interest in this vital work.
While the roadmap spans a timeframe of two to five years, individual work items are currently at different stages of development, ranging from research and market requirements to draft specifications. These efforts are undertaken by the NFC Forum Committees, Working Groups, and Special Interest Groups. The Forum encourages all its members to actively participate in these endeavors. Furthermore, the NFC Forum will collaborate with its extensive membership and various industry bodies to extend the reach of its roadmap and ensure alignment with other industry initiatives.
In conclusion, the NFC Forum’s Technology Roadmap provides a comprehensive outlook on the future of NFC technology, outlining key initiatives and expected developments through 2028. The roadmap showcases the Forum’s commitment to innovation and collaboration among its members, who represent influential companies