What does nfc mean in samsung phone. What is NFC in a smartphone

In this article, we will talk about what NFC is in a phone: what is the technology that is used in modern means communication, on what principle it works and what it is used for.

What is NFC

It should be noted that NFC (Near Field Communications) technology was initially widely used to pay for contactless payments. However, recently it is quite often used in smartphones and tablets. In a nutshell, NFC is a technology that allows you to quickly connect (at close range) with other devices that also have an NFC function. An important feature this connection between devices is that this compound can be installed without entering passwords and any confirmations.

How NFC works on a phone

NFC technology can be used for various purposes. Your NFC-enabled phone can become a virtual bank card, a pool pass, or a factory pass. Also, using NFC, you can exchange files, links, read and write information (using special applications and NFC tags, as well as NFC smart cards).

But what is NFC in a smartphone, you ask, if there is a Bluetooth function for data transfer? The difference between them is quite obvious: as we wrote above, NFC is more often used when paying for any goods or services, but Bluetooth is completely unsuitable for these purposes. The fact is that Bluetooth has a wide range, which increases the risk of interception of your payment data. And the connection between two devices via NFC, on the contrary, is instantaneous, unlike Bluetooth.

What is NFC used for?

You can share apps, web pages, YouTube videos. During these exchanges, the phone or tablet does not download the video file or link, it simply opens it all in its browser. As we have already said, NFC supports the payment function, and this is perhaps the main advantage of this technology. Having the appropriate software, you can pay for any services, goods, in a word, just use your phone like a card. However, still given function for some reason it is not in demand in Russia.

In addition, you can use NFC tags, as well as smart cards with an NFC chip for reading. NFC chips are so small that they can be inserted into anything (business cards, price tags, bracelets, labels, etc.). Basically, such chips contain information about goods, person data, links, and they may also contain commands that your phone or tablet will execute when you touch NFC tags.

Does your device have NFC

You can find out if the NFC function is available on your phone or tablet in the following way: in the settings menu, in the " Wireless network"Select "More": there should be NFC settings items. Also, on the case itself or on the battery of a phone or tablet, there may be an NFC logo - this means that the device supports this technology.

Note that most of the new models are already equipped with the NFC function, but so far this technology is practically not in demand with us. Basically, it is used to pay for services and quickly exchange information. But, nevertheless, NFC technology does not stand still and is constantly being improved, and who knows, maybe it will soon replace the means of information exchange familiar to us. If you want to learn more about the features of smartphones and other mobile devices, take a look at our section.

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 on their phone.

In testing, we used two models of smartphones that have already been discussed in detail on our resource: Acer CloudMobile S500 and Sony Xperia acro S. We also want to note that most of the information, including the described programs and usage scenarios, will only apply 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 we look at the development modern technologies, you can see that more and more attention is paid to energy consumption, 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 costs. The second point worth mentioning is that not every task requires a long range. It even happens the other way around - you want to explicitly limit the distance between interacting devices. In addition to the obvious reduction in consumption, this also affects safety. Yes, and about the volume of transmitted data, you can also make a similar remark. So the idea of a slow wireless interface that operates over short distances and is characterized by low power consumption is quite right to exist.

The starting point in the history of the development of NFC can be taken in 2004, when Nokia, Philips and Sony announced the creation of a touch-based interface for the development and standardization of interaction between various devices. 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 common 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 sign can be found on devices with NFC technology.

The formal characteristics of the interface are as follows: work at a distance of several centimeters, maximum speed information exchange 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 fundamentally 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 the active controller. One example is modern maps for public transport. Labels are simply data storage, typically less than 4 KB in size. Most often, only read mode is provided for them, but there are options with write support.

One of the simplest options for a passive NFC tag

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

The NFC antenna is often placed on the back of a smartphone.

The short range can be detrimental 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 special sign. As for the range, in our case, the connection 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 interception and relay attacks. This, of course, makes it difficult to implement secure solutions, since it requires the applications themselves to protect for more high 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 a phone without additional protection with customized payment systems programs than to intercept communications.

