What is nfc system. What is an NFC module in a phone and how contactless payment works. Types of modules and methods of their implementation

With the help of technologyNFC, you can not only transfer data from one cell to another, but also pay for purchases(for example, buying groceries at the supermarket).

Decryption is simple - NearFieldCommunication, which, when literally translated into Russian, means near-field communication or communication in the nearest space.

This technology was originally used for fast contactless payments. Now NFC replaces a plastic bank card and Bluetooth and combines them in one system, which is quite a practical invention to use. Want to make it easier to pay for purchases or transfer files? Let's figure out how to find out if there is NFC in a phone, tablet or laptop.

The history of the emergence of technology in the phone

It is considered to be a relatively young development. Its appearance dates back to 2004: it was during this period that three renowned companies Nokia, Philipps and Sony organized the "NFC Forum", and three years later they were integrating the first NFC tags into a Nokia phone.

NFC compatible smartphone models

It should be noted that not all phones support this data transfer technology. It is known that NFC support is available in such devices as:

• Apple iPhone (starting from 6S and 6S Plus);
• new items of the Galaxy line from Samsung and smartphones from other manufacturers on the Android platform (starting from Android0).

Checking the device for NFC

Do you want to try the technology in practice, but do not know if there is such an opportunity on your device? Let's check.

To do this, carefully open the back cover of the smartphone or tablet, in a situation where it can move away without damage, and inspect the battery of the gadget.

With the presence of NFC development, you will see this abbreviation right there. If the phone / tablet cover is not removable, then the corresponding icon or abbreviation will be located on the outside.

If for some reason you do not want or cannot remove the cover, you can make sure that this communication method is available in the device settings.

Find the "Wireless networks" tab, then "More ..." and if NFC is available on the device, then there will definitely be a corresponding item.

How it looks, look at the photo above or in video instructions on how how check correctlyNFC in the phone:

NFC activation

If you find it on your device, you must also activate access to the technologyNFC. This can be done as follows:

1. go to the section "Settings" and then "Wireless networks", "More ...", where earlier you could verify the presence of NFC;
2. confirm by clicking on the item "Allow data exchange when combining> device name> with another";
3. Android Beam is immediately activated on an Android smartphone. If this does not happen, click on it and select "Yes", so as not to disrupt the system;

NFC can also be activated in the quick menu, in the same place where Wi-fi is turned on. This is done by touching the NFC tag.

See the video for more details:

What if my device doesn't support NFC?

Don't worry if you haven't found the built-in feature, there is a way to connect NFC to your device. But this can be done only if the panel cover on the back and the hole for the SIM card on your smartphone / tablet are removable. . In this case, it will not be difficult to install NFC.

Installing the NFC module

The optimal solution is to install a special module - an external communication device. It is compatible with almost all smartphones, easy to use and gives you access to NFC without buying a new televon.

Types of modules and methods of their implementation

Main types: chips, SIM cards, external devices, stickers. The last of them are of two types: passive - which do not allow the exchange of data, and active - use Bluetooth and Wi-fi communication channels for transmission, which significantly increases power consumption.

Such stickers are attached to the outer shell of the phone, which is also not very practical.

The most popular are the following:

• NFC sim card. Now available for purchase from most mobile operators. You can find out about the availability of such a SIM in the communication salon. You just need to install the ready-made card in your phone or tablet. This type of module is the most affordable and easiest to install.
• NFC antenna. The second method, for which you need to purchase an NFC antenna. This can be done in the communication salon. Next, the antenna is connected to the SIM card and inserted into the device.

As you have already seen, install the module simple and safe enough : you do not need to download additional applications or programs. However, these services do not completely replace the Android Pay app, just a few of its many features.

How to use an NFC tag

An NFC tag is a miniature chip-like device that can be attached almost anywhere: from a phone to insertion under the skin!

We will not use such radical methods, but it is worth noting that contacts, settings, URL and other data and commands can be placed in the chip. All gadgets are capable of supporting the tag.

Data exchange via NFC

The technology can also be used to transfer files.

