How nfc works in a phone. What is NFC in a phone and what is this technology for? NFC - use case, what is it for, where to buy

What is NFC in a smartphone and how to use it

Near Field Communication (or NFC for short) was originally popular only as a tool for contactless payments.
However, everything is much more extensive than it seems at first glance.
This technology provides high quality wireless communication with a very short range (up to 10 cm).
This connection makes it possible to carry out contactless data exchange between devices that are in close proximity.
So, using a SIM card with a built-in chip of this technology, you can use it as a payment card or, for example, a key card.
NFC is based on Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID). This is a radio frequency identification that works in automatic mode.
The data is stored in so-called transponders and is identified as NFC tags. And the radio signal reads and writes data.
The technology radio channel supports both active and passive devices.
So, for example, even key fobs can be adapters of NFC technology.
However, smartphones are increasingly becoming carriers of technology. Many manufacturers are complementing gadgets with high-end NFC adapters.
And although many still do not know what NFC is in a smartphone and how to use it, the function, at times, is very useful.

What is NFC?

If you translate the full name of this technology, then literally you get "near-field communication".

This is essentially a wireless connection that operates at a very close range.

That is why devices with NFC adapters are able to communicate with each other, but this only works if they are nearby (no more than 10 cm from each other).

This technology can be used for various purposes.

So, for example, a phone that has an NFC module can become a bank card or a pass to any institution.

In addition, the function is supposed to instantly exchange files or links.

However, for this, both devices must have a special application that reads NFC tags.

Or the phone must have a SIM card with an NFC chip.

Android phones have been able to use the NFC function since version 4.0.

Nowadays, devices with NFC tags are used more and more often in various fields. So, for example, with the help of the NFC adapter it is possible to book tickets, as well as to sell them.

Also, in some cities, using an NFC device, you can pay for parking or using public transport.

However, NFC chips are most actively used in the service sector and in the control and security of access to personal data.

Features of NFC in a smartphone

For smartphones, there are three most popular uses for NFC technology:

Reading mode. This function allows you to read passive tags.
Emulation of cards. With this option, it is possible to use the phone as a card (bank or pass card).
P2P. This is a mode that allows two phones to exchange data by pairing with each other.

The fact is that only a phone with an NFC module can become a carrier of the technology. That is, the chip is built into the device.

In this case, it is assumed that he will be inseparable from the user, since the device may have extremely convenient functions.

After all, the phone is always at hand, but the payment card may not be nearby and then the smartphone with the module will replace it.

NFC also allows you to pay for purchases directly from the virtual wallet, which is even more convenient (because then there is no need to cash out the wallet).

It is also possible to use this function to identify the owner of various bonus cards or travel tickets.

NFC tags

Labels are used to refer to specific information areas that are programmed. Usually they are embedded in posters or billboards.

Also, sometimes they can be found on the shelves with products in large hypermarkets.

When you read them, you can get additional information, some links and even watch videos (for example, movie trailers).

However, in addition to exchanging files and information between devices, the NFC function can be used to write and read data from various installed NFC tags, as well as SIM cards that have the same chip.

The point is that such chips are rather small.

This allows them to be built into various fixtures and fittings. They can be business cards, price tags of goods, stickers or labels, bracelets, key rings, etc.

However, the process of working with NFC tags assumes a certain algorithm of actions, which is performed through a special application on a smartphone.

However, there are many such applications and each of them is responsible for certain data.

And there are also applications that allow you to program information into a tag on your smartphone.

Scan marks

First of all, you need to enable the NFC function in your smartphone. Then activate the screen.

After - you should touch the tag with the phone, but do it so that the NFC adapter in the smartphone touches the tag.

After that, the gadget automatically reads the information entered into the tag chip and automatically displays it on the screen. However, to view it fully, you will have to click on the screen.

Music file transfer

You need to enable the NFC function on both devices and activate the smartphone screens. Go to a file that stores multimedia content.

After opening the library, you should select the desired audio file. When the track is played, the file will automatically be streamed to the other device.