Perhaps the most important thing to know about NFC today is that the interface itself does not provide any real 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 work scenarios are provided by an additional software that works through it. On the one hand, this opens up wide opportunities for developers, and on the other hand, it is a problem for them when ensuring interaction. different applications and devices.

Interestingly, any programs installed on a smartphone or tablet can register in the operating system as NFC-related event handlers, and then when you externally “call”, you will see standard menu"How do you want to carry out this action?". Since some scenarios for using NFC involve convenient automation of actions, it is advisable not to overload the device with such utilities.

The NFC forum tries to help with this uncertainty by offering to standardize protocols for certain scenarios (notably NDEF for storing short messages on tags and SNEP (Simple NDEF Exchange Protocol) for exchanging information between devices), but 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 offered in latest versions Android own development of Android Beam. It allows certain types of information to be exchanged between compatible devices.

Android Beam

First you need to make sure that both devices have NFC enabled, Android Beam active, and their screens are unlocked. On the models we tested, NFC only works if the screen is on and the device is fully unlocked. But it is possible that another algorithm will be used in other devices. In any case, the active interface requires very little battery power to operate, and so far the approach described seems to be quite reasonable. One of the options to simplify the work 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 find 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 the transfer is planned. In particular, these may be:

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

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

We have tried the options in the list, and almost all of them really work. Even the fact that our devices were released 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 location option is not very interesting, because only the current map display is transmitted. The point marked on the screen of the source phone does not reach the recipient. The situation is corrected by using the "Addresses" application, which transfers the data correctly. When sending contacts, a photo is lost because, from a technical point of view, the transfer format corresponds to text files vcf. If we talk about applications, then you can send not only those installed on your phone, but also just open cards on Google Play. Similarly, books and other content from the store are supported. Naturally, we are talking about the transfer of links, and not the downloaded or purchased elements themselves. There was a problem with sending photos: the Sony device was unable to work with this type of data. The official wording is "The recipient's device does not support large data transfers via Android Beam." Here you have the first sign of the youth of the interface or the lack of detail in 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 find out about this only as a result of verification. What can we say about less famous manufacturers - their implementation of this technology can be completely unpredictable.

Incidentally, as regards android work Beam. The description of the technology indicates that for data transfer, the establishment of a connection via Bluetooth is used after the initial negotiation of settings via NFC. Considering that all working formats assumed a really small amount of transmitted data, NFC speed was quite enough for them, but for photos it would be clearly not enough. So we can assume that Sony just did not implement switching to a faster interface. It is not possible to understand whether this problem is software (recall that Android 4.0.4 is installed on this device) or hardware.

We also tried to send our own music and videos in the same way from the respective apps, but nothing appeared on the receiver.

Reading and writing labels

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. Wherein helpful information(for example, a link to a website page) takes just a few tens of bytes. Tags can be used by companies, for example, to promote their products or services. Given 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, no less than a five-ruble coin), it can be placed almost anywhere: on a box with a product, in a magazine, on an information rack and other places.

Passive NFC tags can be made into key fobs

If we talk about hand-made labels, 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 with a minimum thickness, a protected plastic circle and key chains. All of them had a very small amount of memory - only 144 bytes (there are options on the market for 4 KB). The number of rewrite cycles was not specified, but for most application scenarios this parameter is not critical. To work with tags, NXP Semiconductors programs - TagInfo and TagWriter - can be recommended.

The first will allow you to read the data from the tag and decrypt the information according to the NDEF standard, and the second will help you create your own tags. Several sub-variants of NDEF are supported: contact, link, text, SMS, mail message, phone number, Bluetooth connection, geographical location, link to local file, application launch, URI. Please note that when creating a record, you need to take into account the amount of data stored. For example, a contact photo can take up several kilobytes, messages or text can also easily go beyond 144 bytes. By the way, the NFC TagInfo program from the NFC Research Lab 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 specify some details of the passport for reading data from the chip.

