nfc service capacity. NFC in the phone: what is it? How to check if your phone has NFC

Getting acquainted with the specifications of the smartphone, you can stumble upon the mention of NFC. Let's find out what it is?

Every modern smartphone has several means of wireless communication. For example, LTE is used to transmit data via cellular networks. Bluetooth helps connect wireless headset. What is NFC used for? The answer to this question is contained in this article.

NFC is a way to transfer data over a very short distance. That is, the range of such a connection does not exceed 10 cm. This is the main difference between NFC technology and Bluetooth, which strikes at a distance of 1 to 10 m. That is why this function cannot be used to connect wireless headphones and other similar purposes. The NFC module is sharpened for other actions.

The technology is based on RFID - radio frequency identification. It turns out that, first of all, NFC serves to ensure that the electronic device understands which gadget was attached to it. But the implementation of the technology is such that both objects do not have to be active. This should be only a device with which information is read. Therefore, bank cards with the so-called are now widely used - it is precisely passive, while the terminal is equipped with an already active NFC chip (otherwise it simply could not read the information).

Initially this technology designed to quickly pair two electronic devices. The fact is that identification through NFC is noticeably faster than via Bluetooth - the count goes to tenths of a second. Each smartphone contains an NFC chip with unique identification information. When you apply it, for example, to an action camera, it understands that this is your gadget. As a result, the process of setting up an application for remote control noticeably accelerates.

The module operates at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. Large amounts of data cannot be transferred through it, since the speed varies from 106 Kbps to 848 Kbps.

What devices support NFC?

Gradually, the NFC chip is getting an increasing number of electronic gadgets. However, somewhere its use can be limited programmatically. For example, the module is present on the iPhone, but it is used only for contactless payments through. It cannot be used for other tasks. That is why connecting wireless accessories to Apple technology is done the old fashioned way. At least that was the case at the time of writing. It is possible that in the future the "apple" giant will reconsider its attitude towards NFC.

Active NFC chips are found in the following devices:

As for passive NFC, they can be equipped with:

bank cards;
NFC tags and key fobs;
Travel cards;
Accessories for smartphones.

Of course it's not full list as experimentation with the technology continues.

What is NFC most commonly used for?

We have already talked about one fairly popular method of using NFC - quickly synchronizing two devices with each other. And if earlier most often users connected a smartphone and a camera, now in most cases NFC is required to quickly identify headphones, smart watch, fitness bracelets and other useful phone accessories.

Also, it is with the help of NFC that a contactless payment method is implemented. Some bank cards have the corresponding label. Moreover, you can also pay for goods with a smartphone if the user is registered in. The exception to the rule is Samsung Pay - this technology uses a special magnetic field (MST) instead of NFC.

Another area of application for relatively new wireless technology is tags. They can be supplied with a smartphone, included in a set with devices from the smart home series, or sold separately. For example, a smart lock can be equipped with an NFC tag - it is enough to attach a smartphone or a special key fob to open it. Also, the NFC tag can lie somewhere on the table. In this case, the nature of its use is programmed by the user using a special application. For example, a smartphone next to this label can be set to turn on music player or some other action.

How to use NFC?

There is nothing complicated in using any wireless technology. NFC is no exception to the rule. You just need to activate this chip in the settings. In the case of modern Android versions this is done as follows:

Step 1. Go to " Settings».
Step 2 Go to the section " Connections».
Step 3 Visit the subsection NFC and payment».
Step 4 Activate the corresponding switch. At the same time, most likely, you will have to enable the function Android Beam.

That's all! If you want to pay for purchases with your smartphone, then get ready to visit the appropriate subsection. You will also have to enable PIN or fingerprint unlock - for security purposes, you will not be given any other choice.

In the future, the user does not require any special actions. Want to make a purchase? Unlocked the smartphone and attached it to the terminal. Would you like to set up a connection with an action camera? We launched the corresponding application and attached our smartphone to the camera. In a word, all actions are simple and intuitive.

Summarizing

Now you know what NFC is. This technology first appeared in Nokia 6131 released in 2006. But then she failed to become popular, because the appropriate infrastructure simply did not exist. Now the NFC function is present in terminals, smart homes and all kinds of electronic equipment. If your smartphone has the appropriate chip, then you need to rejoice. But you should not be upset because of its absence - many people have never used NFC at all, without experiencing any inconvenience from this. However, the cost of the chip has recently become less and less. In this regard, a large number of inexpensive smartphones with an NFC module are born.

