It will soon be possible for consumers to make contactless transactions with their NFC smartphone from a distance of up to three or four centimetres, a significant increase on the current maximum of 2cm, NFC Forum executive director Mike McCamon reveals in this 23-minute presentation for Contactless World Congress.

The extension of NFC’s transaction range forms part of the NFC standards body’s new three-to-five year technology roadmap, McCamon explains, along with the introduction of multipurpose taps that will enable consumers to perform multiple functions, such as making a payment and receiving a receipt or presenting a loyalty card and making a payment, with just one tap.

New data formats that will support sustainability and the circular economy by allowing product lifecycle data to be directly stored on an NFC tag are also included in the roadmap along with new device-to-device connectivity features and an increase in wireless charging power from one to three watts, he says.

The increase in the NFC transaction range “will make the technology more useful and more user friendly,” McCamon explains, “and actually will make the experience seem faster as well.”

“The idea is that, as your phone comes in contact or close proximity of the payment terminal, the connection could start and then also complete the transaction much quicker. And also you won’t have to be as precise.”

In the presentation, McCamon also provides an introduction to NFC technology, its three modes of operation and its advantages over QR codes and other wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, ultra wideband (UWB) and WiFi.

He also explores trending use cases beyond payments, including wireless charging, access control, wearables, automotive digital keys, customer engagement and healthcare.

How to watch this presentation

The 23-minute presentation and the 17-page slide deck featured in it are available free of charge to NFCW members.

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This item is part of Contactless World Congress.