Note that the automatic processing of read tags depends on the content. 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 features should be used with caution, because by simply replacing or reprogramming labels, attackers can redirect you to a fake site instead of the original one. We did not find regular OS settings to limit such autorun (unless you disable NFC itself).

Another important point when using labels in public places is overwrite protection. When writing a label, you can set a protection flag that will block all attempts to change information, but it will be impossible to remove it. So the label will continue to be used in read-only mode. For home use, this is in most cases not very critical.

Let's mention a few more programs for writing labels:

Using predefined tags to manage a device

One of the active participants in the implementation of NFC is Sony. Its devices are pre-installed with the Smart Connect program that supports work with original Sony tags. If you wish, using the SmartTag Maker utility, you can create them yourself from blank blanks. The system uses the NDEF URI format with the tag number/color encoded in the text link. In total, the system provides up to eight labels, 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 tag recognition or device connection, in addition, you can limit the operation time of the circuit. The set of actions is quite wide, it includes launching the application, opening a link in the browser, launching music, adjusting the volume and mode, connecting a Bluetooth audio device, sending SMS, calling, managing wireless interfaces, brightness adjustment, and more. 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 by the expiration of the specified time interval.

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

The Play Store has several utilities for this scenario, to mention a couple of them:

Recall that you should not install several such programs at once. Convenience from this mode will not be added, since when a label is detected on the phone screen, a dialog box will appear with the choice of a program for processing it.

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

Recall that at the moment the label is read only when the device is unlocked. So the scenario “came home, put the phone on the nightstand - automatically switched the profile, turned off the call and Bluetooth, set the alarm” will require some actions from the user. This behavior still limits the possibilities of programs a little.

Exchange of information between devices

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

Considering that the native speed of NFC is very slow, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is usually used for fast file transfer, and NFC only works during the connection negotiation and pairing phase. To test this scenario, we tried several file transfer programs that claim to support NFC on our devices.

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

Blue NFC, as the name suggests, also simplifies Bluetooth file sharing by replacing the power, search, and pairing steps with touch and NFC sharing. 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. True, in fairness it is worth noting that this program has many other file sharing modes.

Conclusion

As of the spring of 2013, we can say that NFC technology is already confidently taking its place in modern top-end and mid-range smartphones. Indirectly, interest in it can be estimated by the number of programs in the Play Store: there are already several hundred free projects alone. Considering market dominance (especially in terms of number of models) Android platforms, it is she who is today the most popular for NFC devices. iOS does not provide native tools for NFC, but Windows phone 8 has significantly limited NFC capabilities for third-party applications.

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

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

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

Passive tags can be used almost anywhere, from posters to magazines and product tags. They can record information about the product, a link to the site, wifi settings, contact details, geographic coordinates, or other small amount of data. The spread of this method of information exchange directly depends on the number of compatible devices users have. This scenario can be compared to common QR codes, which today are perhaps easier to implement and more popular.

For change system settings even non-writable labels can be used with some programs, so many users will be able to try this scenario in practice. True, it should be noted that in this case the set of options will be written in specific device, and there can be difficulties with transferring 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 in order to use these settings on another device, it will be enough to have the same program on it.

We have not considered in this article such scenarios for using NFC as payment systems, electronic wallets and micropayments, tickets and coupons, transport cards and passes. These topics, especially the first one, deserve separate consideration. We will try to return to them in the presence of reader interest and the dissemination of such solutions.

Contactless payment for goods and services using a mobile phone based on NFC technology has the following advantages:

improving safety through the use of short-range signals;
complete confidentiality due to the substitution of real card data with a special virtual account;
acceleration of payments;
the ability to remember discount and bonus cards to save space;
free for the user.

At the same time, this service is available worldwide, subject to payment through the terminal, with support for NFC contactless payment technology.

