What is NFC? NFC on a phone - what is it? NFC technology. NFC technology in smartphones: what is it for and how to use it? How NFC works on a phone

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

What it is

Let's start the review with a definition and understand what NFC is in a smartphone.

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

We’ve figured out what NFC means in a phone – let’s look at the features of the technology available to every user.

The minimum range of action is only 10-20 centimeters;
Possibility of exchanging passive tags;
Super compact size;
The highest degree of security and data encryption;
Low power consumption;
Low data transfer speed;
Connection time – up to 0.1 seconds;
Low cost.

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

It’s worth taking a little closer look at the security parameter.

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

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

Technology functionality

You just need to know what NFC is for if you want to purchase a device that supports the technology. Many users mistakenly assume that the main purpose is contactless payment in stores, but you shouldn’t stop there!

NFC technology in smartphones is used for comfortable use of the device - you can get the maximum benefit without extra effort!

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

Make sure that your card is marked “PayPass”;

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

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

Wait for a signal from the bank terminal;
Place your phone on the terminal;
If necessary, enter your password or scan your fingerprint.

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

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

The second possibility is data transfer, an alternative to the usual Bluetooth. Here, high connection speed and low data transfer speed play a huge role - that’s why NFS is used to transfer small files. Most often used:

Coordinates on the map;
Contacts;
Links;
Notes.

The technology is used only to connect phones; the documents themselves are transmitted wirelessly or using Bluetooth.

How to transfer data using NFC to another device

To communicate between two devices, it is better to place the smartphones with their back panels facing each other. Let's figure out how to use NFC to transfer data:

Open settings on your smartphone;
Find the NFS option in the “Connections” section (the section name may be different, try finding the option in the search bar);
Open the block and find the “NFC and payment” icon;
Move the toggle switch opposite the line to the “On” position;
Place the phones next to each other and wait until the connection message appears;
Select the desired file or link and wait for the confirmation signal.

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

For more information about a product or service. Scanning a tag allows you to obtain data that at first glance seems hidden;
To automate user actions - turning on applications, sending messages, changing the sound profile. For example, you can program a tag for launching a program when moving the device into a car - the application will load automatically, without additional actions.

The option works in a similar way to reading a quar code. You can program tags using special applications for your phone - they can be found in the Google Play Market for free or for an additional fee. Choose a program from the list below or find your own option:

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

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

Watch the video for a detailed description of the module:

How to check if an option is available

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

How can you find out if your phone supports NFC? You can check availability as follows:

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

You can also verify that the feature is supported in the following ways:

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

What to do if there is no NFC on your phone? You can transfer data via Bluetooth - this is a familiar and fairly fast method. And you can pay in the store with a plastic card with Pay Pass technology.

Possible problems

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

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

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

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

We should also say a few words about Xiaomi phones whose firmware blocks the operation of the chip - such difficulties can only be resolved in a service center. The specialist will carry out the necessary actions to expand user rights and update the firmware - you will be able to use the technology.

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

The modern mobile industry offers smartphone users of any price category a variety of technologies that they really need. However, not everyone knows about NFC technology, and even more people don’t even use it. But this module is extremely important and convenient.

What is the essence of near-field technology?

It is most fully called “near field communication” - this is the literal interpretation of the English phrase “near field communication” or NFC for short. This technology is based on wireless information transfer. It has a limited operating radius, so data transfer from device to device occurs at a distance not exceeding 10 cm.

In simpler terms, using NFC, gadgets exchange data contactlessly. The main thing is that at this moment they are at a close distance from each other.

NFC is an extension of the ISO 14443 standard for contactless cards. This technology combines a smart card and reader interface into one device. Operates at an operating frequency of 13.56 MHz. Supports the minimum time required to establish communication between exchanging devices - no more than 0.1 fractions of a second.

Physical components supporting NFC technology are very compact in size and have low power consumption. Therefore, “near field” is actively used even in modest-sized mobile devices.

