Fixed Mobile Convergence

As Google’s (News - Alert) Android 4.0 has been launched into the market, more and more enterprises are upgrading their solutions to comply with the cutting edge features and functionalities that have been incorporated within the new platform.

INSIDE Secure, a provider of semiconductors, embedded software and platforms for secure transactions and digital security, has introduced its advanced open-source Open NFC protocol stack for the latest Google Android (News - Alert) 4.0 release, named “Ice Cream Sandwich.”

The company offers a wide range of secure payment and digital security products to fulfill the needs of advanced information processing, storage and transmission applications. Its customers consist of enterprises within mobile payment, identification documents, access control, transit, electronic device manufacturing, pay television and mobile service markets.

Open NFC version 4.3.3 for Google Android 4.0 is available for download at the Open NFC website, and supports the Compatibility Definition Document of Google Android 4.0  for NFC. The solution offers a consistent NFC API and functionality to the NFC ecosystem for convenient implementation of NFC independently of the underlying NFC hardware. Complying with advanced Android NFC features such as Android Beam and WiFi (News - Alert) Direct pairing connection, the Open NFC version 4.3.3 allows the users to access a variety of advanced features such as card emulation and multiple secure elements.

“The Ice Cream Sandwich release brings even greater NFC functionality to the Android operating system, and INSIDE is making our latest version of Open NFC available to give connectivity chip vendors, smartphone and tablet manufacturers and software developers a head start in achieving NFC hardware independence,” commented Charles Walton, chief operating officer at INSIDE Secure. “Once again, INSIDE is offering the Android community a complete, open-source NFC stack solution that can be used to greatly speed development and time to market, requiring only that the small hardware abstraction layer portion be tailored for specific hardware.”

Additionally, enterprises can also download the comprehensive open-source hardware abstraction layer for INSIDE’s MicroRead and SecuRead. With the help of the HAL, Open NFC protocol stack can be readily deployed with INSIDE’s MicroRead and SecuRead NFC chip platforms. It also offers a reliable model for development of HALs for NFC chips from other manufacturers, promoting enhanced interoperability and consistency across multiple platforms and devices.

While the Open NFC has already been deployed in millions of smartphones, INSIDE anticipates this latest version of Open NFC will be incorporated into Android-based smartphones and tablets that will ship in the year 2012, added Walton.

Earlier this month, INSIDE Secure and WISeKey announced a partnership to create a new breakthrough evolution of the WISeAuthentic solution suite which provides protection against counterfeiting, offers powerful sales monitoring and direct marketing capabilities.

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