However, it should be borne in mind that to transfer the file, you need to turn the phones with their backs to each other and lean them so that the NFC tags are in contact.

After pairing, the phones vibrate, after which you need to move a little apart from each other, which will prevent reconnection, which can interfere with the transfer of files.

After transmission on the receiving phone, the media file will be played automatically, and you can find it in a special application.

However, it should be noted that if you stop the audio on the transmitting device, the transmission will also stop.

NFC or Bluetooth?

The fact is that Bluetooth and NFC technologies are similar in principle to each other. However, the difference in them is significant and quite tangible.

So, if we talk about NFC, then the connection time of this function is one tenth of a second, which is an undoubted advantage over Bluetooth.

In addition, the small range makes NFC much more secure.

However, NFC has a much lower transmission speed than Bluetooth, and you have to keep the devices close to each other (it can be compared to infrared ports on old phones).

That is why technologies are used for different purposes.

For example, Bluetooth is not used to pay for goods or as a pass, since such a connection is not reliable enough and there is a possibility that payment data will be intercepted.

In addition, the practical instant connection of devices with NFC does not waste a lot of time.

However, in the case of large file transfers, Bluetooth will be more suitable as its data transfer rate is much higher and it does not require the devices to be kept as close as possible for a long time.

In addition, the development of bank payments at the present time is quite progressive, which leads to the increasing use of NFC modules.

For example, global payment systems and banking corporations create cards with embedded NFC chips.

Not so long ago, a number of companies created a special Google Wallet service, which involves installation on smartphones based on Android.

This application will allow the user to turn the gadget into a credit card, which can be used to pay for purchases or pay in terminals.

However, for this, the terminals must be equipped with PayPass technology, which will read NFC chips.

How do I know if my smartphone has an NFC function?

The fact is that not every modern smartphone has a built-in NFC adapter. However, some do not even assume that such a function is available on their gadgets.

Some devices put Near Field Communication or just the NFC logo on the battery or phone case.

However, there is a way to check for an NFC adapter on your smartphone. To do this, you need to perform a number of actions:

Go to the smartphone settings menu;
Open "Wireless networks" and click "More ...";
If the function is present on the phone, then you can see the NFC settings item.

Activating the NFC function

After you have decided on the support for the NFC function of the gadget, you must allow the use of the adapter, which will allow you to exchange data with other devices that support NFC.

To activate you need:

Go to the settings menu;
Then in "Wireless networks" click "More ...";
And put a tick (on some devices toggle the toggle switch) on the item "allow data exchange when combining the device with other devices";
After that, the Android Beam function should turn on automatically, but if this did not happen, then you must click "Yes" in the displayed window, which will activate this function.

Disabling Android Beam restricts NFC's ability to pair and transfer data between devices.

NFC and data exchange

After activating the NFC function, it can be used to transfer data (with payments, data is also transferred).

However, for a successful connection and data exchange, several points must be taken into account:

Both devices must have Android Beam enabled, as well as NFC;
Both devices must have a screen activated, while being in sleep or safe mode is excluded;
Both devices notify with a signal or vibration about a successful connection, but for this they must be brought close to each other by the place where the NFC chip is inserted;
It is necessary to keep the devices nearby until the transfer is completely finished and the phone notifies about the end of the data exchange.

Data transfer

The fact is that regardless of the data that must be transferred, the way of using the Android Beam function is unchanged.

It also does not change depending on the received and transmitted device. Its algorithm is as follows:

open the file (content) to be transferred;
lean devices against each other with back panels;
wait for confirmation of the connection by means of a signal or vibration;
click on the screen "click to transfer data";
click on the screen to start data exchange;
wait for the notification of the start of the transfer;
remove the devices slightly, but do not move them more than 10 cm;
wait for the beep about the end of data transfer.

Application transfer

The big plus with NFC is that it provides the ability to transfer APK files. However, things are not so simple.

Instead of the file itself, the device sends a link to the application in the Play Store. After that, on the recipient's device, you can easily follow the link and download the application, and not search for it throughout the Play Market.

