The NFC Forum has just announced NFC Release 15 that quadruples NFC range from 0.5cm to 2cm and enables faster, more reliable contactless interactions for wireless charging, kitchen appliances, wearables, and digital keys.
The extended NFC range, also known as the operating volume, may make some people laugh since it’s only 2 cm we are talking about, but it has practical applications, as NFC contactless interactions will start sooner and require less precise device alignment.
The NFC Release 15 also focuses on the NFC Digital Product Passport Standard to provide a data-agnostic framework allowing a single NFC tag to store and transmit both standard and extended DPP data using common NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) records.
I wish I could explain how the extended NFC range and DPP standard are implemented in the new release, but I can’t because the technical specifications are only available for download to NFC Forum Associate, Principal, and Sponsor-level member companies. Adopter-level members and the public at large will only have access to NFC Release 15 documents a few months from now, in Fall 2025.
We can get a few more details in the what, why, and how post, where we learn that the release will include both the Specification Release 15 technical standards to implement NFC capability in products, and the Certification Release 15 testing program to certify compliance to these standards. The NFC Forum also notes that some devices can already operate at ranges of 2cm or more, but the new release defines a consistent, reliable industry baseline that applies across the full range of NFC-enabled devices and use cases, including small-form-factor products like wearables and smartphones.
There will also be a webinar on July 9 that should provide more insights about the new release. The press release only has a few extra details.
Thanks to TLS for the tip.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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And less safe !