R2R™, an open standard technology alternative to NFC

Aix-en-Provence, December 16, 2004.
Today there is a growing trend amongst the major smart card players and market leaders, in the perception of RF 13.56MHz contactless technology as a promising replacement to other smart card technologies such as contact cards and older RF technologies such as 125 KHz systems. This is already widely the case in the access control and mass transit markets, with E- payment and ID document markets following the same trend.

The quick acceptance of contactless technology by consumers is due to its indisputable benefits over other technologies. The main advantages are: convenience, speed, a packaging offer adapted to various needs of form factors, and easy integration in the host system, not limited by mechanical or design problems.

Convergence of RFID with consumer Electronic devices
INSIDE has developed R2R™ technology (Reader-to-Reader) with the vision of bringing the benefits of the 13.56 MHz RF technology to consumer electronics.

R2R™ technology was developed by INSIDE in 2000. INSIDE's first R2R™ application integrated the R2R™ feature in a PDA for vending machine maintenance operators. The RFID enabled PDA allowed a maintenance operator to update the vending machine with new prices, and to download the transaction logs from it.

R2R, a superset of and an open standard alternative to the Near Field Communication
The R2R™ feature allows a device to behave both as a reader and as a card. An R2R™ device can receive commands from any standard proximity contactless reader and send back responses the same way a contactless smart card would do. Using this feature, a consumer electronic device can interact with the millions of readers already installed worldwide, to exchange data or to perform secure transactions, using different access protocols, including ISO 14443 A/B, ISO 15693, as well as FeliCa™ protocols. 
 
R2R™ is not a new standard, but is a way to use the existing international standards ISO/IEC 14443 (proximity) and 15693 (vicinity). R2R™ also is compatible with the recently announced NFC (Near Field Communication) technology from Philips, with the advantage that it is compatible with the existing installed base of RFID readers.
This positions R2R as a superset and an open standard alternative to the NFC.

The NFC Technology limitations
Philips’s NFC technology includes only one existing ISO international standard, ISO 14443-A, as well as the FeliCa™ protocol. As an example, NFC is not compatible with the ISO 15693 based infrastructure, widely adopted by the Access Control industry and the electronic Tagging industry. NFC is also not compatible with ISO 14443 B reader infrastructure, widely adopted by the Financial Institutions for their contactless payment schemes.

The Philips’s NFC introduces a new mode of communication, called “Active mode”, which is not compatible with any of the existing installed base of RFID readers.

R2R™ Benefits
R2R™ offers key advantages.
It allows interoperability with all RF 13.56MHz readers and transponders compatible with the existing international standards, including ISO 14443 A/B, ISO 15693, as well as FeliCa™.

It offers higher baud rates, up to 847 Kbits/s.

It is exclusively based on open, existing, international standard communication technology. Thus it doesn’t require costly, time consuming standardization efforts, reduces deployment risks, and accelerates customer time to market deployment.

INSIDE introduces PicoRead™, the first chip interface on the market to feature R2R™
PicoRead is INSIDE’s answer to the fast growing demand for an  RF 13.56 Mhz interface in large scale applications where power and  space for integration are limited. PicoRead was specifically designed to address the needs of OEMs in consumer electronics and equipments where large reader volumes require small, low-cost footprints. Its low power consumption, and automatic card detection feature in stand-by mode were specifically designed for its integration in battery operated electronic devices.
PicoRead™ is compliant with ISO 14443 A/B, ISO 15693 and FeliCa™, and features the new R2R technology.

Today, PicoRead™’s popularity is showing it to be the best solution on the market.

R2R™, the IN-CLUB’s technology backbone
R2R’s technology is supported by a non-profit industry association called IN-CLUB, founded to promote the adoption of open standards based on contactless solutions in various industry sectors. The IN-CLUB enables its members to partner, explore and create a seamless contactless world to their customers. IN-CLUB’s typical member profiles include Bankers, Telecom Operators, Transit Operators, Government Agencies, PDA, PC, Handset Manufacturers, OEMs, ID and Access Control System Integrators, or Contactless Vendors.