Transferring applications using NFC

Hi lovers of new (and not entirely new) technologies. In modern society, people have begun to use NFC more and more actively, while many people still hardly imagine what kind of technology this NFC is and how to use it. Let's shed a handful of light on this question and figure it out what is NFC in your smartphone.

NFC in my phone. What is this?

I do not like to use boring terminology in my articles. Eh, how can I explain to you in simple Russian, what is NFC? It's like "hello" from people or it's like dogs, when they meet, first of all sniff each other's ass! In any case, all sentient beings somehow hook up before communicating with each other.

In the morning, when you come to work or university, you say hello to a friend. Thus, you identify your interlocutor and identify yourself in front of him. You kind of denoted “ Here I am! Pay attention to me". And after that, you start to exchange information (most often of little use).

Only a small amount of information (up to about 1000 bytes) can be transmitted via NFC chips. And if you need to transfer something weighty, for example, music or video, then NFC is used only for lightning-fast communication between gadgets, and the file transfer itself is carried out either via Bluetooth or via Wi-Fi.

Take, for example,. Some of them also have NFC chips installed, but, nevertheless, they did not become called NFC speakers because of this, right? They only use the NFC chip to quickly connect to another device. And that's all.

How do I use NFC on my smartphone?

You can use NFC technology in your smartphone in a variety of ways, depending on what you need to do. But the list of possibilities for its use is quite wide. Here are just a few of them: transfer content from one device to another, pay for metro fares, pay for purchases in a store (you need to bind a bank card to your smartphone), use your phone as a door key, and so on. And it seems to me that this list will only grow over time.

As an example, we'll look at how to use NFC to transfer content from smartphone to smartphone. Naturally, NFC technology must be supported by both smartphones and be enabled.

Similarly, you can use NFC on your smartphone, for example to transfer a bookmark (or link) from a browser, to transfer someone's phone number from your contacts, and so on.

How do I know if my phone has NFC?

Interested in a new technology and would like to know if your smartphone (phone) has NFC or not? Now it is supported by almost all models of modern dialers, even some. First of all, pay attention to the inscriptions on your smartphone. If your smartphone supports this technology, then you will most likely find a characteristic inscription somewhere on the body or on the battery. NFC(or NearFieldCommunication).

If you have not seen such an inscription anywhere on the case and under the back cover, then look in the phone menu. If you have an android smartphone, then lower the curtain and click on the settings icon. There go to the wireless settings and click on the button " Yet…". And if you have an NFC enable point here, then you definitely have it.

NFC tags for the phone: where to get it and how to use it?

I don't know, maybe it would be more correct to make a separate article about NFC tags for the phone ... Well, okay, I'll describe it in general right here.

WhatNFC tags for your phone? In fact, NFC tags are very small data storage devices (144 bytes - 1 kilobyte) and are capable of transmitting this information instantly over short distances.

This is what self-adhesive NFC tags look like

How do I use tags? In short, using a special application in your smartphone ( NFC ReTag, for example), you program a set of NFC tags for different tasks so as not to perform them manually each time.

A vivid example - you get into the car and turn on the navigator in your smartphone every time. Using the tag and just programming it once, you stick the NFC tag directly to the phone holder in your car. Now every time you insert the phone into the holder, it will automatically start the navigator. Convenient, agree.

Another such example is sleep. In order not to turn off the sound on the phone at night (if you do so), glue the programmed mark on the place where you usually put the phone before going to bed.

Where to getNFC tags? The easiest way, of course, is to buy them. For example, this can be done in almost any electronics store (in a large city) or in an online store, it will be cheaper. And it will turn out even cheaper if you order them from China, but then they will have to wait a long time.

But buying isn't the only way to get hold of NFC tags. Any NFC chip from everyday use can be used as an NFC tag for the phone. For example, if you don't know, such chips are inside travel cards, inside bank cards with contactless payment technology, inside some electronic keys, and so on. If you have any of this that you no longer use for its intended purpose, then you can safely use it as an NFC tag. Again, don't forget about the NFC tag programming app.