So that users do not have difficulties using NFC in practice (not everyone understands which side to apply the gadget for the technology to work), the location of the chip is often indicated on the device with a special sticker.

How can you tell if your gadget has NFC?

Due to its small size, communication is used in many gadgets, not just phones: for example, in payment terminals; found in cards intended for travel payments; present in bank plastic. Now they have even begun to produce household appliances equipped with “near-field” technology, in particular, Smart refrigerators.

But how do you understand that NFC is present, for example, in a mobile phone?

First of all, it is worth examining the gadget itself. Manufacturers often leave an indication on the body of the equipment in the form of an emblem resembling antennas. A similar icon will appear in the pop-up menu of the mobile phone.

In addition, you can look into the settings by selecting the “Wireless Networks” section. Then you need to click on “More” - and if there is an indication of the presence of NFC, then you should check the box next to its icon to activate it.

Areas of application of NFC

Today there are 3 main industries where “near-field communication” is in demand:

1. Contactless payments. To do this, you need to link a bank card to your smartphone, so that you can then simply touch the gadget to the payment terminal to debit money from your account. As a result, you will not need to carry payment plastic with you. In addition, this payment method is considered one of the safest, since NFC has a very short range. This means that attackers will not be able to intercept the signal.

Activating this technology for calculations is very simple:

· you must have a card from the bank that supports the “paypass” mode;

· you need to install the appropriate application from the issuing bank;

· After this, you need to enter your “Personal Account” and select “NFC” there;

3. Exchange of information. To implement this function, you need to install a special application, in particular, “Android Beam”. It will allow you to transfer a variety of files from one device to another. But do not forget that the transfer speed via NFC is quite low. Therefore, it is better to send only links, and not the files themselves.

4. Reading marks. To do this, you also need to install a special application. It can be found on the Play Market. As a result, the user gets the opportunity to find out, for example, the composition of food products and their expiration date, only by holding up a gadget with NFC to read the barcode from the goods.

NFC tags are also sold as separate accessories. They can be placed on the table, glued to various objects, or hung from a bunch of keys. Such tags are used to control a smart home. You can write information to NFC tags using special applications. And with their help, you can force your smartphone to automatically switch to a certain operating mode.

For example, the mark may be on the dashboard of a car. In this case, touching the smartphone will turn on Bluetooth, after which the driver will communicate with callers via a wireless headset. And only one action does not have to be programmed. In addition to Bluetooth, your favorite radio station can turn on, as well as a GPS navigator. In a word, everything depends on the user’s imagination!

Despite its limited scope of application, NFC technology has proven to be very convenient. And that’s why it is now actively being introduced into budget gadgets, expanding their list every year.

NFC technology(abbreviation for Near Field Communication) allows you to exchange data between your smartphone and other NFC-enabled Android phones using the Android Beam feature. The main feature of this technology is its short range (up to 10 cm), which allows contactless data exchange between devices located at short distances: for example, between a reading terminal and a cell phone or plastic smart card. For example, you can transfer web addresses, map positions, Google Play Market applications and contacts to other Android phones. Among other things, it is possible to share photos, music and videos between Sony Xperia phones. As a user of a smartphone of this line, I will tell you using his example. Although other companies producing high-tech products are also actively involved in the development and implementation of NFC: Google, Intel, Samsung, Nokia, Visa, MasterCard, Citigroup, Barclaycard and others.

I use NFC in my smartphone to quickly synchronize with Sony MDR-1RBT bluetooth headphones or Sony SRSBTM8 wireless speaker system. If you have never used NFC, you can activate this function on your smartphone and attach your metro pass to see information about it on the smartphone display. In order not to confuse you, it is worth noting that NFC has a significant advantage over Bluetooth - fast connection setup time. That is, instead of the process of “pairing” 2 devices when using Bluetooth, a connection between two NFC devices is established immediately (in less than 1/10 of a second), but data (for example, an audio stream in Bluetooth headphones) will still be transmitted via Bluetooth. To avoid the lengthy "pairing" process, NFC is only used to establish connections in wireless technologies such as Bluetooth.

