1. Introduction to the Forum

The full name of NFC Forum is Near Field Communication Forum (Near Field Communication Forum), and the website is https://nfc-forum.org.

March 18, 2004 To promote the development and popularization of NFC, NXP (formerly Philips Semiconductors), Sony, and Nokia created a non-profit industry association, the NFC Forum, a standards-based, short-range wireless connectivity technology that connects electronic devices by simplifying transactions, exchanging digital content, and connecting electronic devices by touch. The forum aims to promote the implementation and standardization of NFC technology and ensure synergy between devices and services. Its wide range of products makes life easier and more convenient for consumers around the world. The technology is now compatible with hundreds of millions of contactless cards and readers deployed worldwide. The alliance has grown to include more than 110 member companies around the world.

2. The necessity and significance of NFC forum authentication

- Interoperability between products can be fully ensured

- certified products will appear in the product list on the official website of the NFC Forum, thus increasing product awareness.

- Display the NFC Forum certification logo on the relevant websites, promotional materials and product packaging of the product manufacturer, so as to better demonstrate the compliance of the product with the NFC Forum standard.

3. Types of Forum Membership and Benefits

There are many benefits to joining the NFC forum. Membership selection is customized to meet the wide range of needs of NFC Forum member organizations. There are 6 types of rights and interests. Becoming a member of the NFC Forum is a prerequisite for the product to obtain certification, and the authorized laboratory of the forum cannot provide certification-related documents to non-member users.

For profit-making enterprises, if it is for the purpose of obtaining certification, it can apply for executive membership (annual fee of 6000$) or start-up executive membership (annual fee of 2500$). Non-profit organizations can also apply for non-profit membership (annual fee of 1500$) in order to obtain evidence. Among them, the start-up executive membership (annual fee of 2500$) is only applicable to companies established within the past five years with an annual revenue of less than $5 million, and can only be used for 2 years.

4. Instructions for using NFC forum logo

The NFC Forum certification mark serves as an indicator of a product's compliance with the NFC Forum compliance program standards. Once the NFC Forum authentication process is complete, NFC Forum members will receive access to the certification mark

NFC Forum members can use the Certification Mark once the NFC-enabled device or tag implementation has successfully completed the NFC Forum Certification Mark Authentication process, accepted the NFC Forum Certification Mark License Agreement, and paid a $1,000 Certification Mark license fee. This is a one-time fee for each registered organization. (Customers pay directly to the forum).

The certification mark can be displayed on promotional materials, sales materials, websites, product packaging, and documentation to show that the product complies with global standards and establish the credibility that the product will remain consistent in the NFC ecosystem.

The NFC Forum Certification Mark usage guide is provided with the certification mark and explains how to use the certification mark on supporting materials, packaging, and documentation to indicate that the product complies with global standards. Users should follow the implementation guidelines to ensure global consistency.

Figure: NFC Forum Authentication LOGO

5. NFC Forum Authentication Process

Join: If you are not already a member of the NFC Forum, you will need to become a member of the NFC Forum and start the authentication process first.

Preparation: Familiarize yourself with the NFC Forum authentication policies and device requirements.

Testing: Identify authorized testing laboratories to meet product testing needs and schedule relevant testing.

Application: Collect all the necessary certification packages, create an account, and submit company documents to the NFC Forum website.

Promotion: Once certified, it is recommended to add the certification mark to the company's website, products (if applicable), packaging, and promotional materials (according to the NFC Forum Certification Mark Guidelines). The mark can be used upon acceptance of the NFC Forum Certification Mark License Agreement and payment of a one-time fee to the Registrar.

Note: The certification version that needs to be done should be informed according to the chip capability (the version supported by the product is generally related to the chip capability, and it is recommended to consult the chip manufacturer).

6. Types of NFC-certified devices

6.1. Universal Device

An NFC universal device is a protocol stack associated with a device that implements at least part of the NFC Forum with the mandatory NFC Forum interoperability module. It can additionally support optional parts of the stack.

NFC universal devices support NFC forum reader mode, NFC forum peer mode, and can also support NFC forum card emulation mode.

The NFC generic device architecture can be configured for polling and querying. It implements the following NFC Forum interoperability modules:

-      Mandatory NFC Forum Interoperability Modules

-      Initiator Interoperability Module

-      Target Interoperability Module

-      Reader/Writer Interoperability Module

-      Optional NFC Forum Interoperability Modules

-      Type 3 Tag Platform Interoperability Module

-      Type 4A Tag Platform Interoperability Module

-      Type 4B Tag Platform Interoperability Module.

For example, the devices that are commonly used to make Universal are NFC mobile phones, NFC tablets, etc.

Note: Theoretically, the mobile phone contains all the functions of the Reader Device, and you can also choose to do Reader authentication.

6.2. Reader Device

An NFC reader device is a device that implements at least part of the NFC Forum protocol stack associated with the Mandatory NFC Forum Interoperability Module. It can also support optional parts of the stack. NFC reader devices support NFC Forum Reader/Writer mode and can support NFC Forum Peer Mode (initiator component). It does not implement NFC Forum Peer Mode (Target Component) or NFC Forum Card Emulation Mode. NFC Forum Architecture Device Requirements Page 46 NFC reader device architecture can be configured to poll, but not to listen. It implements the following NFC Forum interoperability modules:

-      Mandatory NFC Forum Interoperability Modules 

-      Reader/Writer Interoperability Module

-     Optional NFC Forum Interoperability Modules 

Example: At present, the devices that do Reader Device authentication include NFC card readers

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6.3. Tag Devices

NFC tag devices are devices that do not implement the NFC Forum protocol stack. It does not support any NFC Forum mode of operation (as defined in Section C.3). The NFC tag device architecture can be configured to listen instead of polling. NFC tag devices are used to describe attributes that are common to all NFC tag devices. But a given NFC Forum device is usually specific to one type of tag and will be named accordingly:

-      NFC Type 2 Tag

-      NFC Type 3 Tag 

-      NFC Type 4A Tag 

-      NFC Type 4B Tag

-      NFC Type 5 Tag

For example, NFC tags, NFC keyboards, NFC speakers, etc. are commonly used for Tag Device authentication.

Note: It does not mean that the product can be identified as a Tag Device if it is an NFC speaker or keyboard, and it needs to be determined according to the capabilities supported by the product.