February 29, 2012 Intel’s foray into the smartphone space is a “marathon, not a sprint,” according to the firm’s CEO Paul Otellini. Speaking at a company press conference on Monday, where the firm announced new partnerships with Orange, Lava International Ltd., ZTE and Visa, Otellini reminded attendees that Intel was no stranger to the mobile market, having been involved in RF for many years. Read more

February 27, 2012 Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., and FeliCa Networks, Inc., have announced a partnership to support the full-fledged adoption of near field communication (NFC)-based mobile wallet in Japan. As a strategic partner, Samsung will develop NFC compatible FeliCa™ IC solutions for reliable and efficient wallet function on mobile devices. Read more

February 23, 2012 Audio company Harman International has developed an infotainment platform that connects cars to the outside world by means of the LTE mobile radio technology. The platform provides the missing link in car connectivity: For the first time, it offers real broadband connection for applications residing in the vehicle. Read more

February 20, 2012 A tear down of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus i515 mobile phone conducted by ABI Research recently has revealed an LTE baseband chip that is estimated to be half the cost of a previous version, the market research firm said. Read more

February 9, 2012 As the proportion of senior citizens grows, their special needs are gaining momentum. Human eyesight, for example, weakens with age. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has been developing new NFC-based applications that make life easier for the visually impaired. A group of affected persons recently tested an innovative, speech-based item identification system and new "talking" packaging for medicine and food. Read more

January 17, 2012 Infineon Technologies is the world’s leading supplier of security microcontrollers for NFC (Near Field Communication) applications, according to a recent IMS Research study (“The World Market for NFC – 2012 Edition”, January 2012) that shows Infineon holds a 51.5 percent share in the NFC security microcontroller market. Read more

December 15, 2011 Premo has launched a 3D-coil isotropic magnetic antenna for Near Field Communications (NFC) applications (13.56 MHz). New tablets, smart phones, and so on, have recently been announced with NFC functionality for E-Wallet application. Read more

December 14, 2011 INSIDE Secure has announced it has entered into an agreement with Intel Corporation to provide its NFC products and technologies. The agreement marks a significant milestone for INSIDE Secure and the future of the NFC industry, helping move this emerging technology towards full-scale market adoption. Read more

November 30, 2011 Smart posters and mobile marketing are the greatest opportunity for service providers and manufacturers of NFC tags; they account for over half of shipments to date and are expected to be the fastest growing segment, accounting for 70% of shipments in 2016, according to ABI Research. Read more

November 16, 2011 The GSMA has announced that 45 of the world's leading mobile operators have committed to support and implement SIM-based Near Field Communications (NFC) solutions and services. Read more

November 15, 2011 NXP Semiconductors has introduced the first member in its latest generation of high-performance proximity contactless reader ICs. The CLRC663 combines robust multi-protocol support with high RF output power and patented groundbreaking low-power card detection technology. Driven by the market needs for higher integration, smaller housings and interoperability, the IC has been designed for use in a wide variety of infrastructure use cases such as banking, eGovernment, transport and mobile payment. Read more

November 8, 2011 STMicroelectronics has extended its family of RFID/NFC wireless memory ICs with a new 16-Kbit device that can also harvest enough energy to enable small electronic items using it to become completely battery-free electronic applications. The dual-interface memories feature a low power I2C interface, as well as a 13.56-MHz ISO15693 contactless RF interface. Read more

November 7, 2011 A handful of standards will drive new smartphone uses and interoperability, but some pose challenges. In addition, it could take four to six months before Android 4.0, aka Ice Cream Sandwich, becomes widely available in handsets, said a Motorola Mobility executive. Read more

November 3, 2011 Google's recently launched Galaxy Nexus smartphone includes NXP Semiconductors NV's PN65N integrated near field communication (NFC) solution, according to NXP. Read more

November 1, 2011 Austriamicrosystems has unveiled  the AS3911 NFC (near field communications) and HF (high frequency) reader IC which enables a number of applications, including EMV (Europay MasterCard Visa) payment, access control, automotive, NFC Infrastructure, and ticketing. Read more

October 24, 2011 As the number of mobile payment users grows to over 375 million in 2015, the demand for devices with near field communications (NFC) grows as well. The latest research from In-Stat forecasts that adoption of this technology will push global annual shipments of NFC chips to over 1.2 billion by 2015. Read more

October 19, 2011 Out of a total of 552 million NFC handsets shipped in 2016, 227 million will feature multiple secure elements. The increased inclusion of multiple secure elements will drive the mobile NFC market valuation above the $1 billion mark. Read more

October 10, 2011 Qualcomm has released a white paper on its next-generation Snapdragon S4 mobile applications processor, giving a few additional details of the 28nm chip expected to ship before June 2012. The S4, designed for 28-nm process technology, includes up to four custom Krait cores based on Qualcomm extensions to the ARM Cortex A9. Read more