To transfer data, you need to do the following steps:

1. make sure that you have passed the activation of NFC and Android Beаm;
2. unlock the device, exit "sleep mode";
3. check the discovery of devices with each other;
4. connect;
5. transfer data between devices;
6. at the end, a specific beep will sound.

However, not all file types can be transferred this way. For example, attachments cannot be submitted.

NFC advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages are:

• low price;
• small dimensions of the device;
• high transfer rate;
• support on almost all mobile devices.

It is worth highlighting the disadvantages:

• relatively small radius of action;
• not all devices are equipped with an NFC chip.

So, thanks to these notes, you learned quick and easy ways to check your device for the possibility of transmitting information and interacting with other technical means using Near Field Communication. By following the simple instructions in this article, you can also find out on your own whether your smartphone has this technology, you will be able to integrate NFC into your phone and transfer the necessary files at high speed.

Using NFC Stickers

At the time of this writing, only Android and Windows Phone devices support this technology, so Apple owners may consider buying another device. Windows Phone owners can finish reading the article to understand the settings for NFC stickers, and Android owners can follow the instructions, since they are written specifically for this operating system.

What does NFC technology offer us when using special stickers? To begin with, see these same stickers, which are the subject of a thin layer.

They can look different, the main thing in them is that there is a special NFC chip inside them. Perhaps you have such a mark in your pocket, if there is a ticket for travel in the subway (by the way, this is the ticket I used to work with this technology). So, it is worth putting your smartphone on such an NFC tag and the phone should perform the previously agreed-upon actions that the user can fine-tune. Your possibilities are limited only by your desires: you can switch the phone to silent mode in the meeting room; you can open the navigation map, turn on GPS and mobile data as soon as you are in the car; in the same car, you can turn on Bluetooth to receive calls without being distracted by the phone; you can come to work and connect to a working Wi-Fi network and start flipping through the calendar of appointments; disconnect from all networks at home and turn on music; in one word, you can customize absolutely anything. And for this you only need at least one sticker (you can buy them, they are not expensive) and a free application on Google Play, thanks to which the possibilities increase and the necessary actions can be performed not only when you bring the phone to the sticker, but also if the battery level reaches a certain mark ; or you plug in a headset; either a certain point in time will come, or even if you find yourself in a certain area. Believe me, there is a place where fantasy unfolds. In the meantime, we'll start setting up NFC.

How to use NFC or set up an NFC tag

So, we need an Android phone with NFC support. In addition, we need an NFC tag (you can use a ticket from the metro). Now you need to download the Trigger application from Google Play, install and launch it. The application is free, but the professional version with maximum functionality costs some money (the same is not big). You can enable the trial version first. After all the greetings in the My Tasks menu, click on the plus sign and yes, the creation of the first task will begin, which will be performed when the phone is brought to the tag. First of all, we are asked to add triggers:

• Wi-Fi... If you select this, further actions will be performed when connecting or disconnecting from a specific network.
• Bluetooth... The situation is similar as with Wi-Fi.
• NFC... Actually and NFC tags. The task is activated when you bring it to the NFC tag (which we will mainly talk about)
• Battery... Activation at a certain battery level. It is convenient to put your phone into power saving mode when the battery is low.
• Time... Activation at a specific time.
• Charger. Activation when connected or disconnected from the power supply.
• Headset. Activation when the headset is connected (you can immediately turn on the song by just plugging the headphones into the smartphone).
• Calendar event... Quite understandable name.
• Agent... I think you can figure it out for yourself, I did not succeed.
• Geo-fence. Activation when crossing some terrain.