Output

Yes, it turned out so globally to reveal the topic of using NFC in a smartphone (phone), but there is almost no specifics. Well, I hope this article shed some light on your questions. And if you still have questions, do not hesitate to ask them in the comments.

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You've probably already heard of a feature like NFC in your phone. It is quite widespread nowadays, many flagship devices (smartphones, watches, etc.) are equipped with it, and is gradually getting to inexpensive devices. NFC is often emphasized by manufacturers and sellers, attributing the most unusual and useful features. However, not every user knows what NFC is, what its main functions are in the phone and other devices. Today we will try to tell you about this technology in detail and intelligibly.

NFC in the phone - what is it

For the first time they started talking about NFC back in 2004. At that time, three giants of the mobile industry Nokia, Philips and Sony set out to create a wireless interface that would work when two devices were placed close. A forum was organized and work began.

NFC, Near field communication, is a technology for wireless data transmission, a distinctive feature of which is a short range (up to 10 centimeters).

In fact, the technology is based on contactless cards made according to the ISO 14443 standard. Such cards are used to delimit access to various premises or pay for services. NFC has become a simple extension of this standard, aimed primarily at mobile phones.

Technology specifications

To make the concept of NFC technology more clear to you, you cannot do without the technical characteristics of the technology. Don't worry, it's pretty simple:

The key standard is ISO / IEC 14443 - describes frequency bands, modulation methods and communication protocols for short-range proximity cards based on magnetic field induction
Induction coils are used to communicate between two NFC devices
Works NFC at 13.56 MHz
The data transfer rate is no more than 400 Kbps
It takes just 0.1 seconds to establish an NFC connection
NFC has a very compact size and low power consumption, which allows the interface to be used in a wide variety of gadgets

What is NFC for a phone or other device for?

If many users close their eyes to dry specifications (although they should read it), then they are unlikely to miss information about why NFC is needed in modern smartphones.

Firstly, a phone or other device with NFC can replace a contactless card for paying for metro fares or access to premises, or other similar purposes - just hold the device to the turnstile.
Second, NFC is used to pair your phone with another phone that also has this interface; the second device today are other devices - even washing machines; pairing makes it possible to transfer data between devices, however, due to the low speed, this method is irrelevant (such a speed is enough to transfer any commands from the device to the device).
Finally, thirdly, a phone or watch with NFC can replace cash or a bank card. How? It's very simple: many terminals in stores today support contactless payments, that is, to pay for purchases, you just need to touch your smartphone. It is very convenient, but in our country the technology is just gaining popularity.

Why do you need NFC if there is Bluetooth and other interfaces

Many users equate NFC and Bluetooth with the same kind of interface, which is somewhat wrong. Yes, we have two wireless technologies before us, and the second is more popular. The key difference is the range. If in the case of Bluetooth we have tens of meters, then NFC in phones transmits data to a few centimeters (that is, the device needs to be brought quite close to each other). So Bluetooth is getting better?

Not really. A long range is not always necessary, and in some cases it even becomes a disadvantage of the interface. Do you remember that NFC on your phone allows you to pay for purchases? At the same time, the device practically touches the terminal (the range is small), which guarantees maximum protection of the transmitted data of your bank card. When using interfaces with a more serious radius, which can cover tens of meters around, there is a danger of information interception.

About the same can be said about the transfer speed, which in the case of NFC is really small by today's standards. However, the technology is not aimed at transferring large files, as when using Bluetooth. And this has at least two advantages - reliability and less power consumption. The low data transfer rate will not allow attackers to quickly "pull" important information from your smartphone.

Another obvious advantage of NFC in phones is low power consumption. The technology consumes significantly less energy than other interfaces, saving precious minutes of the life of a smartphone.

Speaking about the advantages of NFC in the phone, one cannot fail to note the cheapness of implementing the interface into devices. It’s even surprising that it is still so rare.

disadvantages

Despite the advantages, which at first glance are just a huge number, like any technology, NFC has a number of unpleasant disadvantages. The most obvious are the transmission speed and range, which each user will have to put up with. But, as already noted, these features can rather be attributed to the advantages of NFC.

