The Smart Card Alliance and the NFC Forum will co-host an event focused on Near Field Communication (NFC) in spring 2012, the two organizations announced. The NFC conference, the first in the U.S., will focus on the state of the technology for NFC, NFC devices and add-ons, NFC ecosystem development, use cases for NFC-enabled applications (both payment and non-payment), NFC implementation, and North America and international markets for NFC.
“The development of NFC-based applications and services has gone through dramatic change in the last few months, and 2012 is going to be the year when many new business partnerships, technologies and applications will hit the market,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance in a prepared statement. “We are launching this new conference in response to the industry’s demand for more education and networking opportunities around NFC. We are looking forward to building a conference agenda that explores the many exciting NFC-enabled applications that enrich consumers’ lives, including payments, coupons, loyalty, ticketing, IT network and building access, identity and healthcare.”
NFC technology makes life easier and more convenient for consumers around the world by making it simpler to make transactions, exchange digital content, and connect electronic devices with a touch. In the U.S., NFC is gaining a lot of momentum with recent product and joint venture announcements from industry-leading handset manufacturers, financial service providers, and mobile network operators.
These announcements represent big steps toward establishing a nationwide infrastructure for NFC-enabled mobile payments and retail applications in the United States. Also helping are the over 150,000 merchants with installed NFC-compatible POS terminals that are eager to give consumers the option of receiving offers and paying for purchases with just a tap of their NFC phone.
“The timing for this event couldn't be better, as we're seeing more and more members of the NFC ecosystem unveiling their plans for the technology in North America," said Debbie Arnold, NFC forum director. “As one of the NFC Forum's valued liaison partners, the Smart Card Alliance is key to our efforts to educate the market about the many benefits of NFC technology for both businesses and consumers. We look forward to working together with our Smart Card Alliance colleagues to make this a must-attend event for any company seeking new business opportunities with NFC."
Juniper Research has forecasted that one in 6 users worldwide will have an NFC-enabled phone by 2014 and that, in 2016, the value of transactions made using NFC services in North America will reach nearly $47 billion, or 41.6% of the global share. Juniper Research also forecasts that 500 million people around the world will use their mobile devices as travel tickets on metros, subways and buses by 2015 and that NFC will drive this growth.
Frost & Sullivan forecasts that, by 2015, NFC technology will be the most-used solution for mobile payment.
The Smart Card Alliance and the NFC Forum websites contain many NFC resources for those looking to learn more about the technology. Visit the Smart Card Alliance NFC Resources page, or the multimedia page to hear first-hand opinions on NFC from experts. Read about NFC technology or check out NFC Forum resources including white papers, webcasts, presentations, FAQ, and more.
The Smart Card Alliance and NFC Forum will announce the date and location of the 2012 NFC conference later this year.