After selecting the required trigger (and for the purposes of this article, I recommend choosing NFC, you must click Next. In the next window, you can configure restrictions on the action of this task. So the task can be performed only at certain times, on certain days, at a certain battery level and at different states of Wi-Fi technology, Bluetooth and airplane mode. For my purposes, there were no restrictions, so I just continued the setup, skipping this item. Next, you should get to the Task menu (if not, click Next). plus, you are free to add the necessary tasks that must be performed under the conditions you have chosen (in our case, when you bring it to the NFC tag). There are a lot of actions, therefore I will list only the groups of actions:

• Wireless and local area networks
• Bluetooth
• Sounds and volume
• Screen
• Social copper
• Posts
• Apps and shortcuts
• Media
• Agent
• Trips
• Signals
• Developments
• Telephone
• Samsung
• Scheduler
• Experimental

Select the groups you are interested in, expand it and select the required action. For example, to turn on music, you need to select Media, and then check the box next to Play multimedia. All tasks you need are configured in the same way, and then click Next. Some tasks will require additional configuration, for example, Wi-Fi must be turned on or off. After this additional configuration, click Add to Job. You can give your task a unique name or leave the default name, click Next.

The Switch menu will come out next to last. This is quite an interesting point, and an example is needed to understand it. Let's say we created an NFC tag, from which the phone starts playing music. Following the logic, another NFC sticker is needed to create a new task to turn off the music. However, you can use the Switches function so that two reverse tasks perform the same sticker. To do this, in this menu, you must click the same plus sign and add a new task in the above described way, select the opposite actions there. At the end of these works, click Finish. After that, you need to put your smartphone on a sticker with which the phone is synchronized in less than a second. If the reaction is positive, it remains to press the Finish button.

Possible problems when using Trigger

For this application, in the same Google Play, there are several different plugins that are needed for different actions. So the Trigger Reuse plugin allows you to reuse NFC stickers, such as subway tickets. All the necessary plugins can be found using the Trigger Plugin request on Google Play. Some of these plugins require additional configuration, some do not. I think you can figure it out.

Using NFC technology to pay for metro fares

To use the phone to pay for metro fare, you need to contact your mobile operator and clarify whether it supports this technology (MTS, Vimpelcom, Rostelecom definitely support this technology). If the answer is yes, you need to replace your SIM card with a special SIM card with NFC support and activate a special service (technical support or employees of the sales center to help you). After that (in theory), it is only necessary to top up your phone account in time, so that one day the turnstile does not start yelling at you.

The combination of "NFC" (Near field communication) is increasingly found in the specifications of modern smartphones and tablets. In this article, we will try to consider this interface from the point of view of practical use, so that readers can independently conclude that it is necessary to have it in their phone.

In testing, we used two smartphone models that have already been reviewed in detail on our resource: Acer CloudMobile S500 and Sony Xperia acro S. We also want to draw your attention to the fact that most of the information, including the described programs and use cases, will apply only to smartphones based on Android. It is this operating system that is the most "friendly" today when it comes to working with NFC.

Introduction

At first glance, it may seem that numerous wireless interfaces today already cover all possible popular tasks and scenarios, so another option is simply not needed. However, if you look at the development of modern technologies, you will notice that more and more attention is paid to energy consumption issues, especially when it comes to mobile devices. In particular, version 4.0 of the well-known family of Bluetooth protocols is just focused on reducing battery power consumption. The second point worth mentioning is that not every task requires a long range. Sometimes it even happens the other way around - you want to explicitly limit the distance between interacting devices. Besides the obvious reduction in consumption, this also affects safety. And about the volumes of transmitted data, you can also make a similar remark. So the idea of ​​a slow wireless interface that works over short distances and is characterized by low power consumption has a right to exist.

The year 2004 can be taken as the starting point in the history of the development of NFC, when Nokia, Philips and Sony announced the creation with the aim of developing and standardizing the interaction interface of various devices based on touch. However, the first versions of the specifications were created a little earlier. Perhaps, by modern standards, the technology can be considered very young (if you do not take into account the history of RFID), but it is already quite often found in real products and services. In particular, at the Mobile World Congress 2013 held at the end of February, many stands and demonstrations were devoted to this topic.

This mark can be found on devices with NFC technology.

The formal characteristics of the interface are as follows: work at a distance of several centimeters, the maximum information exchange rate is about 400 Kbps, full-duplex data exchange is supported, the operating frequency is 13.56 MHz, the connection establishment time does not exceed 0.1 s, the operation mode is point-to-point. It can be seen that these parameters radically distinguish NFC from other popular wireless interfaces.

