NXP mulls IP licensing for its Mifare platform

John Walko, EE Times
(05/02/2008 9:36 AM EDT)
 
LONDON — NXP Semiconductors is looking seriously at licensing to other semiconductor companies its Mifare contactless chip card platform technology for use in SIM cards and NFC applications such as ticketing, payment and access management.

"We are preparing a technology licensing programme. This will take some time to evolve as it involves both the Mifare hardware and operating system and the crucial over the air management protocols and interfaces with Mifare4Mobile," Heikki Huomo, vice president and general manager for the NFC business at NXP told EE times Europe .

"We are making a very clear statement that NXP wants an open industry specification in this area. We are talking to several other chip manufacturers and have indicated that we would not be seeking 'tens of millions of dollars' in fees and the arrangement would also have a numbers based elements so as not to disadvantage smaller players."