Have you already tried NFC at work? Or have you not yet had devices with such a module in your hands? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Using NFC stickers

At the time of writing, only Android devices and Windows phone support this technology, so Apple owners may consider buying another device. Windows Phone owners can read the article to understand the NFC sticker settings, 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 very stickers, which are the subject of a thin layer.

They may look different, the main thing about them is that they have a special NFC chip inside. Perhaps you also have such a label in your pocket, if there is a ticket for traveling on the subway (by the way, I used such a ticket to work with this technology). So, it is worth putting your smartphone on such an NFC tag and the phone will perform pre-agreed actions that the user can fine-tune. Your possibilities are limited only by your desires: you can put your phone in 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 the working WiFi networks and start flipping through the meeting calendar; disconnect from all networks at home and turn on the music; In one word, you can customize absolutely anything. And for this you need only at least one sticker (you can buy them, they are not expensive) and free app in Google Play, thanks to which the possibilities increase and the necessary actions can be performed not only when the phone is brought to the sticker, but also if the battery level reaches a certain level; 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 fantasies unfold. 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 run it. The application is free, but the professional version with maximum functionality costs some money (the same is not big). You can start by turning on trial version. 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 label. First of all, we will be asked to add triggers:

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

After selecting the desired trigger (and for the purposes of this article, I recommend choosing NFC), you must click Next. In the next window, you can set restrictions on the action of this task. So the task can only be completed at a certain time, on certain days, with a certain battery level and with various Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Airplane mode states.For my purposes, there were no restrictions, so I just continued with 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 choose (in our case, when brought to the NFC tag.) There are a lot of actions, so I will list only groups of actions:

Wireless and LANs
Bluetooth
Sounds and volume
Screen
Social media
Messages
Applications and shortcuts
Media
Agent
Travels
Signals
Developments
Telephone
Samsung
Scheduler
experimental

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

The last but one will be the Switches menu. This is quite an interesting point, which requires an example to understand. Suppose we have created an NFC tag, from which the phone starts playing music. Logically, another NFC sticker is needed to create a new task to turn off the music. But you can use the Switches function to two reverse assignments performed the same sticker. To do this, in this menu, you must press the same plus sign and add a new task in the manner described above, select the opposite actions there. Upon completion of these works, click Done. After that, you need to put the smartphone on the sticker, with which the phone is synchronized in less than a second. If the reaction is positive, it remains to click the Done button.

Possible problems when using Trigger

For this application in the same Google Play there are several different plugins that are necessary for various activities. So the Trigger Reuse plugin allows you to reuse NFC stickers, such as subway tickets. You can find all the necessary plugins by querying Trigger Plugin on Google Play. Some of these plugins require additional configuration, some do not. I think you'll understand.

Using NFC technology to pay for metro fares

To use the phone to pay for the metro, 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 special sim card with NFC support and activate a special service (technical support or sales center employees to help you). After that (in theory), you only need to top up your phone account in time so that one day the turnstile does not start screaming at you.

NFC in the phone is a wireless communication technology High Quality with a small radius of influence, which allows you to exchange information between two gadgets without contact. NFC is based on RFID, which is radio frequency recognition, which is a method of mechanical identification of an object.

What is "NFC"?

NFC is a contactless technology that can read and send information from devices over short distances. The abbreviation stands for "Near Fild Communication". It is based on the principle of radio signal exchange, identical to Bluetooth, but there is a significant difference. Bluetooth transmits data over long distances, several hundred meters, and NFC requires no more than 10 centimeters. This technology was developed as an extension for contactless cards, but it quickly gained popularity, and developers found it used in other devices.

Three ways have been developed to use this technology in cellular:

reading mode;
emulation when the device works as a payment card or pass;
P2P mode when information is exchanged between phones.

The chip is stored in a cell phone and used as a means of payment, you can book tickets, pay for parking a car or travel on the subway, and provide access control. Thanks to technological processes of payments without contact, MasterCard PayPass and Visa PayWave cards with integrated antennas appeared, where the role of NFC was taken into account, applications for android smartphones were developed.

What is NFC in a smartphone - with close contact, a pair of devices communicate through induction magnetic field when closely contacting loop antennas form a driver. Under the influence of NFC, frequencies in the spectrum of 13.56 megahertz are allocated, and the information transfer rate can reach 400 kilobits per second. The device operates in two modes:

Active. Both gadgets are provided with a power source and transmit information in turn.
Passive. The power of the field of one of the devices is used.

Which phones have NFC?

