Near
Field Communications (NFC) protocol establishes instant
network connections between devices.
Geneva, 8
December 2003:
ISO and
IEC Joint Technical Committee (JTC 1) have adopted ECMA-340
(NFCIP-1 - Near Field Communication Interface and Protocol)
as ISO/IEC 18092.
NFC is
a very short-range protocol, for distances measured in centimetres,
and is optimised for intuitive easy and secure communications
between various devices without user configuration.
In order
to make two devices communicate, users bring them close
together or even make them touch. This will engage the NFCIP-1
wireless devices' interfaces and configure them to form
a peer-to-peer network. NFC can also bootstrap other protocols
like Bluetooth or Wireless Ethernet (WiFi) by exchanging
the configuration and session data.
Users
can rely on the protocol to be secure since the devices
must be placed very close to each other. The procedure for
establishing communication is inherently familiar to people:
bring together or touch to connect.
In 2002,
Ecma formed a special
Task Group to specify the NFC signal interfaces and
protocols. In December 2002, the Ecma General Assembly adopted
NFCIP-1 as ECMA-340. In February 2003, Ecma submitted ECMA-340
to ISO/IEC JTC1 for adoption under their fast-track procedure
as ISO/IEC 18092.
Sour Chhor, GM of the market sector Identification
Infrastructure and Services at Philips Semiconductors,
said, “Philips envisions a world where everyone can
always connect to information, entertainment and services
with NFC playing a vital role in making this happen. Therefore,
we are pleased that NFC has become an ISO standard, which
will provide the necessary basis for manufacturers to develop
and introduce mass consumer products. It will ensure roll-out
into various applications that have not been possible before."
“Providing an intuitive, user-friendly communication
link, NFC will enhance consumer lifestyle and bring convergence
between consumer electronics, communications and computing
industries."
Yoshihisa Takayama, Standardisation and Promotion Section of FeliCa Business
Centre, Senior Manager of
Sony Corporation, observed: "People interact with devices through metaphors. Today's networks,
devices and interfaces make significant demands on users.
For example one has to be an expert in clicking icons
and menus on two devices to establish a Bluetooth connection. Bringing
two devices close to establish communications
is natural, human and intuitive. NFCIP-1 standardises
the physical and data-link layers only, and it can support
higher layer protocols. Therefore, Sony sees it
as a 'virtual connector' for wireless 'virtual cables'
(e.g. Bluetooth)."
Alain Berthon,
strategic marketing manager at Texas Instruments RFid,
said: "Texas Instruments is excited by the NFC concept and
the opportunities it brings to interconnect existing communication
standards such as Bluetooth, contact-less smart cards, and
mobile telephony. We look forward to participating
in further developments."
"The cooperation between
the three companies (Sony, Philips and TI) within the Ecma
organization has been excellent and reflects the need for
open standards that the market expects. We can now
dream of a real wireless world where users can enjoy
many convenient and timesaving benefits, all 'unplugged'."
Jan van den Beld,
Secretary General of Ecma International, welcomed
the news, "The rapid and efficient production of a standard
to address a clearly interesting market opportunity and
to improve interworking of technologies illustrates Ecma's
value. Ecma is nothing more or less than the hard work and
optimism of its members, who lead the technology economy."
Onno Elzinga,
CTO of Ecma International, noted: "Although the idea
to use wireless proximity communication is strikingly simple,
it enables personalised, secure auto-configuration of a
myriad of appliances."
About Ecma International
Since its inception in
1961, Ecma International has developed standards for information
and communication technology (ICT) and consumer electronics
(CE). Ecma is a not-for-profit industry association of technology
developers, vendors and users. Industry and other experts
work together in Ecma to complete standards. Ecma then submits
the approved work for approval as ISO, ISO/IEC and ETSI
standards.
Main areas of standardization
include: Scripting and programming languages; Optical and
Magnetic storage; High speed interconnects; Safety, Environmental,
Acoustical and Electromagnetic product attributes; Enterprise
and Proximity Communication and Networking; and File and
Volume structures. Publications can be downloaded free from:
http://www.ecma-international.org.
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