Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Technology
- 3 Standards
- 4 Modes of operation
- 5 RF requirements and components
- 6 The Secure Element
- 7 Tags and terminals
- 8 NFC apps
- 9 Infrastructure requirements
- 10 Security
- 11 Interoperability
- Part III Applications
- Part IV Implementation
- Appendix A Glossary
- Appendix B Standards
- Index
- References
11 - Interoperability
from Part II - Technology
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 December 2014
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Technology
- 3 Standards
- 4 Modes of operation
- 5 RF requirements and components
- 6 The Secure Element
- 7 Tags and terminals
- 8 NFC apps
- 9 Infrastructure requirements
- 10 Security
- 11 Interoperability
- Part III Applications
- Part IV Implementation
- Appendix A Glossary
- Appendix B Standards
- Index
- References
Summary
Interoperability in a competitive market
Full interoperability for NFC would mean that any handset, running any operating system and with any suitable SE, would enable its user to access any NFC service in any country or location, subject to payment where needed. Users could use any GSM, CDMA or 3G network, and could change phone or network without losing access to their service. The handset and user interface would work in a sufficiently similar way to be immediately recognizable to the user, who could also use any adaptations that they have on their own phone.
Although NFC standards are agreed at an international level, differences in implementation of the standards, the need for compatibility with existing services, commercial competition and variations in business model mean that the industry is far from achieving this level of interoperability. I have three NFC phones, linked to three different operators in two countries. Although all of them can read a basic tag, each of the services to which I have subscribed can be used on only one of these phones, either because of phone features (the SE) or network contractual agreements.
Some steps are being taken to improve the situation but some differences will always remain, and are not necessarily unhealthy in a competitive marketplace.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Near Field Communications Technology and Applications , pp. 121 - 130Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2014