NFC Expert Due to the growing popularity of contactless payment for purchases using cards and phones, the technology began to be applied in other gadgets. An example of such a device is the NFC ring, which combines convenience with style and technology. What is an NFC module, we described in detail in a separate article.
Appearance story
The first prototype of the ring with the NFS module was created back in 2012. A year later, the device was released by a UK developer, NFC Ring, which raised money for the project through crowdfunding on the Kickstarter platform. The organization still maintains a page on the portal, by visiting which it is possible to trace the stages of the project.
In 2016, mass production was launched and the design of the ring was redesigned, which made it possible to look at the device not only as a means of payment, but also as a decoration. In addition to the patent, NFC Ring owns software for electronic devices.
What does an NFC ring look like?
Smart rings of the 2013 sample were created from black or silver metal. In 2016, the metal case gave way to a translucent ceramic coating. A monochrome range of devices complemented the color of rose gold.
The gadgets of each of the lines have characteristic external differences: some have a monolithic design, as if made of glass, while others have a pattern or a microcircuit under the coating, and laser engraving with the company name is applied on the inside.
Original NFC Rings on the official website and without discounts are sold in the price range from 30 to 85 pounds, which corresponds to a cost of 2500 to more than 7 thousand rubles.
It will be much cheaper to buy NFC rings from China. In this case, the differences between the devices will be purely aesthetic. Competing Chinese companies are trying to increase product sales through design. The range is represented by rings of all colors of the color palette, large and small to match the size of the fingers. One will choose a minimalist discreet ring to use only for its intended purpose, while the other will choose a bright and frilly ring to wear as jewelry. However, most of the devices are presented in black and gray colors.
The design of the rings assumes the presence of an NFC module inside. At the location of the chip on the inside of the device there is a dot or other identification mark – use this side to apply the ring to the payment terminal or other devices.
How does an NFC ring work?
Often, even the owners of an NFC ring do not know how to fully use it or how to use a particular function. Having programmed the purchased device, you get the opportunity to move around the city lightly in the full sense of the word. The device allows you to pay for purchases, share personal information, transfer files, open doors instead of a magnetic key.
Through a special application, the device is loaded with:
- payment information;
- access keys;
- passwords;
- contacts;
- Website URL or business card.
The list is not limited to this. For example, you can download the tag of your favorite application to the smart ring so that you can launch the latter without touching the smartphone screen. Another popular use of the device is to turn off the alarm in the morning without touching the mobile phone.
When transmitting confidential data or paying for purchases through an electronic terminal, the ring makes a single contact with the opposite device, after which it is blocked. There is no reason to worry that ill-wishers will gain access to personal information or the store will be charged more funds.
Due to the fact that the NFC chip in the ring is smaller than the chip in the smartphone, the module’s response radius is correspondingly lower. For some models, the distance to the terminal for contactless payment is 10 mm.
The device is recharged automatically using a smartphone or via a charging station, depending on the model and manufacturer.
How to set up and use?
First of all, before using the NFC ring, make sure that your smartphone is equipped with the appropriate chip. We remind you that even Apple mobile devices do not always contain a contactless module (it is not present in models older than iPhone 6).
In this or that application, the necessary settings will be available to you:
- password and auto-lock;
- map and application data;
- alarm activation;
- business card;
- links and messages to send.
In addition to payment, with the help of an NFC chip, you can even open doors with a Smart Home system.
How to set up NFC on your phone
NFC is a short-range wireless high-frequency communication technology that is used to transfer data between devices. Unlike Bluetooth and Wi-Fi already known to users, NFC only works when devices are placed close to each other. To be more precise, the maximum distance between interacting devices is 10 cm.
NFC chip capabilities
Additionally, NFC technology will help you instantly pay in the subway or land transport, transfer graphic, video or text data between devices.
Which models have built-in NFC
NFC is supported by all iPhones, starting from iPhone 6. But with devices based on Android, everything is not so simple. One of the leading companies in the market, Samsung, is actively developing its own payment system, so NFC is not available in many smartphones of this manufacturer, and Meizu and Xiaomi brands, popular among users, do not add a module to the most popular phone models to reduce their cost.
The price starts from 7500 rubles. for the ZTE Blade A7, and the SAMSUNG Galaxy Fold for 128,000 rubles can conditionally be considered the maximum bar.
