ZTE, NXP announce NFC availability in next-gen handsets

NXP Semiconductors N.V. and ZTE Corp. are working together to design in NXP's Near Field Communications (NFC) PN544 technology into ZTE handsets. ZTE plans to merge NFC chips into its rapidly expanding line of global smartphones and feature phones, such as the Android-based QSC6270 platform devices as well as more entry-level feature phones. NFC empowers secure transactions such as payment, transportation and physical access. ZTE handsets with NFC will be available in Q2 2011.

Currently, NFC and its associated secure element enhance the smartphone experience by linking the virtual world of applications with the physical environment. Using natural touch gestures, NFC devices can readily pair with accessories, interact on a peer-to-peer level to exchange data, as well as connect to a huge installed base of reader and tag infrastructures.

The PN544 is an NFC controller launched in 2009. The chip complies with all released NFC specifications on the Single Wire Protocol (SWP) connection with the SIM and the Host Controller Interface (HCI). Other features of the PN544 NFC controller include: optionally working in battery off and battery low modes; MIFARE 1K/4K reader/writer functionality enabled in host baseband; optionally available with a modular, generic and platform independent software stack; and optimized antenna designs.