Connecting NFC to M2M and Enterprise Applications at IoT Tech Expo in Santa Clara, California
Nov 20, 2018

Connecting NFC to M2M and Enterprise Applications at IoT Tech Expo in Santa Clara, California

By Matthew Bright, Chair, Retail and Payment SIG, NFC Forum

We live in a connected world, and this only continues to accelerate as new parts of our lives are affected by digital connectivity. Some of this added connectivity – such as connected fitness trackers and connected cars – lives ‘on the surface’ of our lives and is obvious to us, while some connectivity – such as smart metering, building controls, and telematics – takes place behind the scenes. Whether or not we realize it’s there, wireless communication is critically important to many aspects of our lives.  This diversity of connected applications requires a diversity of connectivity technologies. To discuss the role of NFC in this interconnected environment, I will represent the NFC Forum at the Third Annual IoT Tech Expo North America 2018 on November 28-29, 2018 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Silicon Valley.

On Thursday, November 29 at 2:50pm, I will present as part of a panel discussing “Connectivity for M2M Devices.” Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication refers to the technologies enabling connected “things” to communicate with each other – and with other wireless-enabled devices and systems. A wide spectrum of technologies and protocols are required to support the full range of M2M connectivity and NFC has an important role to play.

With 36 billion IoT devices and over two billion NFC-enabled smartphones in use by 2020, M2M is a strong growth area for NFC.  To help you better understand the role of NFC in simplifying the IoT, the NFC Forum has recently released white papers developed by the Internet of Things SIG and Retail & Payment SIGs.  You can download both white papers, free of charge, here:

Connected Enterprise Series M2M Panel

This panel is part of the show’s Connected Enterprise Series. Speaking alongside me are:

  • Matt Short, research and analysis lead for Internet of Things in the Transformative Technology team at IHS Markit
  • Gregory Gundelfinger, CEO of Telna, a network-independent connectivity specialist in the field of M2M communication.

Panel topics include:

  • The diversity of IoT enterprise applications and requirements and the impact on new business models, new ways of working, and new services
  • The seamless integration of standards into the IoT to enable interoperability
  • How businesses are using de-centralized, autonomous device networks to enable fast and efficient deployment of large-scale industrial IoT
  • The role of ultra-low-power wireless technologies for the enterprise-focused IoT

From enabling new applications to promoting standards-based interoperability, you can see why the NFC Forum is well positioned to make meaningful contributions to this discussion. While many industrial IoT use cases rely on long-range communication, others require short-range, highly secure communication technology. I look forward to sharing more about the role of NFC in M2M communication, learning from the other panelists, and answering questions from an engaged audience. If you plan to attend the IoT Tech Expo show, I warmly welcome you to introduce yourself after the session. See you there!

About The IoT Tech Expo North America 2018

The event brings together over 13,000 attendees, 23 Conference Tracks, three Co-Located Events, 500 speakers and over 350 Exhibitors. This conference explores the latest IoT innovations and covers its impact on industries such as Manufacturing, Transport, Supply Chain, Insurance, Logistics, Government, Energy and Automotive.  According to the show organizers, attendees include:  CTOs, Heads of Innovation and Technology, IT Directors, Developers & Startups, OEMs, Government, Automotive Operators, Technology Providers, Investors, VCs, and many more.