As you already understand, it was not by chance that a mobile phone (smartphone) was chosen as the “carrier” of the NFC chip, since the device is widespread and is always close to its owner. The latest trend in the NFC field has been the parallel development of services based on smart cards and mobile devices:

Both of the above options provide the ability to build a universal NFC ecosystem, where a smart card or smartphone with an integrated NFC chip turns into multi-purpose devices, acting as:

means of payment (virtual wallet)
owner identification means
bonus card
ticket

The NFC chip can contain large amounts of data, encrypting it if necessary. Currently, NFC solutions are already used in many areas. For example, with the help of this technology, the booking and sale of electronic tickets, payment for travel on public transport and car parking are carried out; NFC technology is also actively used in the field of services and entertainment. By analyzing the capabilities of NFC, we can confidently predict its potential demand in the field of security and access control.

Contactless infrastructure and contactless payments are already quite well developed in the public transport system, and are quickly emerging in other industries. Telecom operators, mobile device manufacturers, the banking sector and other payment systems are increasingly seeking to use contactless payments.

The most common device in the world that can fully unleash the full potential of NFC technology is undoubtedly a mobile phone. In combination with NFC, it is able to combine all the functionality of options and services that the use of smart cards can provide.

Perhaps today the widespread use of NFC seems futuristic, but in the very near future this technology will firmly enter our lives - just like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB.

Into the existing functionality of Sony smartphones c NFC technology also includes the ability to scan an NFC tag. NFC tags are small programmable information zones that can be used in shopping and advertising areas: built into posters, all kinds of billboards, as well as on product shelves in retail stores. By touching the tag, you can get additional information: maps, web addresses, and trailers.

NFC function activated when two devices supporting this technology come into contact. The maximum reading distance is about 1 cm, which avoids false triggering of the function.

How to transfer a file using NFC technology? (using the example of Xperia P)

Transfer a contact to another phone using NFC

To view contacts on your phone, go to home screen Tap the App Screens icon, then tap the Contacts icon.
Select the contact you want to send.
Place the sending and receiving phones with their backs facing each other so that their NFC recognition zones touch. Once the connection is established, the phones will vibrate and a short beep will sound. A thumbnail of the contact appears.
Once the transfer is complete, the contact information will be saved on the receiving phone and displayed on its screen.

Transfer a music file to another phone using NFC

Make sure NFC and Android Beam are enabled on both phones and that both phones' screens are active.
To open your Walkman™ player, go to main screen, tap the Apps screen icon, and then select WALKMAN.
Go to the tab MY MUSIC to open your media library.
Select a music category and find the track you want to share.
Tap a track to play it. You can then tap the Pause icon to pause the track. Transfer is possible while the track is playing or paused.
Place your phone and the receiving phone with their backs facing each other so that their NFC recognition areas are touching. Once the connection is established, the phones will vibrate and a short beep will sound. A thumbnail of the track will appear.
Tap the thumbnail to start transferring.
Once the transfer is complete, the receiving phone will automatically start playing the music file. At the same time, the file will be saved on the receiving phone.

Note. Copyrighted items may not be able to be copied, posted or transmitted.

Transfer a photo or video to another phone using NFC

Make sure NFC and Android Beam are enabled on both phones and that both phones' screens are active.
To view photos and videos stored on your phone, go to main screen, tap the Apps screen icon, then select Album.
Tap the photo or video you want.
Place the sending and receiving phones with their backs facing each other so that their NFC recognition zones touch. Once the connection is established, the phones will vibrate and a short beep will sound. A thumbnail of the photo or video appears.
Tap the thumbnail to start transferring.
Once the transfer is complete, the photo or video will be displayed on the screen of the receiving phone. At the same time, the object will be saved on the receiving phone.

