This report analyzes UWB-Ultra Wideband and NFC-Near Field Communications technologies and markets. The reasons for such a choice were:
Both technologies are playing very important roles in the development of wireless communications
Both are in various stages of commercialization
NFC can be seen as a “connection” technology. Due to its properties, it can be used to connect UWB devices with simple procedures, simplifying initialization of a communications channel and minimizing users’ involvement.
The world's first commercial deployment of NFC took place back in April 2006 in conjunction with the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV), a regional public transport authority for Frankfurt Rhine-Main in Germany. The project utilized Nokia 3220 handsets with NFC technology integrated into a special battery sleeve.
UWB devices were also introduced in the commercial area in 2005-2006, and now this technology created a separate industry, though a standardization process is still continuing.
The report analyzes technologies features, standards and applications with emphasis on
the importance of developing NFC-able UWB devices. As an example, we concentrate on UWB applications in homeland security and in building Unattended Ground Sensor network infrastructures.
The report provides a long list of the NFC technology applications. It is expected that one of the most important application will be an integration of NFC in the cell phones. Such a combination goal is to make from a cell phone a device that may eventually replace credit cards. The concept of a “wireless wallet” is discussed in details, as well as a concept of m-payments with its advantaged and issues.
Both technologies created relatively large industries, and vendors and their portfolios are also analyzed.
In the marketing part of this report, we provide marketing characteristics of UWB and NFC technologies. The technologies are developing in the very competitive environment:
IEEE802.11n, Bluetooth, ZigBee -are just a few technologies competing with UWB in several applications; NFC has a stronger position, but also needs to compete with various smart cards techniques.
2008 was not a successful year for UWB-several vendors either closed doors, or started to pay more attention to competing technologies. Meanwhile, such a company as Artimi (Staccato) began manufacturing UWB-NFC modules; this may be a start of a very productive technological cooperation.
Altogether, the report shows that both discussed markets are developing relatively fast, and there is a trend to integrate both technologies to extend a range of their applications.
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