Date: 15/11/2012

Broadcom contributes NFC software stack to Android Open Source project

Broadcom has contributed its NFC software stack to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). The software will also be included in Android 4.2.

NFC software stack advantages as per Broadcom:

For OEMs: by having a vendor-agnostic and open stack, OEMs now have the freedom to choose their preferred silicon provider

For application developers: by moving from proprietary to open software, developers have more opportunity to create new applications that will drive broader adoption of NFC

For consumers: by opening the doors for more NFC applications, consumers will be able to use their devices in new and creative ways including retail mobile payments, instant and secure media sharing between devices and tap-to-stream capability from a smartphone or tablet to a digital TV

Market Drivers shared by Broadcom:

With over 1 million NFC-enabled Android devices activated each week, Android represents the largest market for NFC adoption1

NFC-enabled smartphone shipments are anticipated to increase by 481% from 2012 to 20152

$116 billion of NFC-enabled mobile transactions are expected to be completed over the next three years3

Jean-Baptiste Queru, Technical Lead, Android Open Source Project said "We are delighted to see Broadcom's contribution to Android. By providing their NCI-based NFC stack to the Android Open Source Project, they are expanding the choice available to Android OEMs as they build devices with NFC."