­The NFC Forum says that it has approved and adopted the NFC Analog technical specification, which is available now. This new specification addresses the analog characteristics of the RF interface of an NFC-enabled device.

The NFC Analog specification is focused on the analog characteristics of the RF interface of an NFC-enabled device. It characterizes and specifies the externally observable radio signals for an NFC-enabled device, without specifying the design of its antenna. This includes power requirements (determining operating volume), transmission requirements, receiver requirements, and signal forms (time/frequency/modulation characteristics). In doing so, it provides a common interface to the NFC chip, thereby giving manufacturers greater flexibility to use NFC chips from different suppliers without putting device interoperability at greater risk.

The NFC Analog specification brings the total of NFC published specifications to 17, with one additional candidate specification at this time. The new specification has been adopted in final form after a validation period and subsequent votes by NFC Forum membership and Board. Access to all NFC Forum specifications is found on the Forum's website.

"With the new NFC Analog specification we offer the industry a solution that will lead to improved global interoperability between NFC devices," said Koichi Tagawa, NFC Forum Chairman, "and because it also streamlines testing and certification, it will accelerate the introduction of NFC-enabled devices into the market. We greatly appreciate the efforts of all our members who worked to deliver this milestone specification."