In addition, some manufacturers place a special sticker on the battery or the body of the device.
What to do if the phone does not support NFC
At the same time, the Android Beam function should start automatically, if this did not happen, you should enable it in the settings in manual mode.
An unlimited number of cards can be linked to one phone, including debit, credit, virtual, and gift cards.
To make payments on Android using a contactless method, you need to wake up the phone from sleep mode, bring it to the payment terminal for 1-2 seconds, wait for the payment confirmation that appears on the terminal screen.
The user does not need to enter the application specifically for payment, it is enough to unlock the device with NFC. This speeds up and simplifies the payment process.
Setting up NFC on iPhone
Don’t worry about the security of NFC payments. Firstly, for their commission, the devices must be in close proximity to each other, and secondly, any transactions in the amount of more than 1000 rubles. will require password confirmation.
What is nfc in a samsung smartphone
Answer: This is a very simple, useful and convenient feature for paying for any goods using only a smartphone. This is contactless payment. You bring your smartphone to the payment terminal and in a few seconds the payment takes place. Everything is very simple. You can easily link any bank card to NSF: Sberbank, VTB, Alfa-Bank, Post Bank, Raiffeisen, Tinkoff, etc.
How to use nfc in samsung phone
Very simple. Install the Google Pay or Samsung Pay app. Add any of your bank cards there. All is ready. When paying, you don’t even need to launch the app. It is enough to unlock the phone and bring it to the terminal. After 2-3 seconds, a notification will appear on the screen that the payment was successful.
How to enable NFC function on samsung galaxy
Swipe down from the top edge of the screen.
The panel for enabling and disabling the main functions will open. Some nfs may be displayed here.
If it’s not on the first page, swipe left. This function will be here. Click on the N icon to enable or disable nfs.
How to set up nfc for card payment
On your phone’s home screen, find the Settings icon and tap on it.
In the settings, click on the Connections tab.
Next, here you will have the NFC option and payment. Click on the title.
Next, click here on the Contactless Payments tab.
Here you can select the application for payment. Yandex, Google or Samsung.
You can enable or disable the Android Beam function.
This feature will allow you to share links to web pages, contacts, and more. You just need to bring two smartphones with NFS turned on to each other with their back panels.
At the top right, click on the Properties button (three dots). In the window that opens, click on the Standard NFC Method tab.
Here you can set how transactions are processed. It is recommended to select Autoselect.
How to enable NFC on Samsung and what does the technology mean
What is NFC in a Samsung smartphone? This is a technology for contactless data transfer between devices. To send files or make a payment, just bring one device to another at a distance of 10 cm.
NFC features
The abbreviation NFC (Near Field Communication) literally stands for “near field communication”. Each NFC module contains an electromagnetic sensor through which data is sent to another device.
NFC technology appeared not so long ago, but managed to gain popularity all over the world. With this feature, you can send media files between devices and make contactless payments. The latter is especially true for owners of gadgets with a built-in module.
Many modern devices have a built-in NFC chip:
The owner of a camera with NFC does not need to worry about the fact that the memory on the flash drive may quickly run out. To free up space on your device, just activate NFC and transfer data to your smartphone. Files from your phone can also be placed in the cloud storage.
Many public places have terminals with built-in NFC technology. They have a special icon on the screen, which means they accept contactless payments.
To make a payment using a smartphone, the user just needs to attach it to the terminal with the PayPass option. Funds will be debited instantly, and a notification about a successful payment will appear on the screen.
Unfortunately, not all smartphones today are equipped with an NFC chip. Especially for the owners of such gadgets, external modules were invented. They are offered in three types:
The external module can only be connected to a smartphone with a removable back cover and an internal SIM card slot.
This module can be found in a mobile phone store or an online store. For further payments, it is important to attach a bank account to a valid SIM card so that the payment can go through instantly.
What does the NFC icon on Samsung mean?
Owners of new smartphones often ask themselves: what is NFC in a Samsung phone? The presence of an embedded chip is indicated by a special icon on the back of the smartphone. The owner of such a gadget can attach the main means of payment to the application and pay for purchases with just one touch.
All Samsung smartphones have the Android operating system. To check if NFC is available on a particular model, you need to open the phone settings and go to the “More” or “Wireless connections” section. The screen will display this option, which must be enabled.