Transfer a web address to another phone using NFC

Make sure NFC and Android Beam are enabled on both phones and that both phones' screens are active.
Tap the Apps screen icon on home screen.
To open a web browser, select Browser.
Load the web page you want to transfer.
Place the sending and receiving phones with their backs facing each other so that their NFC recognition zones touch. Once the connection is established, the phones will vibrate and a short beep will sound. A thumbnail of the web page appears.
Tap the thumbnail to start transferring.
Once the transfer is complete, the web page will be displayed on the receiving phone's screen.

The range of uses of this technology is very wide: you can transfer all kinds of content, pay for services like a credit card, pay for travel and groceries, use it as a key card, etc. The use of NFC will be discussed using the example of Android devices, because They are the ones that are most actively equipped with the appropriate adapter.

Does my smartphone have NFC?

It is very easy to make sure that you have an NFC chip in your tablet or smartphone. For example, Samsung labels the batteries of its devices with the appropriate inscription:

Sony puts the NFC logo directly on the bodies of its devices, but it is best to check through the gadget menu. To do this we do the following.

First step. Open the settings.

Second step. Go to the wireless network settings section, tap “More...”.

Third step. If there is an NFC chip, we see its settings section.

Turn on NFC

Does your device support NFC? Amazing! All that remains is to activate the function.

First step. In the NFC settings menu (the path was indicated earlier) we activate the line “allow data exchange when combined...”.

Second step. Click on Android Beam and tap “Yes”. We do this if Beam does not turn on on its own.

Important! If Android Beam is disabled, your ability to interact with other NFC devices and tags will be limited.

Instructions for transferring content via NFC

To transfer content via NFC to another device, we work in the following order.

First step. Open the file (for example, a photo) that needs to be transferred.

Second step. We lean smartphones/tablets with their back covers against each other. Some removal is allowed (no more than 7-10 cm).

Third step. We are waiting for the devices to find each other. A notification about this will appear on the display of the sending device. It looks like this:

Fourth step. We tap on the screen. Content transfer starts.

As a rule, the system issues a sound alert at the moment the transmission of information begins and after its completion.

Can not be transferred:
applications;
videos broadcast from YouTube;
web pages.

When you try to transfer the listed content, the recipient will receive a link to it in the corresponding service.

Interaction with NFC tags

The range of uses of NFC technology is not limited to the transfer of user data. Using a device with such a chip, you can read and transfer information to special NFC tags and cards.

The NFC chip has an extremely modest size, which allows it to be embedded anywhere. For example, a price tag, headphones, a business card, etc. Such a chip can contain both information and commands that the device must execute upon contact with the tag (for example, turn off Wi-Fi, turn on a wireless headset, etc.).

To read information from such tags or write your data to their chips, you need to install the appropriate application on your smartphone or tablet. For example, the Yandex.Metro program will allow you to find out the remaining number of trips on your metro card via NFC. By installing the NFC App Launcher application, you can configure your Android gadget to perform a number of actions by programming the NFC tag accordingly.

Articles and Lifehacks

Content:

Surely many users have previously encountered the abbreviation NFC.

We will talk about what NFS is in a mobile phone, as well as the features of using this useful function on Android.

NFC - what is it?

NFC can be deciphered as “near field communication”, or “contactless near communication”.

This is a special modern wireless communication technology, thanks to which it becomes possible to exchange information at high radio frequencies between devices at a short distance (about 10 centimeters).

In this case, physical contact between two phones is not required.

Previously, this technology was most widely used for contactless payments in the field of trade and transport services. Today it is known for its active penetration into the mobile field.

Almost every famous device equips its devices with NFC modules.

Thanks to this, we can use our mobile phone to communicate with various electronic equipment - for example, when we use it as a means of payment by installing a special program.

At the same time, the level of data protection is quite high.

Thus, our mobile device today can be used not only as a means of communication, but also for transmitting and receiving information, paying for purchases and purchasing transport tickets.

We have the right to make it a virtual payment card, or a pass to any enterprise.

In addition, it is very convenient to use NFC tags and smart cards, as well as quickly exchange information.

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