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NFC Forum Membership Now Tops 110 Organizations |
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Wednesday, 04 April 2007 |
| The NFC Forum (www.nfc-forum.org), a non-profit industry association that advances the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, today announced that its membership roster has continued to expand: it now includes more than 110 organizations worldwide – representing a 10 percent increase over the last quarter. |
Since its founding in 2004, the NFC Forum has attracted market-leading organizations from around the world to its membership ranks, as momentum for the adoption and implementation of Near Field Communication technology has increased.
New members since the Forum's December 2006 face-to-face meeting include Globe Telecom and LEGIC Identsystems Ltd. at the Principal level. At the Associate level, new members are AT&T; CETECOM ICT Services GmbH; DS Group SRL; Eastcompeace Smart Card Co., Ltd.; FuturLink; Groupe Casino; NEDAP N.V. Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek; Parrot; Research In Motion, Ltd.; TTA and Welcome. In addition, Japan IC Card System Application Council (JICSAP) joined as a Non-Profit member.
"We extend a warm welcome to our newest participants, and we look forward to collaborating with them to build the NFC ecosystem," said Gerhard Romen, chairman of the NFC Forum Marketing Committee. "The varied locations and businesses of our new members demonstrate the truly global interest in our specifications and initiatives going forward."
The new NFC Forum members join a prestigious group of major players in their respective industries, including Sponsor-level members HP, MasterCard International, Microsoft Corp., NEC, Nokia, NXP Semiconductors, Panasonic, Renesas Technology, Samsung, Sony Corporation, and Visa International.
Near Field Communication is a short-range, wireless connectivity technology that allows consumers to perform safe, contactless transactions, access digital content, and connect electronic devices with a single touch. Consumers with NFC-enabled mobile phones may, for example, leave their wallets at home and use their phones to enact contactless financial transactions, or to gain electronic access to public transportation. ABI Research expects NFC hardware and software sales to grow from $260 million worldwide last year to $870 million by 2011.
In addition to its ongoing work via email and conference calls, the Forum holds quarterly working face-to-face meetings of Forum members to discuss NFC initiatives and address specifications under development. The next meeting will take place in Prague, beginning June 25.
About Near Field Communication Technology and Applications
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a standards-based, short-range wireless connectivity technology that enables simple and safe two-way interactions among electronic devices. NFC technology allows consumers to perform contactless transactions, access digital content and connect devices with a single touch. NFC also simplifies setup of longer-range wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
A Near Field Communication white paper that details how NCC technology will help make wireless devices truly interoperable is available at: http://www.nfc-forum.org.
Near Field Communication (NFC) technology evolved from a combination of contactless identification and interconnection technologies. NFC operates in the 13.56 MHz frequency range, over a typical distance of a few centimeters. The underlying layers of NFC technology are based on ISO, ECMA, and ETSI standards. NFC technology is supported by the leading mobile device, infrastructure and technology manufacturers and by all major payment providers. It is also compatible with millions of contactless cards already in use worldwide.
Since About the NFC Forum
The NFC Forum, www.nfc-forum.org, was launched as a non-profit industry association in 2004 by leading mobile communications, semiconductor and consumer electronics companies. The Forum’s 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. The Forum's 110+ global member companies currently are developing specifications for a modular NFC device architecture, and protocols for interoperable data exchange and device-independent service delivery, device discovery, and device capability.
Since The NFC Forum's Sponsor members that hold seats on the Board of Directors include leading players in key industries around the world. The Sponsor members are: HP, MasterCard International, Microsoft Corp., NEC, Nokia, NXP Semiconductors, Panasonic, Renesas Technology, Samsung, Sony Corporation, and Visa International.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 April 2007 )
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