If we talk about devices, then in addition to active controllers in NFC, there are also passive options (they are usually called tags), which receive power wirelessly from an active controller. One example is modern public transport maps. Tags are simply a data store that typically does not exceed 4KB in size. Most often, only read mode is provided for them, but there are options with write support.

One of the simplest passive NFC tags

The compact size of the controller and its low consumption allows NFC to be implemented even in such small designs as SIM cards or microSD memory cards. However, for full operation, a special antenna must be used. In phones, it is usually located on the back of the battery compartment cover, or is built into the back panel if the device does not have a removable battery.

An NFC antenna is often placed on the back of a smartphone

A short range can have a negative effect when using tablets - finding the right place to "attach" may not be as easy as we would like. To solve this problem, some manufacturers mark the location of the antenna with a special sign. As for the range, in our case, the communication worked at a distance of no more than four centimeters - both between phones and with a passive tag.

From a security point of view, the developers did not implement elements of protection against eavesdropping and relay attacks. This, of course, makes it difficult to implement secure solutions, since it requires the applications themselves to be protected at a higher level. Note that in fact, such a well-known protocol as TCP / IP behaves similarly. So, from a practical point of view, it seems more dangerous to lose your phone without additional protection with customized payment system programs than to intercept communications.

Perhaps the most important thing to know about NFC today is that the interface itself doesn't provide any real-world practical use cases or solutions. Unlike, for example, Bluetooth, whose profiles clearly describe how to transfer a file, how to connect a headset or provide network access, NFC is only a base, and direct scenarios are provided by additional software that works through it. On the one hand, this opens up great opportunities for developers, and on the other hand, it is a problem for them in ensuring the interaction of different applications and devices.

Interestingly, any programs installed on a smartphone or tablet can register in the operating system as handlers of events related to NFC, and then, upon an external “call”, you will see the standard menu “how do you want to perform this action?”. Since some scenarios for using NFC imply convenient automation of actions, it is advisable not to overload the device with such utilities.

The NFC Forum is trying to help with this uncertainty by proposing to standardize protocols for certain scenarios (in particular, NDEF for storing short messages on tags and SNEP (Simple NDEF Exchange Protocol) for exchanging information between devices), however, practical determination of the compatibility of specific devices is usually difficult due to the lack of detailed information. from the manufacturer and diagnostic tools. Another assistant here is Google, which has offered its own development of Android Beam in the latest versions of Android. It allows some types of information to be exchanged between compatible devices.

Android Beam

First you need to make sure that both devices have NFC enabled, an active Android Beam, and their screens are unlocked. On the models we tested, NFC only works if the screen is turned on and the device is fully unlocked. But it is possible that a different algorithm will be used in other devices. In any case, the active interface requires very little battery power to work, and so far the described approach looks quite reasonable. One way to make things easier is to turn off the lock screen. In this case, to recognize the tag, it will be enough just to turn on the smartphone. Another inconvenience is the need to confirm the operation by touching the screen after the devices have found each other. This is not always easy to do without breaking the connection, especially when both devices are in the hands of two different people.

The next step is to select one of the applications on the device from which you plan to transfer. In particular, these can be:

• Google Chrome - transfer of the current open link;
• YouTube client - transfer of a video clip (in the form of a link);
• Google Maps - transfer of a place or route;
• Contacts - send a contact card;
• Google Play - app transfer;
• Gallery - transfer photos.

Next, bring the devices closer to each other. When a partner is found, you hear a beep on the sending device and the desktop image is zoomed out. At this moment, you need to touch the screen picture and hold your finger until you hear a second signal - about a successful transfer.