September 30, 2011 Isis, a joint venture between U.S. mobile phone service providers AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, has announced that HTC, LG, Motorola Mobility, RIM, Samsung Mobile and Sony Ericsson will introduce NFC-enabled mobile devices that implement Isis NFC and technology standards for electronic payment. Read more

September 27, 2011 Toshiba has announced it will launch a single chip IC (integrated circuit) that is compliant with the TransferJet standard for close proximity wireless transfer technology. Samples will start shipping at the end of January 2012 and mass production is scheduled to begin in the second quarter (April-June) of 2012. Read more

September 19, 2011 Mobile phone service provider SK Telecom (Seoul, South Korea) has said that is has developed the world's first SIM card equipped with a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip which can be retrofitted to non-NFC handsets thereby enabling NFC-based services. Read more

September 7, 2011 A new app called Dual EE, which operates on the Android operating system, has demonstrated full compatibility with ST’s M24LR64 wireless memory. The app connects an NFC-enabled smartphone to a prototype temperature recorder featuring ST’s M24LR64 wireless memory and demonstrates data transfer and storage. Read more

August 10, 2011 Claimed to be the industry’s lowest-power contactless short-range communication transceiver, TI says the TRF7970A extends battery life up to 2 times longer than competitive products, as it provides eight selectable power modes ranging from <1 µA in power-down mode to 120 mA in full-power mode. Read more

June 22, 2011 NXP Semiconductors N.V. has announced the availability of the company’s production-ready single-chip solution for multifunction car keys – the NCF2970 (KEyLink Lite). Enhancing the functionality of ‘smart’ car keys by supporting Near Field Communications (NFC) technology, KEyLink Lite enables car manufacturers to offer a new driving experience with keys that connect to external NFC-compliant devices, such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops. Read more

June 20, 2011 Startup Naratte Inc., has disclosed a technique for sending information via ultrasound using existing speakers and microphones in consumer devices such as smartphones. It is working with partners to enable applications such as mobile payments. Read more

June 16, 2011 NXP Semiconductors' near field communication (NFC) technology has been selected by Sony Ericsson for inclusion in its Android-based smartphones. Read more

May 30, 2011 As Google launched its 'Google Wallet' application for Android smartphones NXP has stressed that it is NXP technology and chips that are enabling the application. Read more

May 11, 2011 The MIFARE4Mobile Industry Group, consisting of leading players in the Near Field Communication (NFC) ecosystem including Ericsson, Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient, NXP Semiconductors, Oberthur Technologies, STMicroelectronics and ViVOtech, today announced the new roadmap for MIFARE4Mobile specifications. Read more

April 1, 2011 The NFC Forum, a non-profit industry association that advances the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, has announced that Google is joining the organization as a principal member. Read more

March 25, 2011 NXP Semiconductors has launched an application which allows Android smartphone users to use their NFC-enabled handset to create their own NFC tags. These tags can then be used in multiple environments to share details and launch applications with other NFC handset users. The app also includes a tag reader for reading NFC tags. The NXP TagWriter app is available for download at the Android Market. Read more

March 23, 2011 STMicroelectronics and Gemalto have announced a partnership to develop a range of solutions to initiate and distribute digital security services for NFC (Near Field Communications) applications. Building on the two companies' security expertise and portfolio of NFC technologies, the partnership aims to deliver solutions that will meet the strong global demand for NFC-based services. Read more

March 9, 2011 Premo extended its SDTR1103 family of NFC antennas with the SDTR1103-HF series, suitable for signal reception at 2 MHz and/or 13,56 MHz Tx/Rx. The antenna has a high surface resistance NiZn ferrite core material (>10 MOhm/mm) and low initial permeability to work at high frequency. Read more

March 7, 2011 A testing service for certification of devices built to NFC Forum global standards is now available at AT4 wireless laboratories in Taipei in Taiwan, Herndon in the US, and Malaga in Spain. Read more

February 17, 2011 Mobile phones will me more tightly integrated into vehicles – this has been the mantra in the industry already for several years. Now chip vendor NXP and automotive electronics supplier Continental have demonstrated how NFC (Near Field Communications) can be used as an enabler for new applications. Read more

February 7, 2011 Inside Secure SA, a supplier of contactless smartcard chips, has announced the availability of biometric matching capabilities for its SecuRead NFC component. Read more

February 7, 2011 INSIDE Secure launched a new version of the Open NFC protocol stack geared to the latest version of Google Android (aka Gingerbread). This makes Open NFC the first truly hardware-independent, open-source NFC protocol stack for this popular smartphone operating system. Open NFC version 4.2 for Google Android 2.3 simplifies interoperability and provides the NFC ecosystem with a consistent NFC application programming interface (API) and functionality, offering chip vendors, smartphone manufacturers, wireless carriers and software developers a way to implement NFC functionality independently of the underlying NFC hardware as Gingerbread is adopted for use in a broad range of mobile products around the world. Read more