NFC in the phone gives a chance to pay for purchases by touching the mobile phone to the terminal, this is a kind of Bank card in cellular. Even 6 years ago, there were few devices that supported NFC, and now tablets, watches and other devices are equipped with chips. Which phones have this device:

Apple - all iPhone models;
Sony - Xperia S, L, Z series;
Samsung – Galaxy S series;
Motorola;
Nokia Lumia.

How do I know if my phone supports NFC?

How to check if NFC is available in the phone? There are several ways:

Remove the back cover of the smartphone and inspect the battery, it should have the inscription "NFC".
In the settings, find the "Wireless networks" tab, click on "More", if the technology is available, a line with the name of the technology will appear.
Swipe your hand across the screen, open the notification curtain, where this option will be written.

If there is no NFC, what should I do?

NFC in the phone - what are these modules? There are such main types:

sim cards;
external devices;
microcircuits;
NFC modules;
stickers.

The NFC-module can be bought together with phones, but they are also sold separately. Stickers are attached to the cell body, they are of two types:

Active. Provides Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity but consumes a lot of power and requires frequent recharging.
Passive. They do not exchange information with the phone and do not write it to the device through the mobile communication channels.

How to install an NFC chip in a phone?

If it is not initially in the device, the NFC module for the phone can be purchased and installed. There are two options to choose from:

NFC-sim card, they are now sold by many mobile operators.
NFC antenna. If there is no near field, this is the best way out. Communication stores also have such devices, they are glued to the SIM card, under the cover of the mobile phone. But there is one minus: if the back cover is not removed or the hole for the SIM card is on the side, you will not be able to install such an antenna

How to enable NFC?

A device with NFC can be not only a wallet, travel and discount coupon, special tags also help to read data about goods in stores, about any objects in museums and galleries. How does it turn on?

In the settings, select "Wireless networks", then - "More".
The desired inscription will appear, check the box "Activate".

If your smartphone has an NFC chip, you need to activate Android Beam:

In the settings, click the "Advanced" tab.

Click on the NFC switch, the android function will be activated automatically. If this does not happen, you need to click on the "Android Beam" tab and select "enable".

In order for the data exchange to go smoothly, you need to make sure that both phones support NFC and Android Beam, first you need to activate them. The following is the action plan:
Select a file to transfer.
Press the back covers of the phones together.
Keep devices up to sound signal, which will confirm that the exchange has ended.

Regardless of the type of file, NFC technology assumes such an information transfer algorithm:

Keep devices only reverse side one to another.
Wait until they find each other.
Confirm the data transfer request.
Wait for a message that the process has completed.

NFC technology allows high-frequency wireless communication at short distances. NFC modules are equipped with a large number of modern devices- First of all, the technology is focused on tablets and smartphones. In this article, we will look at what NFC is in a smartphone, how NFC technology works, what advantages it has, and what is the range of its application.

The abbreviation NFC stands for Near Field Communication. The technology is based on the principle of radio signal exchange between two devices - this technology is similar to the well-known Bluetooth. However, there is one important difference - unlike Bluetooth, which is focused on data transmission at a distance of up to hundreds of meters, NFC is designed to exchange data at a distance of about 10 cm and closer.

The technology was announced in 2004 as an extension for contactless cards. After that, the technology gained quite a lot of popularity and can now be used in many areas.

How it works?

Let's try to figure out how NFC works in a smartphone. Two devices communicate with each other when they touch - for example, to pair two smartphones, you just need to put them together.

If we delve into the technical details of the technology, we can say the following.

Communication via NFC is based on magnetic field induction - loop antennas are located within the near field and form a transformer. For NFC work frequencies in the range of 13.56 MHz are selected. The supported data rate can reach 400kbps.

NFC operating modes

NFS in a smartphone can work in two modes:

Active mode - both devices transmit information in turn, while both devices must have a power source.
Passive mode - the initiator of the data transmission session, by modulating its field, provides the carrier field and the response of the second device - it uses the power of the field of the first device for data transmission.

Passive mode allows you to create devices that do not need their own battery - for example, a small mark the size of a penny coin or even smaller can effectively interact with another device on short distances- just bring them closer and the data transfer process will start on its own.

Benefits of NFC technology

The advantages of NFC include intuitiveness (one touch is enough to initiate a data transfer), versatility (NFC has the widest range of uses), open technology and its compliance with industry standards, as well as increased security due to low transmitter power and short range.

Using NFC, you can configure other wireless technologies - for example, it takes about 100ms to pair two devices via NFC, while connecting them to each other via Wifi or Bluetooth takes significantly longer, while it can be done via NFC.