There are also more serious problems with technology. Its wide distribution can be considered the first of them. What's wrong with that? The fact is that every large company, having noticed the potential of NFC, began to independently modify the interface, presenting proprietary developments in their products. It is clear that the changed standards cannot boast of universality - they work only with their own kind. Users suffer from this.

No matter how hard the developers try to improve NFC, holes are constantly being revealed that can be exploited by attackers. So, in 2012, at one of the conferences, security specialists managed to download a special exploit (), which took control of the device. Naturally, the vulnerability has been fixed since then.

From time to time, other information about the NFC vulnerability appears on the Web. In most cases, they are contrived. For example, there is an opinion that with the help of jammers (electronic warfare means) it is possible to modify the data on the device, but this is practically impossible due to the impossibility of establishing communication in this way.

As a result, we can decide that NFC in the phone is one of the safest technologies. At least until now there have been no massive attacks by cybercriminals through interface vulnerabilities.

How to check if your phone has NFC

So, we figured out what NFC is, its specifications and features. Now let's move on to checking your smartphone to support this technology. There are several ways to do this:

View the technical specifications of the device on the Internet or on the manufacturer's official website - pay attention to the "Interfaces" or "Communication" section (as a rule, the manufacturer does not lose the opportunity to once again declare NFC support).
Usually, if the smartphone supports NFC, the corresponding item appears in the "Wireless Connections" section in the phone settings.
Some models of smartphones that have a collapsible body allow you to personally see NFC. As a rule, the transmitter is placed under the cover, connected with special contacts to the battery. Look for the identification mark - it could also be a wireless charging receiver.

Often in the case of tablets, smartwatches and other equipment, you can find a special pointer on the case, which confirms the presence of NFC. By the way, when pairing it is to the place of the image that you need to bring the second device.

Which phones have NFC

Almost every flagship of recent times has NFC, more and more often the interface can be found in the middle segment, if you wish, you can even find budget smartphones with technology support. For example, here are some models:

Among the flagships: iPhone starting from iPhone 6S; Samsung Galaxy S starting with S3, LG starting with G4 (and a number of K-series solutions), Xperia X line from Sony; and any other well-known manufacturer has at least a couple of flagships with NFC.
Among the available segment(up to 20,000 rubles) : the latest models of smartphones Samsung Galaxy A and J, Honor 8, Huawei Nova, Nokia 5 and 6, and many others.
Among the most affordable: Nokia 3, ASUS ZenFone 2, (one of the cheapest smartphones with NFC), many Chinese phones also support NFC.

How to use NFC on your phone

Let's move on to using NFC. To get started, we need to put the technology into an active state. To do this, follow the instructions below:

go to the "Settings" of your phone;
go to the section "Wireless connections and networks";
put the toggle switch in the active state opposite the "NFC" item.

That's all, after that we can use the interface.

Transferring files using NFC

As already noted, the NFC interface is not very suitable for transferring large files due to the low speed. And besides, not everyone wants to hold smartphones opposite each other while the film is being broadcast. However, NFC is great for small files (notes, links, contacts, addresses from cards, and so on), which is facilitated by the high pairing speed.

To transfer data over NFCboth phones must support the technology, in addition, it must be active. Also, none of the smartphones should be locked.

The transfer process is somewhat reminiscent of the times of Siemens and infrared ports:

Until recently, only flagship smartphones could boast of the possibility of contactless payment, and not every company. The fact is that for this function to work, not only NFC is needed, but also the corresponding software.

On the used byApple Pay- a very common payment method in America, and in Russia it is gaining immense popularity.Samsungalso one of the first to introduce its own payment system with an uncomplicated nameSamsung Pay... In addition to these giants of the market, several other companies have branded payment systems.

More recently, a significant event took place for users of Android devices - the Android Pay application was introduced. It has become universal, that is, it allows you to pay from any Android phone with NFC.