January 26, 2011 Apple is in discussions with retailers and contract manufacturers about supporting mobile payments on future iOS devices such as the iPhone5, according to one analyst. The company is one of several expected to deliver secure transaction services on mobile devices in 2011, according to a report in the January issue of EE Times Confidential. Read more

December 21, 2010 Boosted by support from heavyweight wireless players Nokia Corp. and Google Inc., use of near field communication (NFC) in handsets is poised to begin an explosive growth phase next year, according to market research firm iSuppli Corp. Read more

December 7, 2010 Using on-wafer packaging technology, Renesas Electronics has developed a 0.22 mm ultra-thin profile series of MCUs, the RF21S, that combines an NFC controller with secure element functionality for use in consumer electronics products such as smartphones and other mobile phones, notebook PCs and PC peripherals. Read more

December 7, 2010 Oberthur Technologies and STMicroelectronics are cooperating to provide a highly secure SIM solution that will allow travelers and commuters to use their NFC enabled mobile phones as an electronic ticket. Read more

December 2, 2010 Samsung Electronics has launched a new near field communications (NFC) chip with embedded flash memory, developed to have minimal power consumption in both active and stand-by mode. With a 20 percent decrease in power consumption, Samsung says its latest NFC chip remains active for mobile payment even without battery power. Read more

November 26, 2010 NXP Semiconductors NV has struck a licensing deal so that its 13.56-MHz Mifare contactless smart card technology to be integrated into the Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) smart card format of Gemalto NV used in mobile terminals in GSM and UMTS (European 3G) mobile communications networks. Read more

November 17, 2010 The next version of the Android mobile operating system will support near field communications, said Eric Schmidt. Google's chief executive showed an unannounced handset using NFC and the Gingerbread version of Android at the Web 2.0 Summit. "We are incorporating support for the [NFC] reader/writer," said Schmidt. "It will be in Gingerbread [the next version of Android] that comes out in the next few weeks," he said. Read more

October 13, 2010 HID Global and Sony Corporation have entered into a Memorandum of Intent for a strategic partnership to jointly develop an embedded contactless smart card reader platform for the global PC marketplace. The jointly developed platform will be designed specifically for laptop manufacturers and will encompass Sony and HID Global contactless solutions and a broad range of other widely deployed technologies while supporting specific regional and application needs. Read more

September 14, 2010 Qualcomm has no immediate plans to bring near field communications (NFC) into its semiconductor offering for makers of mobile handsets. Even though Qualcomm has engineers working on NFC it is not offering its own silicon and steers handset makers to work with third-party suppliers of NFC chipsets. Read more

September 3, 2010 HID Global and Inside Contactless have extended their partnership to bring market-leading iCLASS access control and identity credentials to near-field communications (NFC) mobile phones. Read more

August 31, 2010 The market for short range wireless ICs is forecast to expand this year; total shipments of Bluetooth, NFC, UWB, 802.15.4 and Wi-Fi ICs will increase approximately 20 percent compared to 2009. Read more

July 7, 2010 NXP Semiconductors and Toppan Forms have announced that their jointly developed Near Field Communication (NFC) reader / writer module “TN33MUE002L” has been adopted by Lenovo in the T410, T510 and W510 ThinkPad laptops. Read more

June 29, 2010 Association Française pour le ‘Sans Contact’ Mobile (AFSCM), which facilitates the technical development of NFC and promotes contactless mobile services, has entered into a contribution agreement with GlobalPlatform. Read more

June 15, 2010 Innovision Research & Technology has launched Topaz-512, the latest addition to its family of low-cost tags, to further open up opportunities for the development of non-payment applications of NFC. With 512 bytes of memory, Topaz-512 will help bridge the gap between low-memory tags and high-cost products that typically target high-security payment applications, such as contactless credit cards. Read more

June 2, 2010 NFC vendors STMicroelectronics and NXP have announced, in conjunction with Trusted Logic and Stollmann, that the companies are to promote a common hardware-independent API (Application Programming Interface) for NFC (Near Field Communication) applications on mobile phones and other devices running Android. Read more

May 17, 2010 Mobile contactless payments and a wealth of other applications enabled by Near Field Communication (NFC) are coming to mobile handsets over the next 12 months, but not in the format originally envisioned. A lack of commercially available NFC-embedded handsets combined with the rise of mobile handsets with microSD slots has helped shape a new approach to NFC that promises to bypass both handset vendors' and mobile network operators' core involvement. Read more

March 17, 2010 Annual smartphone shipments to Asia are expected to more than quadruple between now and 2015, giving Asia 29 percent of smartphone shipments during 2015. Overall shipments of smartphones are forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 25.9 percent between now and 2015. This trend illustrates the increasing development of cellular markets in Asia and foreshadows the importance of the region for the future, according to a new study from IMS Research. Read more