Inside Secure MicroRead gets NFC Forum Certification

This certification offers increased assurance that products using MicroRead solutions will work with the NFC mobile phones, tablet computers, access devices and other NFC products throughout the world that will also use NFC components certified by the NFC Forum. Inside says its MicroRead and SecuRead products total nearly 25 million units from start of deployment in 2011 to date, establishing a broad base of interoperable NFC devices.

Inside’s MicroRead solution supports reader/writer functionality, card emulation and peer-to-peer modes. Inside says its MicroRead NFC controller offers the smallest footprint, lowest BOM count and lowest standby currently available today in the market.

The certification testing was carried out by AT4 wireless in Malaga, Spain, an NFC Forum authorized test lab, which says that MicroRead demonstrated 100 percent compliance with the applicable NFC Forum test requirements.

The NFC Forum is a non-profit industry association dedicated to advancing Near Field Communication technology by developing specifications, ensuring interoperability among devices and services, and educating the market about NFC. The NFC Forum Certification Program provides consistency in the behavior of NFC devices by confirming that products conform to the NFC Forum's specifications. It offers increased assurance that NFC Forum-certified products will be interoperable with other NFC Forum-certified devices.

In related news, Inside Secure announced the launch of a near field communication (NFC) patent licensing program with France Brevets, the first investment fund dedicated to patent promotion and monetization in Europe. The program will make the Inside Secure NFC patents available to device manufacturers building products that will support contactless payment, transit, access control, loyalty, ticketing, and other services.

Under this agreement, France Brevets will manage and lead all the efforts under the NFC licensing program. France Brevets will give device manufacturers access to the Inside Secure NFC patents, which include both essential and implementation-specific approaches for NFC. The licensing program will address multiple categories of NFC device manufacturers, such as those making smartphones, feature phones, tablets, laptops, PCs, TVs, and smart meters.

Created in March 2010, France Brevets is the first investment fund fully dedicated to patent promotion and monetization in Europe. Funded with EUR 100 million, France Brevets deploys an array of legal, financial, technical and commercial resources for the purpose of monetizing patents or acquiring patent rights.