Necessary conditions for making a payment

Almost any Sberbank card is suitable for making payments using NFC technology, with the exception of Visa Electron, Maestro. Three of the world's largest payment systems are already operating in Russia today:

Apple Pay;

They have similar technologies and high security, which makes them universal for the average user. At the same time, each has its pros and cons, which should be considered when making the initial choice.

Apple Pay

Sberbank became the first financial institution in Russia to cooperate with the Apple payment system. The latter is available only in flagship models, which, due to the high price, are inaccessible to many residents of Russia, which significantly hinders development.

In addition, among the shortcomings of the system, we also point out the following points:

limited number of models with this technology;
prohibition of the use of chips for "foreign" applications;
limited circle of partner banks.

a relatively large number of models of the Korean company for making payments;
relatively affordable price on the gadget
the ability to use chips for a large number of applications;
the ability to simulate a magnetic stripe for payments in terminals of the first generations;
a large selection of banks to serve.

The relative disadvantage of the system is the need for a fingerprint scanner to confirm the payment. Also, today Sberbank remains the only financial institution in Russia whose official application can link the card directly to the system.

The most common payment system using NFC technology due to the large number of partner banks and gadgets based on operating system Android from the American company Google. Its use provides the following benefits:

the ability to link a payment to an application with bonus cards;
participation in various promotions and receiving bonuses upon payment;
payment confirmation graphic password or PIN code.

At the same time, this payment system has a number of disadvantages. We are talking about the possibility of paying only in special bank terminals and the impossibility of using the technology with rooted phones.

To make a payment, you must first set up your mobile gadget on Android or iOS by linking a card to it. The easiest way is to contact Sberbank with a passport, where an employee will perform all the steps for you. If there is no time for this, then use the following instructions:

download the Sberbank application online from the official market or the bank's website;
enable the NFC function by activating the appropriate mode in the "Wireless networks" section of your gadget's settings;
enter the personal page of the Sberbank application online by entering a digital password;
go to the Cards section and select the "plastic" that you want to link to the contactless payment system;
under the image, the “Connect card” item will appear and you will be offered a system for making payments, depending on your gadget;
click next and check the correctness of the details that Sberbank added online to the Wallet program;
Read the terms of use and agree to them.

If everything was done correctly, then the corresponding inscription will appear on the smartphone screen and you just need to go to the “Done” section.

You can set up payment via NFC without having mobile application Sberbank, but this method is more complicated and lengthy, and its use requires an active mobile bank. In this case, proceed according to the following algorithm:

when logging in for the first time, select the activation method ( graphic key, fingerprint, PIN code) depending on the type of payment system;
sign in account on a mobile gadget;
go to the main menu and select the "Add a card" item (if you have already added it before, then just select the one you need);
enter the details of the card you want to link manually or using a special scanner on the gadget;
after checking and confirming the card data, you need to study the Sberbank user agreement and agree to it;
activate the card by sending a message to 900 and entering the code received back into the field;
leave a sample of your signature in the window (do it with your finger or stylus).

In total, the application allows you to add up to 10 bank cards, among which you need to choose one main one (it is from it that funds will be withdrawn by default).

How to pay by phone without NFC?

The system is installed only on the latest models of smartphones under Android control or iOS. If you have an "old man" and the corresponding function is not supported, then the alternative would be to use a SIM card or an NFC antenna. In the first case, you need to contact the operator cellular communication for replacement standard map and then link the card to the payment system.

Near field communication (NFC) (translated as: “near field communication”) - new technology short-range wireless high-frequency communication. nfc chip< дает возможность обмениваться данными между different devices located at a distance of 10 centimeters. This technology is a simple extension of the existing contactless card standard (ISO 14443 classification), combines the working interface of smart cards and the reader into a common device. Such an NFC device is capable of communicating even with existing smart cards, as well as ISO 14443 readers, and other NFC devices, and may be compatible with a working proximity card infrastructure already in use in public transport/payment systems. NFC is aimed primarily at use in mobile devices.