Some devices have an additional Android Beam option. It also needs to be activated for fast data transfer between gadgets.
How to pay with NFC?
Samsung smartphone owners can use the special Samsung Pay application for contactless payment. The user links his bank card to the application and after that he can pay with his smartphone anywhere.
Samsung Pay is available for almost all Galaxy and Note series models. The official Samsung website contains a list of all smartphones with a built-in NFC module and application support.
After a successful download, you should link a bank card to Samsung Pay, which is usually used for payments.
The application also supports e-tickets, discount cards and gift certificates. In order not to carry your wallet with you anymore, you can connect all the necessary cards to your Samsung smartphone and use them as needed.
Do I need to enable additional options?
For contactless payments, the user only needs two settings:
Then he can simply unlock the screen, bring the phone to the terminal and make a purchase. There will be no commission charged.
Many Samsung smartphones have built-in NFC. This feature allows you to pay by phone in any place where there is a terminal with built-in PayPass technology. The user no longer needs to carry a wallet with him – payment means are now always at hand.
Basic NFC features
Near Field Communication, or short-range wireless communication, allows you to transfer various kinds of data between compatible devices.
The module built into the phone can be multifunctional. After installing the appropriate application, various manipulations take place with ease:
Data (contacts, links) can be exchanged between devices with a built-in NFS chip. Transfer or receive files using the Android Beam program.
If you link a bank card to a contactless mobile application, you can use your smartphone for instant payment.
Attention! For successful transactions, it is important that the point of sale has a terminal with PayPass.
It is also allowed to add here:
You can store all of the above in your phone. If necessary, just unlock and bring the smartphone to the reader.
How does NFC work in the phone
NFS functions due to the inductive magnetic field. The distance between the two antennas should be no more than 10 cm. The data rate is 424 Kbps, and the connection takes 0.1 second.
List of Samsung Galaxy models with NFC function
Almost all new smartphones are equipped with a contactless module and the Samsung Galaxy line is no exception. These included models:
You can find out about the availability of NFS in your phone by the logo on the case or by looking into the settings.
The Samsung NFC antenna is located at the back – in the camera area, in the center or at the top under the inscription.
Contactless data transfer will not work unless NFC is activated first. Switching on is carried out as follows:
The slider or check mark will turn blue to indicate that the function is enabled.
How to use NFC on Samsung
Using NFC on Samsung will be unrealistic without first setting it up. An application is always used that helps to enable this or that function. If you plan to pay via NFS on Samsung, then it will be Android Pay or Samsung Pay.
Let’s consider the step-by-step setup of both options.
How to set up Samsung Pay
Setting up the service involves installing an application and linking a payment instrument to it.
If everything went perfectly, the card will appear in the list.
Attention! For contactless payment to work, be sure to set a screen lock. This can be a papillary drawing (fingerprint), a scan of the iris of the eye or face, a pin code or a graphic key.
If you encounter problems during payment, please make sure that the smartphone has a built-in NFS module, the firmware is official, an active and supported card is linked, and the software is updated to the latest version.
Android Pay on Samsung phones
NFS on Android Samsung also works through the Android Pay app. It will not be difficult to connect contactless payment through it.
In order for the application to install and function normally, give up root rights, block the bootloader, check if Android version 4.4 and higher and the original firmware are installed.
An error that has occurred may mean that an unsupported card is being added to the system.
The difference between Samsung Pay and Android Pay
Two contactless services, as it has already become clear, can be installed in a Samsung phone with NFC.
The common thing in the systems is that in order to make a payment, you must first add cards, set up a screen lock and turn on the NFS. Payments are then made in an instant, you just need to bring your smartphone closer to the terminal and go through identification.
The essence of the services is clear, but there are also significant differences, let’s analyze them.
Samsung Pay
SPay can work only on Samsung smartphones, but the system supports not only NFC, but also MST. The latest technology makes it possible to pay with a smartphone even on terminals that are not equipped with a contactless module, that is, on older devices that accept only cards.
It is allowed to add payment cards to the application, as well as club, gift, loyalty, etc. There is a limitation – you can link no more than 10 cards.
For the smooth and uninterrupted operation of Samsung Pay, the Internet is not required.
