Most smartphones and smart watches today have something great called NFC technology. It’s like a hidden superpower on your device. Your Phone’s NFC is like a friendly detective that remains silent until it gets close to another NFC-enabled device. You may have used it without knowing if you have ever paid with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.
Now, the NFC is about more than just paying for things. It can do a lot of other amazing things! It is such a secret assistant that expects to facilitate your life. Let’s take a look at the NFC world and discover all the incredible things you can do with it! “
What is NFC? How does it Work?
The NFC, or near-field communication, is a technology that allows phones and smart watches to share small bits of information with nearby devices or read NFC equipment cards. Imagine this as a high-tech handshake between gadgets that works at short distances.
You’ve probably used RFID cards to access your office or gym. Well, the NFC is like an upgraded version of that. However, the cool part about NFC is that it is super user-friendly. Unlike sometimes confusing Bluetooth or Wi-Fi setups, there is no need for manual pairing or password to deal with. Just bring your smartphone (within about four inches) to another NFC device, and voila! They immediately connect and are good to go.
Both RFID and NFC share a common principle called inductive coupling, especially for short-range actions. Here’s a simple breakdown: Imagine a reader’s device that passes electricity through a coil, creating a magnetic field. Now, if you bring a tag near the reader, the magnetic field generates an electric current on the tag without any wire or touching. When this friendly electronic handshake is carried out, the stored data is magically sent to the reader wirelessly.
NFC on your Phone
When the NFC first came out, there were many ideas to use it, but not all of them caught on. Get the example of Google’s Android Beam. It wanted phones to share things, but people didn’t want to hold their phones for a long time to send photos and videos with the slowest NFC. Then, Google switched to fast shares, called nearby sharing, using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which is faster.
After the initial excitement for the presence of NFC in phones settled down, companies began to focus on more practical use. Think of payment cards and security tags: using RFID for years. Since the NFC is like an updated version of RFID, it’s a perfect combination to put those features on smartphones and smartwatches. It’s like giving your Phone some great skills for easy and safe transactions!
Mobile Payments:
Mobile payments are an amazing feature of NFC technology! Imagine using your Phone to pay for things like a digital wallet. In areas such as Europe and Canada, they already had contactless cards, but this is in the United Statesrare. Then, in 2014, Apple shook things with Apple Pay, which makes it very easy to pay on your Phone. Google has a similar one before, but Apple Pay has received more attention.
Here’s a more exciting part: Apple Pay and Google Pay have brought additional convenience even in countries where contact cards are normal. They gave you so much power: better security and privacy! On your physical card, anyone can touch it, but on your Phone, you must first unlock it. It’s like having a secret code, fingerprint, or face scan. It made it safer, and guess what? There are no more limitations on how much you can spend because it is extremely safe.
Now, making payments on your Phone is so easy! If you have a modern smartphone compatible with Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Pay, or if you are rocking an Apple Watch or many-wear watches with OS, you’re ready to start. Apple has been on NFC mobile payment since the first Apple Watch in 2015.
All you need to do is take your Phone or watch near the payment machine and follow the screen instructions to confirm the payment. For smartphones, you may need to verify that it’s really you with a password or a face scan. With smartwatches, it’s simpler: they usually know that you are still using them and that there is no need for further steps. It’s so easy!
NFC Payments:
If you are using Google Pay, Samsung Pay or Apple Pay, here is a fall:
- Google Pay:
Android phones and Wear OS Smart Watches can use Google Pay.
Some banks have their own applications for NFC payments, making you open their app for payments.
- Samsung Pay:
Built-in some Android phones and wear OS smartwatches.
- Apple pay:
Exclusive to iPhones but offers an NFC payment experience without problems.
Here is the twist: while Google and Samsung allow other applications to use NFC for payments, Apple keeps it exclusively for Apple Pay. However, Apple and Google wallets are not just about credit cards; They can also store loyalty cards, tickets, and even transit fare cards. Some work in barcodes, while others allow you to pay in traffic terminals by scanning your Phone or watching, making a bus or train boarding a breeze.
Accepts Debit and Credit Card Payments:
You must be familiar with those debit and contactless credit cards. Thanks to the NFC, your smartphone can now be a mini money centre! It’s like magic: you can receive payments from these cards with your Phone.
Companies like Square sell unique readers for this, but guess what? Apple enters with its great tap-to-pay on iPhone, making readers less necessary. Now, your iPhone can be your payment assistant!
You cannot use it to send money to friends, but it is straightforward to use for small companies and freelancers, especially if they establish a store at events or travel to customer areas.
Reload Fare Cards:
Although Apple and Google are trying to make transit cards work on phones, not all transit systems are there yet. Some even use regular cards that do not work on Apple or Google wallets. However, some transit agencies have their own applications. In these applications, you can use the NFC chip of your Phone to add money to your card quickly.
This is how it usually works: pay your credit or debit card through the application, choosing the amount you want to add to your transit card. After confirming the payment, you need to touch the back of your Phone with your physical transit card. It is like using your Phone as a portable card recharge machine, which makes it easier to add money to your card without stopping at a station during your trips.
Digital Drivers Licenses:
Your phone’s digital wallet can now store more than just cards and tickets. Thanks to Apple and Google, there is a safe technology for your digital ID cards, and some states have begun to use it.
It is not just about putting a photo of your ID on your Phone; Officials need a way to verify its validity. That’s where NFC readers enter. Although it is still early, the USA. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) uses NFC terminals in several airports to read digital ID cards from the states that offer them.
