NFC Forum and GCF Advance Device Interoperability for Public Transportation Systems

Cooperation Agreement Signed; NFC Forum Test Cases Recognized Across Organizations

WAKEFIELD, Mass. – May 3, 2016 – The NFC Forum and the Global Certification Forum (GCF) announced today that they have entered into a cooperation agreement that allows both GCF and NFC Forum labs to run NFC Forum analog and NFC tag test cases and recognize test results across both organizations. This agreement represents a major step toward the objective of providing interoperable contactless public transport access and ticketing using a broad range of NFC-enabled devices worldwide. NFC Forum test cases have been added to GCF Certification Criteria for mobile devices incorporating ticketing and transport NFC-related functionality based on requirements defined in GSMA TS.26 NFC Handset Requirements Document and TS.27 NFC Handset Test Book.

Today’s news supports the recently released Milestone Public Statement and NFC Interoperability Positioning Paper published jointly by GSMA, Smart Ticketing Alliance, and NFC Forum.

“Incorporating NFC-based ticketing and transport functionality in the GCF Certification process will streamline the vital pre-launch testing of mobile devices,” said Lars Nielsen, General Manager, GCF. “This initiative will benefit the mobile industry and consumers by reducing testing costs and shortening time-to-market for this valuable device capability.”

GSMA has documented Mobile Operators requirements for NFC services, which include the implementation of mobile ticketing and transport services. Mobile handset manufacturers are supporting these guidelines to ensure the broadest range of interoperability for their devices. The long-term goal is to have NFC-enabled phones tested using NFC Forum test cases. Global, standardized NFC testing means that consumers will one day be able to access and pay for multiple forms of public transportation throughout the world with their NFC-enabled phones. This will allow passengers to board transportation faster, simplify fare collection, and provide a consistent experience from country to country and transit system to transit system.

Read the Joint GSMA/NFC FORUM/Smart Ticketing Alliance Milestone Public Statement.
Download the Joint Positioning Paper on Interoperability of NFC Devices in Transportation.
Learn more about the test cases, specifications, certification and FAQs.
Attend the NFC Forum Dallas, Texas member meeting.

“This is an ambitious, multiyear project we have embarked on. We are committed to working with public transportation organizations across the globe to make travel easier and more convenient using NFC technology,” said Paula Hunter, executive director, NFC Forum. “Working together with GCF through a network of GCF Recognized Test Organizations and NFC Forum Authorized Test Labs, we will promote the use of NFC test cases to validate NFC-enabled mobile devices. Validation will ensure that the devices meet industry specifications and are interoperable.”

About The Global Certification Forum
Established in 1999, the Global Certification Forum enables manufacturers to demonstrate that their wireless devices meet an internationally trusted benchmark of interoperability with mobile networks. Through the harmonization of testing, GCF certification provides comparability of test results between manufacturers and devices while generating economies of scale and a competitive market in the supply of test tools and services.

About the NFC Forum
The NFC Forum’s (www.nfc-forum.org) mission is to advance the use of Near Field Communication technology by developing specifications, ensuring interoperability among devices and services, and educating the market about NFC technology. The Forum’s global member companies are currently developing specifications for a modular NFC device architecture, and protocols for interoperable data exchange and device-independent service delivery, device discovery, and device capability. The NFC Forum’s Sponsor members include Apple Inc., Broadcom Corporation, Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd., Google, Inc., Intel, MasterCard Worldwide, Nokia, NXP Semiconductors, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony Corporation, STMicroelectronics, and Visa Inc.