We tried the options on the list, and almost all of them actually work. Even the fact that our devices were produced by different manufacturers did not prevent them from finding a common language. But a few comments are still worth making. There are no problems with routes in Google Maps, and the option with a place is not very interesting, since only the current map display is transmitted. The point marked on the screen of the original phone does not reach the recipient. The situation is corrected by using the "Addresses" application, which transfers data correctly. When sending contacts, a photo is lost, since from a technical point of view, the transfer format corresponds to vcf text files. If we talk about applications, then you can send not only those installed on the phone, but also just open cards on Google Play. Books and other content from the store are similarly supported. Naturally, we are talking about the transfer of links, and not the downloaded or, moreover, purchased elements themselves. There was a problem with sending photos: the Sony device was unable to handle this type of data. The official wording sounds like "The recipient's device does not support the transfer of large amounts of data through the Android Beam." Here is the first sign of a youthful interface or insufficient detailing of the technical specifications of the devices. Formally, we have both NFC and Android Beam in two devices, but in practice their real capabilities differ significantly, and you can only find out about this as a result of a check. What can we say about less eminent manufacturers - their implementation of this technology can be completely unpredictable.

By the way, as for the Android Beam itself. In the description of the technology, it is indicated that for data transmission, the establishment of a connection via Bluetooth is used after the initial coordination of the settings via NFC. Considering that all working formats involved a really small amount of data transferred, the NFC speed was quite enough for them, but for photos it would obviously not be enough. So we can assume that Sony has not implemented switching to a faster interface. It is not possible to understand whether this problem is software (recall that this device has Android 4.0.4 installed) or hardware.

We tried to send our own music and videos in a similar way from the respective applications, but nothing appeared on the receiver.

Reading and writing tags

The described Android Beam uses the ability to transmit and process short information messages. However, in reality, they can not only be transmitted from the phone, but also read from passive tags. In a sense, this technology is similar to the well-known QR codes that are read by the phone's camera. In this case, useful information (for example, a link to a website page) takes literally several tens of bytes. Tags can be used by companies, for example, to promote their products or services. Considering the compact size of the passive tag (more precisely, the thickness comparable to a sheet of paper - because of the antenna the area will still be significant, at least a five-ruble coin), it can be placed almost anywhere: on a box with a product, in a magazine, on an informational rack and other places.

Passive NFC tags can be made as key chains

If we talk about hand-made tags, then this is a completely feasible scenario. To do this, you need to purchase blank blanks and, using a special program for the phone, write down the required information on them. For example, we bought several different options: a sticker of the minimum thickness, a protected plastic circle and key chains. All of them had a very small amount of memory - only 144 bytes (there are 4 KB variants on the market). The number of overwrite cycles was not specified, but for most scenarios this parameter is not critical. For working with tags, we recommend NXP Semiconductors' programs - TagInfo and TagWriter.

The first will allow you to read data from the tag and decode information according to the NDEF standard, and the second will help you create your own tags. At the same time, several sub-variants of NDEF are supported: contact, link, text, SMS, mail message, phone number, Bluetooth connection, geographic location, link to a local file, application launch, URI. Please note that when creating a record, you need to consider the amount of data stored. For example, a photo of a contact can take up several kilobytes, messages or text can easily go beyond 144 bytes. By the way, NFC Research Lab's NFC TagInfo program with a special plug-in can read and show you a color photo from a biometric passport. With a data volume of one and a half dozen kilobytes, reading them via NFC takes about 20 seconds. An additional level of protection in this case is provided by the need to indicate some passport details for reading data from the chip.

Note that the automatic handling of read tags is content dependent. In particular, sometimes additional confirmation is required to carry out the action itself. For example, in the case of SMS, a completed message form opens, but the actual sending must be confirmed by the user. But the recorded web link can immediately open in the browser. Any automation is associated with a loss of control, so the described capabilities should be used with caution, since by simply replacing or reprogramming tags, attackers can redirect you to a fake site instead of the original one. We did not find the standard OS settings to limit such autorun (unless you disable NFC itself).

Another important point when using tags in public places is overwrite protection. When writing a label, you can set the protection flag, which will block all attempts to change information, but it will no longer be possible to remove it. So the label will be used in read-only mode in the future. For home use, in most cases, this is not very critical.