How to add a card to Android Pay to pay for purchases on your phone

to pay using a phone and NFC, we need, of course, a special application;

These can be branded, mentioned above, or universal Android Pay. All are available for free in online stores. We'll take a closer look at Android Pay.

when installing the application, you must grant it the required permissions, connect to your account (you can use Google);
now we need to add bank cards from which payment will be made;

You can find out about member banks that provide services by opening the Android Pay context menu (three dots in the upper right) and select the desired item.

to add a card, click on the plus at the bottom right;
from the offered options ("Add a debit card", "Add a loyal customer card" and "Add a gift card") select the one you need;
in a new window, which will be presented as a camera application, you need to place your card in the frame;

You can also specify the card number and other data manually by clicking the appropriate button.

After specifying all the required information, Android Pay will offer to confirm the binding (for this, an SMS message is used, in which your bank will send a code, or a proprietary application, for example, "Sberbank Online").

That's it, you can save your wallet from one card that is no longer useful to you. Add other cards in the same way so as not to drag them around with you.

How to pay with Android Pay and an NFC phone

Everything is very simple here. Even a child can cope, as they say, as long as the phone supports NFC.

Please note that the terminal must support the contactless payment function. It is denoted by a special symbol (for Android Pay, a distinctive green robot is used). As a rule, such terminals are already available in every large shopping center, but still not everywhere.

Payment takes place in two steps:

unlock your phone with NFC;
bring it to the terminal;
hold until a check mark appears.

If everything goes well, a corresponding notification will appear on the terminal. In the very near future, your bank card will be debited. The charge is made from the card that is installed by the main card.

As you can see, it is very easy to pay with NFC on your phone. You don't even need to enter a password (not always).

If the purchase price is over RUB 1,000, or if the payment is made using Android Pay for the fourth time in a row, the system will ask for a password. This was done, as you might guess, for security purposes.

There are many interesting technologies in the mobile industry today, including NFC. Most smartphone users have not yet figured out this function and do not know what NFC is in the phone, why this module is needed and how to understand if it is present in a particular device.

NFC stands for Near Field Communication. Translated, this means "close communication". The main nuance lies in the small radius of action, this figure is no more than 10 cm.

This function allows contactless exchanges of information. It is important that when transferring data, the devices are close to each other, for example, a smart card, a payment terminal, etc.

NFC is based on RFID, which stands for Radio Frequency Identification. The technology is radio frequency identification that detects various objects automatically. In this case, a special radio signal is used that reads the required information, which is contained in transponders, which are defined as an NFC tag.

The main features of the presented technology include the following points:

small sensor size;
allows you to exchange any information with smartphones and passive gadgets;
does not require a lot of energy to work;
low speed at the time of information exchange;
pairing with the desired device takes no more than 0.1 seconds;
low technology cost.

Due to its small size and low power consumption, this feature is popular and can be easily installed in a variety of devices.

Is there a difference between NFC and Bluetooth?

NFC in a phone is often compared to Bluetooth. This is mainly due to the contactless transmission and the small range. At the moment, these functions are being implemented immediately into new smartphones.

There are serious differences between the technologies presented. The main nuance is the speed of work. For example, NFC is much slower, but it takes up little power, and pairing is instant and automatic, unlike Bluetooth.

For example, to use Bluetooth, you need to turn it on, then open the list of available devices, select the one you need and wait for the phone to connect to it. While Near Field Communication takes less than a second to get started on its own, you only need to attach your mobile phone to the desired gadget.

The next difference is in the transmission speed. For example, NFC has a speed of 424 kbps, and Bluetooth, whose version is 2.1, has 2.1 Mbps. At the moment, some smartphones are implementing Bluetooth version 3.1, which develops speeds up to 40 Mbps.

The third difference is the field of action. For Bluetooth, this figure is no more than 20 cm, and for NFC - no more than 10. This is an advantage for this communication, because such a small radius will guarantee that you do not connect to an unnecessary gadget.

The presented communication is embedded not only in phones, but also in other gadgets, for example, payment terminals. The receiver itself does not require much space, it is mainly mounted in the free space between the smartphone battery and the cover. But if the phone does not lend itself to simple parsing and you cannot look at its insides, then how to determine the presence of NFC?

