The NFC Forum, the leading standards body for near field communication technology, unveiled its incredibly detailed technology The roadmap outlining plans and research efforts through 2028. This roadmap offers a unique look into the future of wireless communication known for wireless payments, highlighting the direction of technology and anticipated opportunities of product, market and business development for the next two to five years.
The five key initiatives that will shape the future of NFC and the emerging opportunities
The technology roadmap was developed collaboratively by key Forum members, including representatives from Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC),, Google, Huawei, identical, Infineon, NXP, Qualcomm, Sony e STMicroelectronicsas well as the community of 400 member companies of the Forum.
The Forum's five key innovation priorities include:
- Increased power for NFC wireless charging: The current specification of NFC wireless charging offers up to 1 watt of power and there are plans to increase these capacities to 3 watts. This change will bring power and wireless charging to new and smaller forms, revolutionizing industrial design and defining new markets.
- Increased range: Currently, NFC connections are limited to a 5mm range, but the NFC Forum is looking at ranges that are four to six times the current operating distance. Even a modest increase in reach would make contactless transactions and actions faster and easier.
- Multiple touch: This feature will further enhance the touchless user experience by supporting different actions with a single tap.
- Modernization of device-to-device communication: Designed to enable NFC-enabled smartphones to have point-of-sale (SoftPOS) functionality, allowing businesses or individuals to receive payments anywhere.
- Expanding NFC's ability to share data formats needed for sustainability: Enable NFC to share data about its composition and the ways in which a product can be recycled, helping to meet growing consumer needs and regulatory requirements.
Read also: Xiaomi puts NFC to "all" wearables thanks to this new system
Mike McCamon, executive director of the NFC Forum, said: The exponential growth of NFC technology is a testament to our members' forward-thinking approach and tireless dedication to innovation. Through our ever-evolving standards, line of business managers and product designers will be able to create exciting new products and services that customers will love. As NFC technology becomes more prevalent in our daily lives, planned features have the potential to significantly improve the way we make and receive payments; we interact with our favorite brands; we power our devices; and we access sustainable products and services
A year ago, the NFC Forum Board of Directors established a Tiger Team Roadmap to gather and prioritize input from various industries and Forum members. After extensive discussions with business and technical stakeholders, it was decided that sharing the roadmap publicly would help generate awareness and interest in this important work.
Although the timing of this effort is understood between two and five years, the individual work items are currently in various stages of development, ranging from research to market requirements to preliminary specifications. These efforts are carried out by the NFC Forum Committees, Working Groups and Special Interest Groups, and all members are encouraged to participate at each stage.
The NFC Forum will work with its 400 members and various industry bodies to extend the reach of its roadmap and ensure its work program complements other industry initiatives. Surely phone companies like Xiaomi and the like will rely on the new "enhanced" technology for integrate it on your devices.
