What does the NFC function mean in a smartphone? What is NFC in a phone - Detailed review and detailed instructions on how to use. Current stage of development

Most modern phones, smartphones and tablets are equipped with a short-range communication chip. It can be used to make contactless payments and exchange various files with other similar devices. To use useful functionality you need to know how to enable NFC on Android.

Description of technology

NFC is a microchip that allows data exchange between two devices. Information is transmitted only over a short distance using radio frequencies. The chip is mounted directly into the body of a smartphone or tablet. The work is provided by a special Android Bim application.

Before you figure out how to enable the NFC function on Android, you need to determine the presence of the technology on the device. You can determine the presence of a chip in the following ways:

How to turn it on

Enabling NFC mode on your phone is very simple. To do this, you need to perform the following steps sequentially:

Do I need to enable NFC on my smartphone when paying?

When making contactless payments through a terminal using a smartphone, you do not need to go into the application and turn on the mode. The chip will automatically start working when you wake up from sleep mode and unlock it.

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

NFC can operate 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 receives its operating power from the electromagnetic region of the other.

The NFC chip itself is quite compact in size, which allows it to be installed in smartphones, audio speakers, tablets and other mobile gadgets.

What can NFC be used for?

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

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

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

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 tags is to obtain additional information about a product or some event. In some retail chains, NFC tags are already replacing barcodes. By leaning the smartphone, the buyer can get detailed information about the 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 your navigator and attach it to your car. As soon as you place your smartphone on it, the gadget will start automatically.

Tags are programmed through special applications on a smartphone, such as NFC Tools.

Gadgets with NFC can be used to emulate smart cards used as a pass, key or travel pass. However, with the arrival of the Android Pay and Samsung Pay payment systems in Russia, the main purpose of the NFC chip in a smartphone became the emulation of 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 first link your bank card to a payment system available for your smartphone.

Android Pay has the greatest coverage across devices, since, unlike similar services from Apple and Samsung, it is not tailored to devices from a specific manufacturer. However, you can use any of these payment systems 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 requisite.

How secure is NFC?

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

The risk of your data being intercepted is extremely low, especially given the technology's minimal range. The same Bluetooth, which operates 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 confirmation via fingerprint reading, password or facial 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.

Once upon a time, only expensive flagships supported 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 by searching through the settings. Typically, technology-related features are available in the connections or wireless sections. Also, the NFC icon should be present in the list of quick launch icons in the curtain at the top.

Modern technologies in the mobile industry are expanding and improving at a rapid pace. Wireless communications such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth occupy a special place here. But in this article we will talk about a relatively new technology - NFC: what is it in a phone and what is it for.

Purpose of the module

NFC is a wireless communication module. This name is an acronym and stands for “Near Field Communication”, which means “close communication”. And its main nuance is its small radius of action (up to 10 cm).

The module provides information exchange without the need for a wired connection. The transmitting and receiving devices must be located very close to one another, similar to a smartphone and a payment terminal.

NFC is developed on the basis of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) - radio frequency identification that automatically identifies different objects. In this case, a special radio signal is used that reads the necessary information contained in the transponders. They are defined as NFC tags.

The main features of this technology:

• small size sensor;
• the ability to exchange any data with gadgets (including passive ones);
• high energy efficiency;
• low exchange speed;
• small price.

Due to these factors, this feature is very popular and can be easily installed in most devices. Among the budget models we can highlight phones such as Huawei Honor 5C, Sony Xperia E5, Nokia 3, and among the expensive ones - Xiaomi Mi 6, Samsung Galaxy S8, LG V30.

Difference between NFC and Bluetooth

Many people compare NFC and Bluetooth modules due to the fact that they are both designed for wireless information transfer over a short distance. They are implemented together in modern smartphones.

There are significant differences between them, one of which is the speed of operation. Energy saving also depends on this. Thus, NFC transmits data much slower, but pairing occurs instantly and little energy is wasted. For Bluetooth, these indicators are the opposite.