What is nfc module

The module is an external device that allows for rapid identification using a radio link at a distance. The short-range communication module operates at a frequency of 13.56 MHz at speeds up to 424 kbps. This technology is based on the use of specialized chips (including telephone SIM cards) in communication devices. The widest spread of NFC technology in the near future is associated with the possibility of using it together with smartphones and mobile phones: a mobile device is equipped with a module (an external nfc module for a phone is suitable), which will allow the subscriber to make timely payments for services and goods, simply by bringing his phone closer to the reader. It is usually understood that the funds are debited from the client's bank account, and not from the account with the mobile operator. connections.

Types of modules

The main types of nfc modules are sim cards, external devices and chips. Also, you can use additional devices for communication and payment, such as NFC modules and stickers. The nfc module for the phone can be ordered separately, or it can be purchased already in the phone as built-in equipment. Stickers are attached to the body of the phone. There are passive and active. The first ones are not able to exchange data with the phone and do not make it possible to write information to the NFC device through the communication channels of the mobile operator. Active - use the Wi-Fi / Bluetooth communication channel to communicate with the device, which leads to increased power consumption, or the need for constant recharging of the module. A common drawback of such modules is the presence of a mount.

How to add an NFC chip to a smartphone

The first option is an NFC SIM card. They are produced by many mobile operators. Install a ready-made functional card in your smartphone and pay for purchases with a light touch on the terminal. Of course, this cannot be called a quality replacement for Apple Pay, since ongoing transactions are not encrypted and do not require fingerprint identification. In addition, the user will most likely have to open a new account with a mobile operator/bank. However, if he is the holder of a plastic card of one of the banks, the problem will disappear by itself. All you have to do is visit a mobile phone salon or a bank branch and get a SIM card.

NFC antenna. Another working way. For all users whose phone or smartphone does not have a “near field” module in their arsenal, the path to “contactless” is a little more difficult. You will have to either replace the device, which is irrational, or equip it with an NFC antenna yourself. Contrary to popular belief, this is much easier to do than previously imagined. To do this, you need to purchase a special external NFC antenna. You can do this in mobile phone stores, then, by gluing it to the SIM card, install it under the cover of your mobile device.

A small remark: this operation will not work for owners of devices with a non-removable back cover and a side hole for SIM cards. You can install the module in almost all phone models. This solution is simple and will be used until phones with built-in NFC modules appear on the market.

Wireless Fidelity, also known as Wi-Fi, is far from the only technology wireless communication supported by modern mobile devices. To transfer data to short distances, in particular, for the exchange of files between phones today, Bluetooth is usually used - a specification for wireless networks that allows you to establish communication between devices at the physical level. However, there are other technologies that are still less in demand in everyday life, but are rapidly gaining popularity, such as, for example, NFC, which will be discussed in this article.

What is NFC and what is this technology for?

So, what is NFC for, where is it used and how to use it? NFC or Near Field Communication is a technology wireless transmission data for the exchange of data between electronic devices located at a small (up to 10 cm) distance from each other. Currently, NFC is used in the industrial and banking sectors, medicine and science. Examples of using the technology can also be found in everyday life, for example, paying for goods and services using an NFC-enabled smartphone, which in this case plays the role of a bank payment card.

More details about the use of Near Field Communication in different areas will be discussed below, we will also find out what NFC is in a smartphone, and now let me say a few words about how it works. Data exchange between technology-enabled devices is carried out using NFC modules, which are electromagnetic coils. Being paired, the coils alternately generate an electromagnetic field, under the influence of which a current arises in them, which is then converted into a transmitting signal.

However, it should not be assumed that the exchange is always carried out directly. If you start using NFC to transfer files from smartphone to smartphone, they will be transferred via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, while NFC will only serve to identify devices. You should also distinguish between active and passive modes of NFC. Active is the mode in which the electromagnetic field is generated by both devices, passive - only when the field is created by one of the devices. An example of the second mode is writing or reading data from NFC or RFID tags.