We will mention a few more programs for writing labels:

Using ready-made labels to control the device

Sony is one of the active participants in the implementation of NFC. Its devices are preinstalled with the Smart Connect program, which supports work with original Sony tags. If desired, using the SmartTag Maker utility, you can create them yourself from blank templates. To operate the system, the NDEF URI format is used with the encoding of the tag number / color in the text link. In total, the system provides up to eight tags, which are designated as “home”, “office”, “car”, “bedroom”, “listen”, “play”, “activity”, “watch”.

Variant of original Sony SmartTags

The Smart Connect program itself works not only with NFC tags, but also with other devices connected to the phone, including headsets, power supply, Bluetooth devices. Conveniently enough, the standard settings already correspond well to the above scenarios. In this case, the user can reprogram all circuits; each of them specifies a set of conditions and actions.

As a condition, you can use the identification of the label or the connection of the device; additionally, you can limit the operating time of the circuit. The set of actions is wide enough, it includes launching an application, opening a link in a browser, starting music, adjusting the volume and mode, connecting a Bluetooth audio device, sending an SMS, making a call, controlling wireless interfaces, adjusting the brightness and other actions. Moreover, they can also be assigned to exit this mode, which is carried out by re-identifying the tag, by a new event / tag, or upon the expiration of the specified time interval.

But in fact, it is not necessary to use Sony branded tags - you can also find use of ready-made tags that do not allow overwriting of information. For example, it can be used transport cards. The fact is that each of them has its own unique identifier, which can be linked to certain actions by special programs. Operations such as changing a profile, enabling / disabling interfaces, and many others can act as a possible reaction.

There are several utilities available in the Play Store for this scenario, a couple of them to mention:

Let us remind you that you should not install several such programs at once. Convenience from such a mode will not add, because when a label is found on the phone screen, a dialog box will appear with a choice of a program to process it.

While searching for programs for working with labels, we also came across another class of utilities that may be interesting in the case of the presence of writable labels. These programs use their own original recording format, which only they can work with. At the same time, the set of possible actions is almost the same as those described above:

Recall that at the moment the tag is read only when the device is unlocked. So the scenario "came home, put the phone on the bedside table - automatically switched the profile, turned off the call and Bluetooth, set the alarm" will require some action from the user. This behavior still slightly limits the capabilities of the programs.

Information exchange between devices

With the exception of Android Beam, the scenarios described above assume a single phone with a tag or dedicated terminal. If we talk about the direct connection of devices with each other, then the main issue here is compatibility. Of course, in the case of products from one manufacturer, especially a large one, that one has the ability to simply install the corresponding program into the firmware. But if the devices are produced by different manufacturers, everyone will have to use the same utilities. And it is not at all a fact that your partner will have the same program installed as yours.

Given that the native speed of NFC is very low, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is usually used for fast file transfer, and NFC only works at the stage of negotiating connection parameters and establishing a connection. To test this scenario, we tried several file transfer programs with declared NFC support on our devices.

Send! File Transfer (NFC) in the free version allows you to exchange files of photos, music and videos. You can use NFC or QR codes to establish a connection. The transfer is carried out via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (in case both devices have Wi-Fi Direct support, which was not available on the Sony phone used). As a result, we managed to see the speed at 65 KB / s, which, of course, is too low even for photographs.

Blue NFC, as the name suggests, also simplifies Bluetooth file sharing by replacing the power-on, search, and pairing steps with touch with NFC communication. The speed of work is not very high - at the level of the program mentioned above.

File Expert HD also uses Bluetooth, but the speed is already 100-200 KB / s. However, in fairness it should be noted that this program has many other modes of file exchange.

Conclusion

As of the spring of 2013, we can say that NFC technology is already confidently occupying a place in modern top-end and mid-range smartphones. Indirectly, the interest in it can be estimated by the number of programs in the Play Store: there are already several hundred free projects alone. Given the dominance of the market (especially in terms of the number of models) of the Android platform, it is this platform that is the most popular for NFC devices today. IOS does not provide standard NFC tools, and Windows Phone 8 has significantly limited capabilities for working with NFC for third-party applications.

