When paying contactlessly with your smartphone or smartwatch, the device must be relatively close to the merchant's payment terminal: beyond 5 mm, there's no way around it, the two devices can't communicate. It's not very complicated to bring a phone closer, it can be more complicated with a watch, or even a ring.
What the new NFC standard will change
Release 15 of NFC, the new version of the technical specifications of the wireless transmission standard, quadruples the communication range, which increases to 2 cm. An advancement that will "particularly benefit smartphones, connected objects, digital keys, household appliances and wireless charging devices," the NFC Forum is pleased to announce.
This additional range will encourage new uses: contactless payment of course, but also contactless access in transport and in Automotive. This will be particularly useful for very small devices: no need to bring them too close or aim precisely. In terms of security, even with this range, NFC technology maintains a requirement of "voluntary proximity": no risk of interception.
This Release 15 also brings support for the Digital Product Passport to NFC. This is a standard that allows a single NFC tag to integrate product data throughout their lifecycle. The specification also speeds up the connection between two devices and improves the reliability of exchanges.
All that remains is for manufacturers to integrate this new version of NFC into their devices... and that could take a little time. The new Release is available for Apple, Google, Huawei, and Sony, who will therefore be able to implement it quickly. But a certification system will also need to be put in place, which will be launched this fall.
Source: NFC Forum
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