Windows 8 prepares for NFC

Near field communication (NFC) technology vendors are aligning themselves to provide solutions that could be used with Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 operating system (OS), which will include built-in NFC functionality, reports RFID Journal.

Although Microsoft has yet to set a date for the product's release, the company reports the new system will include an NFC function, known as 'tap to share', enabling Windows 8 PCs, laptops or tablets to support NFC and radio frequency identification readers.

NXP Semiconductors showed its support for Windows 8, and recently released integrated circuits to enhance the deployment of NFC tags for original equipment manufacturers, inlay customers and end-users, says News Day.

As demonstrated by NXP's support of NFC in Android and Windows 8, the company says NFC radios in mobile devices, such as phones or tablets, will open up new possibilities for the same devices to connect the physical with the virtual world.

NXP says the ability to convert static data such as a URL into digital bits stored in an NFC tag will allow the mobile device to quickly retrieve the data, and make it not only more useful to the consumer, but also to the merchant, who can secure better analytics of the data through higher redemption rates.

NXP's new chip for NFC tags offers improved radio sensitivity, meaning tags can be read over a greater range, or that tag antennas can be made smaller, according to NFC World.

“We analysed market demand as well as new user cases, to enhance our portfolio of NFC tag ICs. The result is the NTAG203, an NFC tag IC that can enhance the performance of existing tags, or enable the design of smaller tags without compromising performance,” says NXP's Chris Feige.