Apple has joined the NFC Forum (nfc-forum.org) as a sponsor member, a non-profit industry association who mission is “to advance the use of Near Field Communication technology by developing specifications, ensuring interoperability among devices and services, and educating the market about NFC technology.”

Near field communication (NFC) is the set of protocols that enables smartphones and other devices to establish radio communication with each other by touching the devices together or bringing them into proximity to a distance of typically 3.9 inches or less.

“The top tier of NFC Forum membership, sponsor membership, entitles an organisation to a seat on the NFC Forum board of directors, the association’s governing body,” NFC Forum director Paula Hunter says. “We are delighted to welcome Apple to our board of directors as an NFC Forum sponsor member.”