14 Organizations Join the NFC Forum as New Members, as Forum Activities Advance.

WAKEFIELD, Mass. -- The NFC Forum, a non-profit industry association advancing the use of near field communication (NFC) technology, today announced that 14 new organizations have joined the Forum as members since February. Launched early last year, the NFC Forum now includes 80 member organizations and earlier this month unveiled its technology architecture, which will serve as the foundation for interoperable NFC products and services.

Organizations joining the Forum in the past four months include new Associate-level members ALPS Electric Co., Ltd.; ARM; Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd.; E-Group (Hungary); KDDI Corporation; MobileLime; OMNIKEY; Oberthur Card Systems; Sprint; SFR; Sirit, Inc.; Strategic Engineering Group (SEG); and Telenor International. The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has also joined the Forum as a non-profit organization.

NFC is a short-range, standards-based wireless connectivity technology. It allows consumers to perform safe contactless transactions, access digital content and connect electronic devices -- with a single touch. For example, consumers with NFC-enabled mobile phones will be able to leave their wallets at home and use their phones for making contactless financial transactions or for electronic access to public transportation.

"Our membership growth is indicative of the heightened interest we see in the activities of the Forum and in the potential of the NFC market," said NFC Forum Chairman, Christophe Duverne. "This year will be pivotal, as we lay a foundation for market growth that will put NFC capabilities in the hands of a billion consumers worldwide by the end of the decade - the reach predicted by ABI analysts."

In addition to unveiling its technology architecture, the Forum recently announced the first five Forum specifications, as well as the initial tag formats for which support will be mandatory in NFC Forum-compliant devices. When complete, the NFC Forum's technology architecture will include specifications that define a modular NFC device architecture, and protocols for interoperable data exchange and device-independent service delivery, device discovery, and device capability.

About Near Field Communication Technology

Near Field Communication (NFC) is a standards-based, short-range wireless connectivity technology that enables simple and safe two-way interactions among electronic devices, allowing 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.

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 ISO, ECMA, and ETSI standards.

NFC technology is supported by the leading mobile device, infrastructure and technology manufacturers and by all major payment providers, and it is compatible with millions of contactless cards already in use worldwide.

About the NFC Forum

The NFC Forum 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 80 global member organizations 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.

The NFC Forum's Sponsor Members, which hold seats on the Board of Directors, include leading players in key industries around the world. The Sponsor Members are: MasterCard International, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Microsoft Corp., Nokia, NEC, Renesas Technology, Royal Philips Electronics, Samsung, Sony Corporation, Texas Instruments and Visa International.