How to find out if your phone has NFC

Near Field Communication technology is supported by many different types of devices, including mobile phones. NFC in a phone is a hardware component that is responsible for pairing with other NFC devices. It is usually located on the inside of the back cover, but if the battery is non-removable, its location is often marked with a logo on the case itself.

There are several ways to check if your smartphone supports NFC. Some manufacturers mobile phones, such as Sony label their products with an appropriate NFC logo or sticker, others such as Samsung put "Near Field Communication" on the battery. You can also look for mention of NFC in the documentation that came with your phone.

There are sites dedicated to the subject that provide information on which phones have NFC, for example, on the page nfc-ukraine.com/article/2013/06/29/1-0 there is a table with several hundred NFC-enabled devices. Finally, the most correct thing is to open the settings, go to the "Wireless networks" section, select "More" and see if there are NFC and Android Beam items.

What you can do with NFC

So, what is NFC is more or less clear, let's move on to examples of its specific use. The scope of this wireless communication technology is quite extensive. So, NFC is used:

When paying for goods and services (emulation of payment cards).
When identifying a person (electronic documents).
When transferring data from device to device.
To access private data (as an electronic key).
When reading information from NFC tags.
To transfer money from phone to phone.
When interacting with "smart" household appliances, etc.

How to use NFC on your phone? After making sure that the NFC function is available on the device, it must first be activated, for which in the settings you need to check the box in the NFC item "Allow data exchange when combining a tablet (phone) with another device." In this case, the Android Beam option should be automatically activated. If it doesn't, turn it on manually by clicking on it and selecting Yes.

Let's consider the simplest example of using a function - to transfer data. After turning on NFC and unlocking both devices, open the content on your phone that you want to transfer, and then bring the devices closer with their back covers (up to 10 cm away). Once the devices have found each other, the sender gadget will display a “Tap to transfer data” notification. Tap on the display and wait for the transfer to complete, about which you will be notified by a sound signal.

Similarly, links to web pages, Google Play apps, and YouTube videos can be exchanged through NFC.

Using NFC to pay for goods and services is a bit more complicated. The NFC module itself is useless here, for this you will definitely need a physical or virtual card bank and the corresponding application. You should also ask if the bank you are using supports NFC. If so, find out if the banking client application has an NFC connection option, how to connect it correctly, and what types of cards are supported.

There are also third party applications supporting technology and working with bank cards. In Russia, these are Qiwi and Wallet from the developer CardsMobile. Among banking applications in Russia Alfa-Touch from Alfa-Bank can be noted, in Ukraine - Privat24 from Privat-Bank.

NFC tags deserve no less attention. These devices are small, portable, low-capacity storage media that are attached to surfaces or built into various devices and items such as: key chains, business cards, posters, stickers, posters, billboards, shelves with goods and so on. They serve for the same purposes as barcodes and QR codes, that is, for reading certain data from them. NFC tags can contain both simple information (phone numbers, addresses, identification codes, etc.) and various commands, for example, a command to send an SMS, distribute Wi-Fi, turn on a device, launch applications.

To work with NFC tags, you will also need the appropriate applications. Thus, the Yandex.Metro application can be used to obtain information about the number of remaining trips on the Metro card, and AnyTAG NFC Launcher or NFC Actions can be used to program your own tags and manage various functions and devices with their help.

Scanning an NFC tag is performed as follows. By activating on phone NFC and opening the scanner application, place the gadget over the tag at a distance of 1-10 cm. The phone will scan the tag and offer to open its contents.

Conclusion

Now you know in general terms what NFC means and where this technology is used. In the post-Soviet countries, Near Field Communication, however, has not yet become widespread due to the relatively small number of communication devices that support it. Nevertheless, the NFC function is very promising and will certainly become one of the most requested in the very near future.