NXP’s NFC solution implemented in Galaxy Nexus from Google Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich

SINGAPORE: NXP Semiconductors N.V. announced that the recently launched Galaxy Nexus from Google incorporates NXP’s fully integrated near field communication (NFC) solution PN65N. Featuring a NFC radio controller and an embedded Secure Element, the PN65N is also fully validated and integrated on the latest release of Android 4.0, also referred to as Ice Cream Sandwich.

The availability of NXPs open-source NFC software on Ice Cream Sandwich enables mobile phone and now also tablet manufacturers to quickly and easily design NFC-enabled, Android-based mobile devices. For application developers, Android support for NXP’s complete NFC solution provides a unique opportunity to create new applications for mobile payment/secure card emulation, tag read/write and peer-to-peer communication, bringing the full NFC experience to consumers.

Galaxy Nexus offers the full NFC potential based on a mature and proven software stack. The NFC software has been extensively field tested on the Gingerbread version of Android and has already been deployed on the first NFC-enabled Google Experience Device, Nexus S.

A new feature introduced in Galaxy Nexus is Android Beam which, using NFC technology, allows you to instantly share information such as webpages, YouTube videos, maps, directions, and other apps by simply tapping two NFC-enabled phones together.

Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, is a mobile OS designed for both smart phones and tablets. NXP’s open-source NFC software stack supports full NFC functionality enabling many NFC use cases and applications such as proximity marketing, smart poster reading, data sharing, quick social media check-in or device pairing.

The PN65N features an embedded Secure Element, which uses the same proven and tested NXP security solution found in bank cards; electronic passports; transportation and ticketing; physical access and other contactless applications. The PN65N is pin-to-pin compatible with the PN544 NFC radio controller giving manufacturers the choice to design with or without the secure element.

Field proven in numerous trials and successful commercial deployments NXP’s secure element enabled NFC technology supports MIFARE and enables best-in-class interoperability with the existing contactless reader infrastructure, such as those used in transport ticketing and physical access applications.