Google/Android Pay
You can install GPay on all phones that have the Android operating system of the corresponding version. Brand, as in the above system, does not play a role. You can set up NFS on Samsung a50 and any other modern model.
This system only works with NFC, MST is not supported. There is no limit on the number of cards, and you can also bind their various types – bank, store discounts, corporate, certificates, etc.
Attention! In order for Android Pay to work harmoniously, an Internet connection will occasionally be required.
Advantages and disadvantages of NFC
Contactless transmission technology has a lot of advantages, including:
All of the above cannot but serve as a temptation to purchase a gadget with NFC support as soon as possible.
But, this technology, like any other, has its drawbacks, albeit minor ones.
In order not to become a victim of circumstances, you should be on the alert, and remember not only the advantages of the service, but also the disadvantages.
Conclusion
NFC in a Samsung phone is not new now. The technology is built into almost all new models. The function is able to make an electronic wallet or remote control out of the phone, which will instantly give this or that command. There is no point in worrying about the security of your account, since everything is encrypted and password protected.
NFC in Samsung Galaxy phones – what is it and how to use it
NFC is a contactless communication system that allows you to exchange data between smartphones, tablets and laptops. With it, the user can access the connected device and exchange information without manual pairing, as is the case with the well-known Bluetooth function on the phone. Thanks to its speed and convenience, the technology has already become mainstream.
Without knowing the details, one might assume that NFC is an advanced Wi-Fi or Bluetooth technology. They have certain similarities. All three functions provide wireless communication and data transmission. The difference is that NFC works through electromagnetic fields, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth use radio transmissions. That is why the range of NFC is much lower than that of the other two technologies.
There are two types of NFC devices: active and passive. Passive devices such as smart posters, product tokens, and contactless POS terminals store information for reading by active devices, but cannot access external information itself. Active devices read the tag and automatically start executing it.
Mobile payments
In a convenient way, you can pay for both the purchase of any little thing and a serious purchase
Payment by mobile phone works on the same principle as conventional bank cards that support the contactless payment function. To make a purchase, now you just need to bring your phone to the terminal and, depending on the selected mobile application for storing bank card data (Samsung Pay or Android Pay), unlock the screen, enter a PIN code or use a fingerprint.
Wireless data transmission
A secure data transmission system is safe for both users
Using NFC and Android Beam, you can instantly share: web pages, contacts, photos, videos, directions in Google Maps, etc. Sharing will start after you touch one phone to another and lightly touch the screen.
NFC Tags
Easy and convenient to use tags
Tags are small chips that contain instructions for mobile devices. As soon as the phone is in close proximity to the tag, it automatically starts to execute the program written in the chip.
They can be used in different situations, here are the cases when they are really useful:
Which Samsung Galaxy models support this feature
NFC is not uncommon. It is used on many modern phones and in almost the entire Samsung Galaxy line:
The NFC sensor can be located anywhere under the back of the phone. For example, in the Samsung Galaxy S6 it is located in the central part, in the C5 Pro it is next to the camera, and in the Samsung Galaxy Note II it is under the logo.
In appearance, it resembles a flat antenna that does not take up space under the cover of a mobile phone. On many devices, this antenna looks like the photo below. Recently, people have begun to build them into phones that did not originally have this function, this is also possible.
NFC can be built into an older smartphone model
How to use NFC
To use NFC, it must be enabled. Just like Bluetooth, it must also be kept turned on until the end of the data transfer or any other use.
To transfer links, contacts, photos, any other multimedia files and pay with a mobile phone, the NFC function must be enabled on both devices:
Power on in three steps
How to share files
To transfer files, in addition to NFC, Android Beam must also be enabled:
Activate Android Beam to work
Now open any file, click on the share button and select Android Beam as the transfer method. Keep in mind that devices should be no more than 10 cm apart. The closer, the faster and safer the transfer will be.
To send an image or video, follow the steps below:
Select the desired file
Samsung Pay only works on Galaxy flagships and A-series smartphones. Unlike Android Pay, which is available for any smartphone starting with Android 4, Samsung Pay can be used even on terminals that do not support contactless payment. In this case, the proprietary technology of emulating the magnetic stripe of the card is turned on.