The great part? You can see exactly what information is requested from your identification and decide safely, using things like digital fingerprints or facial recognition if you want to share it. When digital IDs are fully compatible, you can use them to verify your age without providing excessive personal data such as your address or phone number when buying or going to events.
Unlock doors of your home, office and hotels:
The NFC is not only for payments but can also store digital keys to unlock doors in your home, office or hotel. Your smartphone becomes your key if you have a compatible smart lock at home. In offices and hotels, many access card readers use NFC. This means that you can soon swap your job security card for your Phone or smartwatch. And, if you are in a supported hotel, the key to your room can be sent directly to your device, skipping the need to visit the reception.
Authentication with security keys:
The safest way to make two-factor authentication is with a physical security key, and NFC has made it convenient. Instead of having a key that needs to be plugged into a physical port, you can use an NFC key simply by handling it against the back of your smartphone. It is good to secure everything, from Gmail to Facebook. The coolest thing is that NFC 2FA keys can also be used as USB keys, so you can still use them on desktop computers and laptops, even if they do not have NFC support.
Connecting headphones and speakers:
Most NFC applications we have discussed involve payments and security, but many accessories makers use NFC chips to simplify the pairing of their smartphones.
As Bluetooth pairing becomes easier, it still involves some steps that can be uncomfortable and vary for each accessory. With headphones or speakers featuring an NFC chip, you just have to touch your smartphone in the right place, and it will automatically pair.
To be clear, the NFC does not connect your smartphone to headphones or speakers; It does not have the range or bandwidth for it. Instead, it speeds up the Bluetooth pairing process. Once paired, your smartphone speaks with the Bluetooth accessory as if you had paired it manually. Sometimes, NFC chips can also be paired with Wi-Fi speakers or smart devices at home. The idea is the same: NFC exchanges information to join your wireless network, and Wi-Fi takes over.
NFC vs. RFID vs. Bluetooth vs. UWB
NFC, Bluetooth, RFID, and UWB are all short-range wireless technologies with various purposes. Each one has its own use, so you usually do not have to worry about choosing between them.’
Bluetooth is commonly used on smartphones to connect headphones and speakers. It is also used for wireless keyboards and mice on many computers. Bluetooth offers a broader bandwidth than NFC and works at distances from 10 to 30 feet or more for low-energy devices.
RFID, the NFC predecessor, can be found in security cards and key fobs due to its lower cost. It is often used in warehouses for inventory management since it has a more extensive range and can read multiple tags simultaneously. Unlike NFC, RFID only allows unidirectional communication from the tag to the reader.
Ultra Wideband (UWB) is a newer technology that does not require close contact. While it is still in the early stages, UWB is used to monitor tags and digital car keys. For example, Apple Airtags use UWB to help find your keys under a sofa pillow, and BMW’s digital car key allows you to unlock and start your car safely without taking out your Phone from your pocket. This is an improvement to the original NFC car key, which requires a touch at the door of your car.
Which Phones have NFC?
Most modern Android phones and all iPhones since the iPhone 6 support NFC. However, to enjoy the latest NFC functions, you will need a relatively recent version of Android (at least Android 10) or iOS (at least iOS 13). For example, old iPhones such as the iPhone 6 may not fully support NFC functions due to their old operating system. Similarly, Android phones will have to run at least Android 10 to access NFC’s latest security functions. Fortunately, both Android 10 and iOS 13 launched in 2019, and are compatible with smartphones made in the last six years, ensuring the broad NFC support.
Should I turn off NFC on my Phone?
NFC is like a quiet assistant on his Phone. It does not use much battery or processing power unless you actively use it with another NFC device. There is no need to worry about privacy because NFC will not share your personal information unless you allow it. Even characteristics such as mobile payments are totally protected with encryption. The unique ID in the NFC chip is linked to its device, not to its identity, and someone would need to be really close (within four inches) to read it.
In simple terms, turning off NFC really will not save anything. But, if you are causing inconvenience, you should disable it. For example, if you don’t use Google Wallet or Samsung Pay and your Phone is in a wallet case, it lights up near NFC card readers, as in stores or stations. It will not cause problems, but it could be annoying if you prefer to touch your cards directly from your wallet phone case.
If you have an iPhone, you can’t turn off NFC completely. Apple keeps it on but is only activated during specific situations, such as when it is close to a payment terminal or an NFC tag you have set up. So, in most cases, you don’t need to worry about turning it off.
Advantages of NFC:
- Greater operational efficiency: NFC improves operational efficiency for payment processors.
- Improved security: It offers more protection compared to traditional credit cards to make payments.
- Selection of dynamic cards: Allows users to change the NEJE selection of many transaction cards.
- Safe communication: It is difficult to interfere with NFC communications from a distance, adding an excess security layer.
- Easy to use: Provides easy use for consumers when making payments for goods.
- Simplified access: seamless access to back-end information, improving the user’s general experience.
- Simple configuration: Provides a direct configuration of new connections compared to other wireless protocols.
NFC limitations:
- Limited range: The NFC has a very short range of only a few inches, which restricts its use in specific scenarios.
- Slow speed: slower compared to other wireless protocols.
- Limited usability: it can limit the availability of applications that require confidential data on smartphones.
- Innovation challenges: change can be hindered by the restrictions and technical implementations imposed by Apple and Google.
- Not suitable for tracking: it is not ideal for location monitoring purposes.
- Integration challenges: not so universal and easy to combine with place applications such as QR codes.