To use Bluetooth, you need to turn it on, go to the list of devices available for connection, select the one you need and wait for the connection. For NFC, the connection time takes less than a second, and for this you need to touch your smartphone to the receiving gadget.

Actually, the NFC transmission speed reaches 424 Kb/s, and even Bluetooth version 3.1 reaches 40 Mb/s, not to mention 4.2 and 5.0.

The special difference is in the range. For NFC this figure is no higher than 10 cm, while Bluetooth operates up to 10 m depending on the version and signal strength.

Checking for NFC

This communication is integrated into phones, plastic cards and payment terminals. The receiver itself does not require much space, and it is usually mounted between the battery and the cover of the smartphone.

To programmatically define and enable a module:

If it is missing, then there will be nothing to activate. On plastic cards it is always enabled.

Application options

As soon as the technology became widespread, users began to be interested in ways to use it. So, the NFC gadget can operate in two modes:

• active - NFC is used on both communicating devices;
• passive - the working field of one device is used.

More details about the use of technology in practice are described below.

Contactless payment

The most common use case is contactless payments. All you need to do is attach a bank card to your device and bring it to the terminal to make a payment. This method is guaranteed to protect against fraudsters, because due to the small field of action, the signal cannot be intercepted.

To carry out such operations, you must have a special bank card that supports PayPass, after which:

1. Install your bank's application.
2. Log in with your account.
3. Go to the main menu.
4. Select "NFC".
5. Place the card on the back of the smartphone. This is necessary for the sensor to read information on it.

Information exchange

Another exploitation option is information exchange. For this purpose, for example, a special application from the Play Market is used, which includes “Android Beam” in the name or description. This software allows you to transfer various files to another phone.

Advice! Only send objects as messages or links this way, because the data transfer speed is low and sending files will be very slow.

Reading marks

Another method of use is reading labels. The principle of operation is similar to scanning a QR code, only it uses a sensor under the back cover rather than a camera.

This can be especially useful at home. To create your own tags, you need to install a special program in the Play Market. In this case, it will be possible to assign a specific task under a specific label such as “send a message”, “call”, etc.

conclusions

NFC on your phone allows you to connect contactlessly with other devices for various tasks, such as paying for goods and services, exchanging information and reading tags. The data transfer speed is low, but the connection is instantaneous and requires almost no power.

Near field communication (NFC) is a new short-range wireless high-frequency communication technology. Nfc chip< дает возможность обмениваться данными между разными устройствами, находящимися на расстоянии 10 сантиметров. Данная технология является простым расширением существующего стандарта бесконтактных карт (классификация ISO 14443), объединяет рабочий интерфейс смарт-карт и считывателя в общее устройство. Такой прибор NFC способен поддерживать связь даже с существующими смарт-картами, а также со считывателями ISO 14443 стандарта, и прочими устройствами NFC и, может быть совместим с рабочей инфраструктурой бесконтактных карт, использующейся уже в общественном транспорте/платежных системах. NFC нацелена, в первую очередь, на использование в мобильных устройствах.

What is an NFC module

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

Types of modules

The main types of NFC modules are SIM cards, external devices and chips. You can also 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 phone body. There are passive and active. The first ones are not able to exchange data with the phone and do not allow you to write information to an NFC device through the communication channels of a mobile operator. Active - use the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth communication channel to communicate with the device, which leads to increased power consumption or the need to constantly recharge the module. A common drawback of such modules is the presence of fastenings.

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 the ready-made functional card into your smartphone and pay for purchases with a light touch on the terminal. Of course, this cannot be called a high-quality replacement for Apple Pay, since ongoing transactions are not encrypted and do not require fingerprint identification. In addition, the user will probably have to open a new account with the mobile operator/bank. However, if he is a holder of a plastic card from one of the banks, the problem will disappear by itself. All you have to do is visit a mobile phone store or a bank branch and get a SIM card.

NFC antenna. Another working method. 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. This can be done in cellular communication stores, then, by gluing it to the SIM card, install it under the cover of your mobile device.

