NXP Semiconductors and UPM RFID, a manufacturer and designer of passive HF and UHF radio frequency identification tags and inlays, have announced a collaboration to provide easier access to near field communication (NFC) tags for use in mobile applications.
NXP is a co-inventor of NFC technology and it co-founded the NFC Forum to lead collaboration with all industry stakeholders and help standardise the technology.
NXP offers both the chipsets for NFC cell phones and the ICs for NFC tags.
NFC tags typically contain information that can be accessed by an NFC enabled device and form an essential component in any NFC-based system.
NXP Semiconductors Tagging and Authentication Business general manager Chris Feige said in order to successfully develop the NFC ecosystem, access to NFC tags must be made hassle-free.
Feige said the company is pleased to be working closely with UPM RFID and added, "Their expertise in high-volume tag production combined with our focus on NFC tag technology will truly enable the development of innovative and creative implementations of near field communication."
Under the agreement, NXP will provide the NFC ICs and UPM RFID will design and manufacture the NFC tags and inlays.
UPM RFID has several NFC tag products based on NXP technology. It also provides smaller form factor products for use in new NFC application areas, such as loyalty key-chains and item-embedded smart tags, said the company.
UPM RFID senior vice-president Marcus Vaenerberg said, "UPM RFID is already a well-established NFC tag manufacturer and focused on exploring new technologies and applications for tags and inlays. Our extended collaboration with NXP to roll out high-volume NFC tags is clearly in line with this strategy."
"To better support growing demand for easy access NFC tags, we’re also creating a global network of partners who provide web-based online printing services for customized NFC tags. Ordering NFC tags will soon be as easy as ordering any other office supplies via the web."