NFC facilitates the exchange of information - it is possible to transfer a file from one smartphone to another by simply touching it with your smartphone. At the same time, the matter is not limited - you can transfer a payment to the interlocutor, add him to "friends" or start a session of a joint multiplayer game.

Prospects for NFC

NFC as a communication technology has a wide range of applications that can be constantly expanded. So, through NFC, you can implement such contactless technologies as access control to the premises, payments using mobile phone- including in public transport and shops, various solutions in consumer electronics, healthcare, communication programs and so on.

Great opportunities open up in the field of e-commerce - an NFC device can act as a wallet, travel ticket, boarding pass, discount coupon, and so on. NFC tags in stores allow you to instantly get additional information about the product and other stores with such goods. An NFC tag can be installed in a museum, gallery or exhibition hall - when you read the tag, you will receive information about the object.

NFC stands for Near Field Communication or literally "near field communication". This technology is used to transfer data between devices at a distance of up to 10 cm. Communication is maintained through the induction of a magnetic field.

NFC can work in active and passive modes. For the first, it is necessary that both devices have their own power source, and for the second, one is enough. In the latter case, one of the devices derives its operating power from the electromagnetic field of the other.

The NFC chip itself has a fairly compact size, which allows you to install it in smartphones, speakers, tablets and other mobile gadgets.

What can NFC be used for?

atechpoint.com

Compared to technology, NFC has a very high speed of establishing a connection between devices. At the same time, the speed of the data transfer itself in the active communication mode is quite low. That is why in smartphones NFC usually used only to transfer contacts, links, notes, as well as coordinates on the map.

When transferring large files the technology is only used to connect devices, and the content is sent via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This even goes for sending simple videos or documents via the "Send to" function.

You can find out the exact location of the antennas of the chip in the instructions for the device. However, in most cases they are displayed on the back of the case. Therefore, when connecting via NFC, smartphones need to be leaned against each other with their back panels.

androidauthority.com

Passive communication mode can be used to read information from programmable NFC chips or so-called tags. They do not have their own power source, and activation occurs from the electromagnetic field of the reader device.

The main purpose of labels is to receive additional information about a product or some event. In some retail chains, NFC tags are already replacing barcodes. Leaning a smartphone, the buyer can get detailed information, expiration date and storage conditions.

Tags are also used to automate various actions on a smartphone - turning on applications, changing the sound profile, sending messages, and so on. For example, you can program a tag to launch a navigator and attach it to your car. As soon as you put your smartphone on it, the gadget will start automatically.

Labels are programmed via special applications on a smartphone, such as NFC Tools.

veintitres.com

Gadgets with NFC can be used to emulate smart cards used as a pass, key or travel pass. However, with the advent of payment Android systems Pay, and Samsung Pay The main purpose of the NFC chip in a smartphone was to emulate bank cards for contactless payments.

To pay for goods using NFC, you just need to bring your smartphone to the terminal at the checkout. The main thing is to pre-bind your bank card to the payment system available for your smartphone.

The largest coverage by device has Android Pay, because, unlike similar services from Apple and Samsung, it is not tailored for devices from a specific manufacturer. However, any of these payment systems You can use it without fear or risk.

None of them transmits the card number to the terminal itself at the time of payment. Instead, a so-called token is used - a digital encrypted identifier that is generated automatically when the card is activated. It is he who will be read as the main props.

How secure is NFC

NFC-enabled devices can both receive and transmit data at the same time, allowing them to detect inconsistencies if the received signal does not match the transmitted signal.

The risk of interception of your data is extremely small, especially given the minimum range of the technology. The same Bluetooth, operating within tens of meters, is much more vulnerable to external interference.

This also applies to payment details: the token generated for contactless payment will not allow attackers to gain access. And the very fact of intercepting an encrypted identifier looks unrealistic.

In addition, contactless payment requires verification via fingerprint, password or face scan. Without all this, the purchase cannot be made. This means that even if the smartphone is stolen, no one will be able to use it as a payment instrument.

androidpit.com

Once, only expensive flagships had support for this technology, but now you can buy a smartphone with NFC for less than 10,000 rubles. In any case, this applies to Android devices. Among the most affordable are Nokia 3, samsung galaxy J5, Motorola Moto G5s.

In the Apple ecosystem, the cheapest smartphone with Apple Pay support is the iPhone SE, which today costs just under 20,000 rubles. All more expensive models, starting with the iPhone 6, also have an NFC chip.

If you don't know if your Android smartphone has NFC, you can check it by searching through the settings. Usually, functions related to this technology are available in the connections sections or wireless networks. Also, the NFC icon must be present in the list of icons quick start in the top curtain.