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

Why are more and more mobile manufacturers equipping smartphones with an NFC chip, and what opportunities does this technology open up for the user?

Nowadays, the mobile market offers a wide variety of high- and mid-price smartphones that are equipped with an NFC chip. Before you pay for an additional function, you need to understand what it is and why it is needed in the phone.

Near-Field Communication Technology

What is NFC?

NFC (Near field communication) is a wireless communication interface, one of the main characteristics of which, as the name suggests, is a short range (up to 10 cm). Among the features of the technology we can also highlight:

• Possibility of exchange with other devices and passive tags.
• Compact sizes.
• Low power consumption.
• Low data transfer speed.
• Connection setup time is 0.1 seconds.
• Budget cost.

Thanks to its small size and low power consumption, NFC can be used in small devices. In smartphones, the antenna is usually mounted on the battery compartment cover or the inside of the back panel if the battery is removable. So that users do not have the question of how exactly to apply the gadget to transfer data (this problem is especially typical for tablets due to their large size and short range of technology), the location of the chip is often marked with a special sticker on the case.

Since the NFC interface is only a base that does not provide a clear solution for use, mobile manufacturers and application developers have to independently develop work scenarios. This can cause problems when apps and devices from different manufacturers interact with each other.

Ways to use NFC

Perhaps one of the most common ways to use NFC is for contactless payments. The user can attach a bank card to his mobile device, with which he will pay in the future, for example, if the card is left at home. In this case, the possibility of data interception is extremely low due to the small range of the interface; a lost or stolen unlocked smartphone poses a great danger.

To make a payment via NFC you will need:

1. Bank card marked paypass.
2. Application of the relevant bank.
3. Find the NFC item in the application menu.
4. Place the card on the back of the phone to read it.
5. Remember the password for payment transactions sent in an SMS message.

The next method of using technology is data exchange. Using the Android Beam program, you can transfer various files from one mobile device to another. However, the transfer speed is very low, so this function is more suitable for sending small text messages and links.

Instructions:

1. Activate NFC - check the box next to this item in the “Wireless Networks” menu, unlock your smartphone and turn on the screen.

2. Select an agent:

• Google Chrome - to transfer the current active link.
• Google Maps - for transferring the route.
• Google Play - for transferring applications, books and other content presented in the service.
• YouTube - to send a link to a video.
• Contacts - to transfer a contact.
• Gallery - for transferring photos and pictures (however, this can take a long time due to the low transfer speed, so in this case it is better to use special applications, which will be discussed below).

3. Bring the devices closer until the alarm sounds.

4. Touch and hold the screen to confirm the transfer.

5. Another beep will sound indicating successful file transfer.

There are various applications that use the NFC interface only for pairing, and subsequent file transfer is carried out via a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection: Send! File Transfer, File Expert HD and Super Beam WiFi Direct Share.

The next method is to read and write tags. This function works similarly to reading a QR code, only the NFC chip is used rather than the smartphone camera. It can be useful for automating home and work life. To create your own NFC tags, you will need blank blanks and special programs to record the necessary information. You can assign the following actions to a tag, which will be performed after it is read: sending an SMS message or email, calling a contact, opening a link, connecting via Bluetooth, launching an application and much more.

Several programs for creating tags:

1. WiFiTap WiFi NFC - for connecting a wireless network. Helps guests connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot quickly and without entering a password.
2. ABA NFC - for creating various standard format tags.
3. SmartTag Maker is a special application for users of Sony products, which contains a number of templates used not only with the NFC interface, but also with a headset, Bluetooth devices, power supply, etc.

Bottom line

Each user decides for himself whether he needs the additional NFC function in his smartphone or not. However, this technology is being used in an increasing number of mobile devices. Therefore, if you did purchase a gadget with NFC support, you now know how to use all its capabilities to make life more convenient.

NFC (Near Field Communication)

Source: www.androidlime.ru

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