Take a good look at the external pointers on your phone. Often, developers indicate a small emblem in the form of antennas directly on the cover of a mobile phone, indicating the availability of technology. The icon will also be located in the top pop-up menu of the phone.

At the moment, NFC is being implemented in all Android smartphones, the version of which is at least 4.0. Another way to find out about the availability of communication is to go to the settings, select the "Wireless networks" column, then click "More". If the function is listed there, then check the box next to it.

Also, this option is often found in cards designed to pay for travel, or in banking plastic. In addition, they began to build it into household appliances, this includes new refrigerators with the "Smart" option.

Since the release of this technology, some users have wondered what are the uses. The device can operate in two modes.

Active. Implies that the two gadgets have NFC technology.
Passive. The working field of only one of the devices is applied.

The presented communication is designed as a chip that operates in two modes. The first is intended for mutual data exchange between devices. The second is usually used on special work passes, metro maps, etc.

The most popular use case is contactless payment. Link your bank card to your smartphone, and when paying, put your phone to the terminal. This method guarantees protection from fraudsters. Attackers will not be able to intercept the signal due to the small field of action of the NFC.

You do not need to carry your card with you, you can pay in stores by touching your phone to a terminal that supports contactless payment. How to use the function?

You must have a dedicated bank card that supports the paypass option.
Install the application from your bank.
Log in to your personal account and go to the main menu.
Select the NFC box.
Then place the card against the back of the phone. This is required in order for the sensor to read information on it.

Information exchange

The second use case involves information exchange. To do this, you need to install the Android Beam app. This software will allow you to transfer various files to another smartphone.

Do not forget that the transfer speed will be extremely low, which is why it is recommended not to send heavy files, but to limit yourself to sending messages or links.

To use this feature, you need to enable NFC in the settings. The activation point is located in the "Wireless networks" column. Then specify which connection you require.

The last point is not recommended to use because of the low transmission speed. To send the necessary data, you must attach your phone to another. Next, the system will ask you to confirm the operation, put your finger on the screen. Upon completion of sending, you will hear a corresponding signal.

Reading labels

The third use is to read labels. Its principle of operation is similar to scanning a QR code. True, in the case of NFC, not a mobile camera is used, but a sensor under the lid.

The presented function is especially useful for home life. Creating your own tags will require the installation of a special application that can be downloaded from the Play Market. You can independently assign a specific task to a specific label, for example, "send a message", "call", "write a letter", etc.

Among the popular programs are:

ABA NFC. Allows you to create a simple symbol;
useful software for connecting to Wi-Fi without a password. That is, your guests do not need to search for wireless Internet and enter a password, just apply to the phone connected to this network;
SmartTag Maker. This application is only suitable for those who have Sony smartphones.

Such labels are passive. This is because they do not need food to contain information. They have a very small volume, just enough to store the required command. These tags are usually called TecTiles. To read them, it is enough to bring the gadget, after which the command will be triggered.

Smartphones can not only read data, but also save it. The main nuance lies in the installation of a special program. Download the application of the developer who released your phone, or find it on third-party resources. Recording software can be paid or free. Before installing it, be sure to read the description. It is important that it supports the brand of your smartphone.

You can also purchase TecTiles as a smart card, key fob, fitness bracelet, electronic key or sticker. It should be noted that such gadgets have a larger volume. Experts recommend not to save money at the time of purchasing this technology. The quality of communication must be high, then it will last a long time.

Pros and cons of the module

Among the main advantages are a small indicator of energy consumption, an acceptable price, ease of use and safety. But before you start using NFC, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the nuances.

Let's take a look at the main disadvantages of NFC.

Small working radius. This brings some discomfort to use. Although, at the same time, this indicator creates the maximum protection. You will not be able to randomly generate a command, pay for a purchase, etc.
Uncontrolled creation of modifications for NFC. For example, the developers of "Sony" and "Haomi" took up the finalization of the transmission technology. They make their own consumables, which carry out their work only with the gadgets of their company. In other words, to use all the NFC options, you only need to purchase smartphones of specific brands. This also includes the installation of special applications from the same developer.