To work with the application, no Internet connection is required, all user data is stored on a special chip with a high level of protection. The developers took care of the safety of users by adding several levels of security when making purchases:
How to link a card to pay for purchases
Launch Samsung Pay
Create an identification method
Click on the bank card picture
Fill in card details
Enter code from SMS
All this takes no more than 30 seconds, which is very convenient. Up to 10 cards can be added to one phone.
Analogues
Samsung is far from the only company that produces phones with NFC. Today, this technology is present on many smartphones starting with the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. However, manufacturers, as a rule, embed this module only in phones of a higher price category; budget phones often do not have it. Nevertheless, there are many phones with NFC. For example, the site of the Svyaznoy store presents about 150 models of smartphones with a built-in NFC module, of which only 68 models are from Samsung.
The easiest way to find out if a particular phone has this feature is to look at the specifications. Don’t despair if it doesn’t. The solution to this problem has already been invented – these are SIM cards with a built-in antenna. It can be used on any phone.
So, NFC is not just a fashionable, but also a very useful feature that in the future may well replace conventional plastic cards to pay for any purchases. You don’t have to worry about security, because mobile app developers are worried about it and, it should be noted, very effectively.
Not so long ago, sellers got used to cashless payments using bank cards. But now this method is outdated and it has been replaced by the NSF payment. Now smartphones are equipped with a special chip that allows you to pay for purchases in one click, without using money and without even touching the terminal.
NFC in the phone – what it is, how it works and where it is used
Some smartphones have a chip called “near field communication” inside. In fact, this is something like the well-known Bluetooth, only it does not work within 10-15 meters, but within a radius of a couple of centimeters from the reader. In a nutshell, magnetic induction creates a high frequency transmission between two chips, whereby data is transferred.
NFS transmits any information at a distance of up to 10 cm. With its help, you can:
- read the object pass;
- pay for travel with electronic travel cards in the metro and municipal transport;
- pay for purchases in a store;
- use as a channel for sharing media files.
To use payment via nfc, you need:
- Be a customer of a bank or organization that issues cards that support nfc payments. Now many large companies have such – Sberbank, Yandex, VTB, etc.
- Buy a smartphone that supports contactless payments. All flagship models running on IOS or Android have such a chip.
- Launch the usually preinstalled Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or Apple Pay app.
- Add card details to the app.
After that, in stores or transport where nfc payment works, you need to bring the gadget to the terminal. He reads the data, contacts the bank and makes the payment. The user does not need to be online.
How plastic cards with NFC work
Not only gadgets can have an NFS microchip. Bank cards themselves are now equipped with such technology. Each has a built-in microcircuit that transmits data to the terminal via radio.
This is convenient, because you can pay for the goods at the point of sale in an instant – just bring the payment instrument to the reader. The only caveat is that when debiting an amount exceeding 1000 rubles, you will have to enter a pin code.
Attention! If you are sure that the terminal supports Mastercard PayPass or Visa PayWave, then you can proceed with the money transaction.
Which devices support NFC
As already mentioned, NSF payment from the phone is possible if there is a chip in the device. Not everyone has it. For the most part, it is absent in smartphones released earlier than 2016. In the rest, it is set depending on the price of the phone.
Based on Android
To find out if the current model has the ability to pay for purchases or travel, you need to look at the back cover of the device. Usually, the manufacturer labels smartphones with nfc support. If not, then you can find out like this:
- Open smartphone settings.
- Go to the “Wireless Networks” section (in some versions of Android it may be “Connected devices”).
- Next “More”.
- Item “NFC”.
If this is not observed, then there is no chip in the device. In general, now the nfc chip is installed in:
- Xiaomi (note 3, Mix series, Mi5, 5s, 6, 8, 9, Redmi K20 and K20 Pro);
- Huawei (honor from 5C, Mate series from 8, Ascend g6, p10, 20,30, smart);
- Nokia (1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, lumia 920, 930, desire 500);
- Samsung’s entire galaxy line starting from 2016, A, J and Note.
The chip is also in HTC, Asus, Meizu, LG, Sony, BlackBerry, Oneplus, ZTE, etc. mobile phones
iPhones
Everything is easier with iPhones. All models, starting with the “six” and SE, are equipped with nfc without fail.
How to connect the card to the phone with NFC
A reasonable question arises: how to pay via nfc, how to set up payment and connect the card to the device? In fact, there is nothing complicated about this. The owner of a card and a phone with support for the function must:
- In the application, be it Android or Samsung Pay, click on “Add card”.
