| Microsoft to add native NFC to Windows Mobile |
Mar. 11, 2008
 Microsoft and RFID vendor Sirit have announced plans to collaborate on adding proximity technologies to Windows Mobile. The agreement aims to integrate near field communications (NFC) into the operating system, providing contactless payment, secure access, control of home entertainment systems, and other features, the companies say.
NFC is already widely used in Japan, where commuters commonly use it to quickly purchase train tickets or pay for parking by waving their phones in front of sensors. About 30 percent of all phones shipped globally will incorporate NFC by 2011, according to an NFC study report published in January by ABI Research.
Microsoft says it will include application programming interfaces (APIs) and other native support for NFC and contactless technology in Windows Mobile, and that Sirit's technology and expertise will play an important role in the integration. No timeframe for completion of the project was announced.
For several years, Sirit has marketed SDIO- and USB-based RFID readers, such as the "hockey puck" USB version seen above. The products are touted as being easy to install in Windows Mobile smartphones and Pocket PCs.
Benq's NFC-enabled T80
(Click for details) |
Separately, Benq last month released the T80, a phone incorporating NXP's PN532 NFC chip. Claimed to be the first Windows Mobile device with built-in NFC, the T80 is also the first phone capable of storing NFC data such as mobile wallets, tickets, and security information on a microSD card, according to Benq.
NFC is a short-range transmission standard that, unlike Bluetooth, requires no previous setup, and allows devices to find one another instantly, over a distance of about 12 inches. Promulgated by the NFC Forum, it extends the ISO 14443 standard for RFID-based proximity cards, combining the functionality of an RFID reader and a Smart Card into one device.
David Turner, a manager in Microsoft's Mobile & Embedded Devices Division (MED), said, "Microsoft believes in the significant benefits that NFC and contactless technology bring."
Further information
For more information about NFC, including an illustration of its architecture, see our earlier coverage, here.
Related stories:
(Click here for further information)
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