Some of the shortcomings are being corrected gradually. The developers do not abandon their technology and are constantly making various improvements.

Conclusion

Today NFC is a modern solution for sending information. But not all smartphones support this technology. If your phone has no modification, then you can purchase a special antenna yourself. Install it under the cover of the gadget or take the spare parts to the service, where a specialist will do everything for you.

Another way to get to know NFC personally is to buy a special accessory. Today, many companies offer to purchase memory cards, SIM cards, where the NFC is built in.

The prevalence of NFC hasn't achieved impressive results, but it won't be long. Now it is mainly used to carry out monetary transactions, although there are other areas of application. The main advantage of the modification is safety. Its principle of operation excludes accidental transfers of data and money to other devices.

NFC has become quite common thanks to the rise of online payment systems such as Samsung Pay and Android Pay. Especially when it comes to even middle-class phones. You've probably heard this term before, but what is NFC in a smartphone? In this article, I will summarize what it is, how it works, and what it can be used for.

NFC stands for "Near Field Communication", which translates as "near field communication". As the name suggests, it provides short communication between devices. This requires at least one transmitter and one to receive the signal. Devices using the NFC standard are divided into passive and active.

Passive NFC devices are small transmitters that can send send to other NFC devices without the need for a power source. However, they cannot process any information sent from other sources and cannot connect to other passive components. These are usually interactive signs on walls or advertisements.

Active NFC devices can send and receive data, and can also communicate with each other as well as with a passive device. Smartphones are the most common form of active NFC device today. Examples of technology include public transport card readers and payment terminals.

Now that we know what it is, let's find out how it works with NFC in the phone.
Very simple, just like Bluetooth and WiFi and other wireless signals. NFC works on the principle of sending information over radio waves. Near Field Communication Is another standard for wireless data transmission. This means that devices must adhere to certain specifications in order to communicate correctly with each other. The technology used in NFC is based on the idea of RFID (radio frequency identification), which uses electromagnetic induction to transmit information.

There is of course one major difference between NFC and Bluetooth / WiFi. The former can be used to induce electric currents inside passive components, as well as for data transmission. Instead, they can be powered by an electromagnetic field generated by an active NFC component when it comes into range. Unfortunately, NFC technology lacks sufficient inductance to charge a smartphone, but QI charging has the same principle.

On the other hand, read or write mode is a one-way data transfer. An active device, such as your smartphone, connects to another device to read information from it.

The last mode of operation is card emulation. The NFC device here is smart or contactless credit cards, with which you can pay for travel on public transport or pay for purchases in stores.

Comparable to Bluetooth

Although I answered the question "What is NFC?" Let's compare it to other wireless technologies? Someone might think that NFC is not needed, since there is Bluetooth. However, there are several important technological differences between the two, and NFC has significant advantages. The main argument for NFC is that it uses much less power than Bluetooth. This makes NFC ideal for passive devices like the promotional tags I wrote about above, as they can operate without a main power source.

However, the low power consumption has one major drawback. In particular, the transmission range is much shorter than that of Bluetooth. The range for NFC is about 10 cm, and Bluetooth can transmit data up to 10 meters or more. Another drawback is that NFC is slower than Bluetooth. It transmits data at a maximum speed of 424 kbps, compared to 2.1 Mbps for Bluetooth 2.1 or about 1 Mbps for Bluetooth Low Energy.

But NFC has the biggest advantage: faster connections. Due to inductive coupling and the absence of manual pairing, less than one tenth of a second elapses before the start of information exchange. Although modern Bluetooth connects quite quickly, NFC is still very convenient in certain situations, such as when making a mobile payment.

Samsung Pay, Android Pay, and even Apple Pay use NFC technology, although Samsung Pay works a little differently than others. Bluetooth is very handy for transferring files, connecting headphones and other gadgets. My guess is that NFC will always be relevant thanks to mobile payments.

Conclusion

Now, I answered the question "What is NFC?", But if you did not understand something or you have other questions about this wireless technology. Ask them in the comments below.

For information on how to enable NFC, see.