- Enter card details – username, number and code. You can also just take a picture of it and wait for verification.
- Select a personal identification option.
- Enter the confirmation code from the bank.
- Wait for activation.
To add a card to Apple Pay you need:
- Open Wallet.
- At the top of the screen, click on the “+”.
- Take a picture of the card or enter data manually.
- Accept the terms of use and receive a code from the bank.
- Enter the code and wait for activation.
You can add up to 8 cards to Apple Pay. Samsung Pay up to 10. Google Pay over ten.
Knowing that the store has a terminal that supports contactless payments, payment from an nfc phone occurs as follows:
- After adding the card to the application, you need to bring the phone to the terminal and unlock it.
- If the amount is more than 1000 rubles, enter a PIN code or confirm the operation by scanning a fingerprint.
- Do not remove the smartphone from the terminal until the operation is completed.
As soon as the nfc payment is completed, a notification will appear on the screen, and the terminal will start printing a receipt.
Important! NFC will not work if your phone is in airplane mode.
How to pay using nfc in the subway or municipal transport? Here everything happens in the same way. You just need to bring the mobile device to the electronic composter and wait until the corresponding signal appears.
Pay attention! Before that, you should make sure from which card the payment will be made – from an electronic travel card or a bank card.
Which payment system to choose
As such, smartphone owners have no choice which payment system to use. Apple products only support their service, those with Samsung can install both Google and Samsung Pay. The rest is available only Google Pay. When buying a device, you can pay attention to the main advantages of applications.
Google Pay (Android Pay)
As the name implies, the service works on all phones with android OS above 4.4 and certified firmware. Often, it is precisely because of the absence of the last item on Chinese phones that installation problems are observed.
In terms of the number of supported Russian financial organizations, Google’s payment service is in no way inferior to its competitors.
In a sense, Samsung now has a competitive edge. How to pay from a phone with nfc if the terminal does not support contactless payments? This is where the magnetic tape simulation technology comes to the rescue, which is on all the latest flagships of the brand. It is enough to bring the phone to the terminal, and the payment will be processed in the same way as through nfc.
Additional information. Unlike Google Pay, Samsung stores transaction data in encrypted storage inside the phone. This is more secure than transferring data over the Internet to Google servers.
Apple Pay
Compared to the others, Apple Pay has only one drawback – it is the ability to link only 8 cards, not 10. Otherwise, Apple offers the same functionality and a similar list of supported organizations.
What to do if NFC payment does not work
From time to time, users have problems when paying via nfc. Typical situations:
- the function does not want to work when the battery is low;
- the chip is not activated in the settings;
- payment failed.
In the latter case, rebooting the device, reinstalling the application and rebinding the card helps. It is also worth paying attention to the positive balance on the account.
Normally nfc is activated automatically. If not, you need to go to “Wireless networks” – “More” – item “NFC” – enable.
If after all the manipulations, NFC payment from the phone still does not work, contact technical support.
NSF payment is the best replacement for plastic cards. Using a smartphone equipped with a wireless communication chip, you can make payments in stores, metro, and the Internet in a few seconds.
Time to read
We are all used to such a given in a smartphone as NFC. And everything seems to be clear with this.
Many people don’t buy smartphones without NFC, thinking that it’s only about shopping. But there are a lot of questions.
But did you know what else this technology can do? What to do if your smartphone does not have NFC? How to use the chip in the iPhone not only for Apple Pay? Why doesn’t it work, especially with World cards?
Today we will tell you how it works and analyze all the details. And most importantly – why this is the most underestimated technology in your smartphone!
How does NFC work?
You probably know that NFC stands for Near Field Communication or in Russian – short-range communication.
But this is not a normal radio wave transmission. Unlike Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, NFC is smarter. It is based on electromagnetic induction. This is a very cool thing from the school curriculum, let me remind you.
The idea is that you take one conductor in which there is no electricity. And put a second conductor next to it, in which there is electricity. And you know what? In the first conductor, where there was no electricity, current begins to flow!
When we first heard about it, we thought it was impossible! Seriously? You drive! Let’s go play Counter Strike, boys.
Well, when you bring a smartphone to some NFC tag without power, this tiny electromagnetic field from the smartphone is enough for electrons to run inside the tag and the microcircuits inside it to work.