By itself, NFC technology has several features that allow it to take a unique position:

• contactless data transmission;
• work only at short distances;
• the ability to exchange information with other devices or passive tags;
• low cost of the solution;
• low power consumption;
• low data transfer rate.

At the moment, for smartphones and tablets, three most relevant options for using NFC can be noted: data exchange between devices (contacts, applications, links, photos and other files), reading tags with special information and changing modes / settings / profiles of the device, quick pairing with peripheral devices (such as headsets). In the first case, you can try to work with the standard Android Beam program or install alternative options. They can be useful when you need a high speed of exchange (via Wi-Fi), but require the same program on each device.

Passive tags can be used in almost everything from posters to magazines to product tags. They can record product information, website link, Wi-Fi settings, contact information, geographic coordinates, or other small amount of data. The spread of this method of information exchange directly depends on the number of compatible devices among users. This scenario can be compared to common QR codes, which today are perhaps still simpler in terms of implementation and more popular.

Even non-writeable tags can be used with some programs to change system settings, so many users will be able to try this scenario. However, it should be noted that in this case, the set of options will be recorded in a specific device, and it can be difficult to transfer it to another device. Most utilities of this purpose still require their own recorded tags, which allows them to store all the required information in an encoded form directly in the tag (or cloud), so that to use these settings on another device, it will be enough to have the same program on it.

We have not covered NFC use cases such as payment systems, e-wallets and micropayments, tickets and coupons, transit cards and passes in this article. These topics, especially the first one, deserve separate consideration. We will try to return to them in the presence of readers' interest and the spread of such solutions.

What is this NFC in a phone, what is the purpose of a small chip? Let's discuss the functionality of the technology, let's talk about the features and capabilities. Read our review to find out all the information you need and find out whether to buy a device equipped with this option!

What it is

Let's start with a definition and figure out what NFC is in a smartphone.

Near Field Communication or literally "near field communication" is a special interface for wireless communication between several devices. It looks like a tiny electronic chip that fits inside the device, communication is provided by induction inside a magnetic field.

We figured out what NFC means in a phone - let's look at the features of the technology available to each user.

• The minimum radius of action is only 10-20 centimeters;
• The ability to exchange passive tags;
• Super compact size;
• Highest degree of security and data encryption;
• Low power consumption;
• Low data transfer rate;
• Connection time - up to 0.1 seconds;
• Low cost.

The NFC module for a smartphone on Android is hidden under the body - it is the small size that allows it to be installed even in small phones. The range is enough for a high-quality connection of several devices.

It is worth dwelling in a little more detail on the security parameter.

• It is the short distance that reduces the risk of losing important data;
• It is almost impossible to steal and intercept information - there is no vulnerability from external connections;
• Special encryption keys allow you to simultaneously receive and transmit data - devices compare information and do not allow connection if they do not match;
• Contactless payment requires user confirmation (fingerprint, code, or face scan). Even if a smartphone is lost, an attacker will not be able to use money and personal data.

You already know what it is - an NFC module in a phone or other device. It's time to talk about what opportunities it gives users!

Technology functionality

You just need to find out what NFC is for if you want to buy a technology-enabled device. Many users mistakenly assume that the main purpose is contactless payment in stores, but you shouldn't stop there!

NFC technology in smartphones is used for comfortable operation of the device - you can get the most out of it without any extra effort!

Emulation of bank cards or NFC payment is the most common feature, as mentioned above. You can link your bank card to the device and pay for purchases with one touch! What needs to be done?

• Make sure that your card is marked "PayPass";

• Make sure that a payment system application is installed on the device - for example, Apple Pay or Google Pay;
• Link a bank card to the device.

That's all - now the NFC function in the smartphone comes into play:

• Wait for the signal from the bank terminal;
• Attach your phone to the terminal;
• Enter your password or scan your fingerprint if required.

Ready! The money was written off, the purchase was paid - everything is very simple and accessible even to a beginner. By the way, the option can be used to scan any cards and electronic keys, passes.

