Handset suppliers gear up for NFC

OPINION: Samples of a new NFC chip, compliant with all the latest industry standards, are now in the hands of ‘a number of major handset manufacturers’, says NXP, ahead of mass market availability towards the end of this year.

The first deals have also now been struck for the next generation of handsets, arriving in 2012 or 2013. These deals are set to see NFC being built into the connectivity chipsets that handle Bluetooth and other local communications, enabling NFC functionality to be added to mainstream mobile phones for under US$1.

The lack of handsets has been a major stumbling block for the adoption of NFC. Now it looks as though that hurdle will have been overcome before this year is over. Now we just need that elusive business model…

Sarah Clark, Editor

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