NFC Release 15

Fast, Secure, and More Useful than Ever

NFC Technologies make our lives more convenient, secure, and connected. Our next release builds on this foundation by increasing range, enabling the circular economy, and extending contactless simplicity into even more use cases beyond payment.

Qualified NFC Forum members can download Specifications now, with the public release planned for this Fall.

Read the Announcement

Extended Range

The headline new feature of NFC Release 15 is extended range - something engineers call operating volume. Historically only 5mm, our new specification supports connections up to 4x this range. Connection times will be fast and will require less precise alignment for operation - making NFC easier to use than ever.

Fast Connections

You've come to expect quick checkout with NFC-enabled payments, and an extended range means connections can start sooner, last longer, and work with less precise alignment.

Improved User Experience

NFC is technology that simply works. The new extended range will result in higher success rates when tapping while also giving designers even more flexibility for their next products.

More Reliable

As an over-the-air connection, extended range will make the contactless experience even more reliable and robust in most every case and environment.

Payments Anywhere

By redefining the baseline for contactless connections, NFC Release 15 will further new exciting use cases like using your mobile phone as a payment terminal.

Digital Product Passport

Initially announced in the Fall of 2024, the NFC Forum Membership has developed foundational new specifications to enable the forthcoming regulations on Digital Product Passport. This work builds on our industry-standard NFC Digital Exchange Format (NDEF) for seamless connectivity to other devices and the cloud.

Supports Circular Economy

Our community leads in greener payment and access solutions, proving the technology's potential to drive positive change now, and as a data carrier for future regulated acts.

Standardized Readers

Brands and product teams can start implementing Digital Product Passports (DPP) today knowing that nearly every mobile phone shipping today includes NFC functionality.

Future Compliance

Our standards are being defined with the goal to allow product teams to only need to implement a minor software update to achieve compliance with DPP regulations.

Secure Connections

With a reputation for being one of the most secure wireless connections today, NFC Release 15 builds on this success offering improved secure encrypted connections accessed through the simplicity of a tap.

User Intent

NFC device connectivity is designed around user intent. Device power, user confirmation, and the tap gesture ensure connections are only possible as expected.

Proximity-based

While extended range means 4x longer reach, NFC remains one of the few mainstream wireless connectivity standards to require proximity for operation.

Also Included:

Payments

Billions of transactions every month use contactless systems based on NFC. Whether by card or device, NFC is the de facto standard for payment.

Identity

Government identity is migrating to the digital age and NFC technologies are the uncontested proximity-based standard.

Wallets

Credentials and tickets now have a home on our devices. Mobile Wallets are convenient, secure, and always with you anywhere you go.

Digital Key

Enjoy secure, convenient entry to homes, cars, and buildings with a simple tap of your phone or wearable.

Door Locks

Manage and share access to your most secure locations, like the office or home, using your mobile or wearable.

Wearables

Wearables are a growing market for NFC, and NFC Release 15 makes it easier for brands to connect with their customers.

Kitchen Appliances

New industry standards will power everyday appliances, and NFC technology makes these products safer for the home.

Wireless Charging

Add the convenience of up to 1W negotiated cable-free power to smaller form factor products and devices.

Available Now

Associate, Principal, and Sponsor Members of the Forum can download the Technical Specifications included in NFC Release 15 today. NFC Release 15 will become publicly available in the Fall, and the NFC Forum will open compliance certification with Certification Release 15.

Become a Member Keep me Posted

Compliance testing for many of the newer capabilities of NFC Release 15 are planned for Certification Release 15 (CR15) which is expected to be launched in the Fall of 2025. The NFC Forum Certification Program offers product designers assurance of compliance, and therefore higher in-market interpretability, for both the analog and digital attributes of NFC Forum connections.

The full public release of NFC Release 15 which is comprised of Specification Release 15 and Certification Release 15, is expected this Fall. The former are the technical standards to implement NFC capability in products, and the latter, the testing program to certify compliance to these standards. Signup to keep informed.