NXP and Trusted Logic have released an open source NFC Android API designed to work with a second generation NFC Android stack developed by the two companies which, they say, “provides a complete integration into the Android framework, comparable to the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi services already integrated in Android.”

Trusted Logic first launched an NFC protocol stack for Android in October 2009 and announced an initiative to provide an open, standardised API for building NFC functionality into Android devices in February.

“Opening this API to the community will enable application and service providers to develop their NFC applications with a standard framework as they did with the JSR 257 specification,” say the companies. “This will drive the creation of compelling NFC applications by handset manufacturers and independent application developers alike.”

“With our second-generation NFC Android API, our solution is mature enough to be broadly shared with all the players,” says Trusted Logic’s Philippe Dubois. “This allows each of them to propose further enhancements and contribute through the Apache license model. Application developers can also have access to our Android environment on PC and make use of the latest API version.”

The new API has been released, say the companies, “following consultation with various eco-system partners, including mobile network operators, handset manufacturers and NFC controller providers.”

“This is the most complete Android proposal on the market,” says Henri Ardevol, general manager of secure transactions at NXP Semiconductors. “Our key partners in Android confirm this is a solid proposal and that release of this open NFC API is essential for a successful deployment of NFC applications.”

Like Inside Contactless, NXP and Trusted Logic hope to have their technology adopted by the Open Handset Alliance as the de facto solution for adding NFC to Android devices. “We are excited to contribute to this industry standard and are looking forward to propose a reference implementation above the Android hardware abstraction layer to the Open Handset Alliance,” says Ardevol.

The NXP/Trusted Logic NFC Android API specification is available on request by emailing [email protected].

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