Please note that such an operation is safe - the device does not use card details, only a unique encrypted digital key is transmitted.

The second possibility is data transfer, an alternative to the usual bluetooth. High connection speed and low data transfer rate play a huge role here - therefore NSF is used to transfer small files. Most often used:

• Coordinates on the map;
• Contacts;
• Links;
• Notes.

The technology is used only for connecting phones, the documents themselves are transmitted wirelessly or using bluetooth.

How to transfer data using NFC to another device

To connect the two devices, it is better to place the smartphones with the back panels against each other. Let's see how to use NFC to transfer data:

• Open the settings on your smartphone;
• Find the NSF option in the "Connections" section (perhaps the section name is different, try to find the option in the search bar);
• Open the block and find the "NFC and Payment" icon;
• Move the toggle switch opposite the line to the "On" position;
• Touch the phones to each other and wait until the connection message appears;
• Select the desired file or link and wait for the confirmation signal.

The third option, which can be used at any time, is the scanning and programming of marks. Why are these tags needed?

• For more information about a product or service. Scanning a tag allows you to get data that at first glance seems to be hidden;
• To automate user actions - enable applications, send messages, change the sound profile. For example, you can program a tag to start the program when you move the device to the car - the application will be loaded automatically, without any additional actions.

The option works by analogy with reading the Cewar code. You can program tags using special applications for your phone - they can be found in the Google Play Store for free or for an additional fee. Choose a program from the list below or look for your own version:

• NFC Tools;
• WiFiTap WiFi NFC;
• SmartTag Maker;
• ABA NFC.

We discussed in detail what NFC means in a phone, why this chip is needed and how to use it. It's time to move on to the next part of the review! Let's look for a chip in your device and make sure it works.

Watch the video for a detailed description of the module:

How to check if an option is available

Previously, the NFC chip was embedded only in flagship expensive phones - but now the situation has changed. The function is supported by most devices, even the cheapest and simplest ones.

How do you know if your phone has NFC support? You can check for availability as follows:

• Open your phone settings;
• Go to the section with connections or wireless networks;
• Sometimes the option is hidden in the "Additional features" block;
• You will see a line with the appropriate name, next to it is a toggle switch for activation or deactivation.

In addition, you can verify that the feature is supported in the following ways:

• The NFC icon can be found on the Quick Launch bar at the top of the screen;
• Sometimes a blue icon is placed on the back of the device;
• You can find the corresponding marking on the gadget battery;
• Just enter the name of the phone model into the search bar of any browser and read the instructions with a detailed description.

But what if there is no NFC on the phone? You can transfer data via bluetooth - this is a familiar and fairly fast way. And you can pay in the store with a plastic card with pay pass technology.

Possible problems

If you find a chip in your device, it is worth discussing the possible difficulties that anyone faces.

• Sometimes a thick phone case interferes - remove it, especially if it is made of metal materials;
• Make sure that you have activated the option in the settings - we have provided detailed instructions above;
• Do not forget to charge the battery - the power saving mode negatively affects the performance of certain programs;
• It will be useful to reboot the gadget in case of minor difficulties.

If an error occurs while making a payment, we recommend that you pay attention to the following parameters:

• Make sure that there are enough funds on the card balance;
• Try restarting your smartphone;
• Check if the payment system application is installed;
• Attach the device a little tighter to the trading terminal, or vice versa, slide it a little further;
• Make sure you haven't turned on airplane mode;
• It is advisable to unlock the gadget before use.

Separately, it is worth saying a few words about Xiaomi phones, whose firmware blocks the operation of the chip - such difficulties can be solved only in a service center. The specialist will take the necessary steps to expand user rights and update the firmware - you will be able to use the technology.

We described in detail what this is the NFC function in the phone and how to use it for maximum user convenience. Save our review to bookmarks so as not to lose useful tips - you will always have an instruction manual for the electronic chip at hand. Use the capabilities of your phone to the maximum, make your life comfortable and simple!