The future of NFC, especially as it relates to the future of mobile payments, has plenty of skeptics at this early stage. But research firm In-Stat believes the future of NFC is strong.

According to new research the company announced today, the number of NFC chips shipped globally by 2015 will reach more than 1.2 billion per year. The increased demand for chips will be driven by the rising number of mobile payment users, expected to reach 375 million by 2015, and a corresponding increase in the demand for NFC-enabled devices.

"As the costs of NFC chips decline, and NFC radios are combined with other chip functions, the cost to integrate NFC into handsets will be outweighed by the benefits,” saidAllen Nogee, research director, in the announcement.

Nogee added that NFC chips that integrate NFC with other technologies like Bluetooth, which has 100-percent market penetration, will make the decision to include NFC on devices easier for original equipment manufacturers.

Some additional findings by In-Stat include:

• Retailers will to begin pilot programs in the latter part of 2011 and into 2012 that incorporate smart posters into their signage and outdoor advertising strategies.
• NFC will reach 30 percent global penetration by 2015
• Global annual shipments of NFC chips will grow at a CAGR of 129 percent over the forecast period.

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