Oh yes. Each tag contains a tiny chip. For example, in bank cards, the microchip runs even a simple version of Java. What is it?
Maybe you have heard the abbreviation RFID. It was developed 30 years earlier. It stands for Radio Frequency Identification. And in fact only for identification and suitable. In many office centers, badges are still with RFID.
So NFC is an advanced branch of the RFID standard and reads some of these tags. But the main difference is that NFC can also transfer data, including encrypted ones.
NFC operates at a frequency of 13.56 MHz, which allows you to develop a good speed from 106 to 424 Kbps. So the mp3 file will download in a couple of minutes, but only at a distance of up to 10 cm.
Physically, NFC is a small coil. For example, in Pixel 4 it is attached to the cover and looks like this.
And so in Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro:
And now it’s time to talk about what NFC can do?
The operation of this technology and related ones, such as RFID, are described in the ISO 14443 standard. There are many other things thrown together: for example, the Italian protocol Mifare and VME are in bank cards.
NFC is the USB Type-C of the wireless world, if you know what I mean.
But the main thing is this. N FC can work in three modes:
- Active. When a device reads or writes data from a tag or card. By the way, yes, data can be written to NFC tags.
- Transfer between peers. This is when you connect wireless headphones to your smartphone or use Android Beam – remember this. There, a connection was made via NFC, and the file transfer itself was already via Bluetooth.
- Passive. When our device pretends to be something passive: a payment card or a travel pass.
Why NFC, if there is Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, because they have both speed and range.
NFC bonuses are:
- Instant connection – one tenth of a second.
- Low power consumption – 15 mA. Bluetooth has up to 40 mA.
- Tags do not require their own power.
- And not so obvious – a short range, which is necessary for security and payment.
True, there is also Bluetooth Low Energy, but that’s a different story.
Why? What does it give us?
In addition to the already obvious scenarios: passes, payment and travel cards, there are applications that can put money on the Troika card and other transport cards.
There is an application – Bank card reader. For example, it can show the latest transactions on the card. I’m not sure if this is very ethical, but the application is in the Play Market.
By the way, many people are wondering why Google and Apple Pay don’t work with Mir cards? It’s not about the technicalities. It’s just that the payment system did not agree with the services. You can pay through your application for Android – World Pay. True, it is buggy, but under the iPhone it is not at all!
By the way, life hack. If your Android does not have NFC, but you really want to pay, what should you do? You can put the card under the case. Contact. True, thick cases may not let through the waves of even the built-in NFC – so check.
We have already talked about devices, but there is a second important part – these are NFC tags. They are of two kinds.
You can store a bunch of things here, for example:
- Wi-Fi access for guests
- Write down contact details and use as a business card
- Set your smartphone to go to sleep at night on the bedside table
- You can also save some data in it, for example, a password or a token from BitCoin. Only better in encrypted form.
Any phone with NFC will read this tag.
What to do if you don’t have NFC tags? They can be ordered, they cost a penny.
But you can take an ordinary bank card or a transport card, like Troika. These are non-writable tags. A typical example is your bank card. Nothing can be written on them.
But your smartphone can be programmed to do anything when you put such a thing on it.
If you have Android, you can install an application such as MacroDroid or NFC ReTag. They can assign approximately the same actions to NFC tags. Turn on / off Wi-Fi and call, launch applications, turn on night mode. For example, you can make it so that when you put your phone on the Troika card, the Droider channel opens automatically. I recommend!
By the way, this is how the content of Troika looks like.
You can also read on Habr.com about a dude who implanted an NFC tag into his hand.
What else can NFC be used for?
One of the promising things is electronic tickets. Movies or concerts. Now they do it through a QR code and it’s not so cool, in my opinion. Although millions of Chinese will disagree with me.
About Apple
What to do if you have an iPhone? Everyone thinks that NFC access is disabled on the iPhone, but this is not the case. Starting with iOS 11, that is, since 2017, Apple has opened access for developers. And there are already a lot of applications the same as on Android. For example, NFC Tools.
True, there are restrictions there: transport and bank cards, for example, are not scanned. We need special labels, which we have already talked about.
What to do? iOS 13 introduces the Commands (Siri) feature. And now she just has access to any NFC tags. So here you can set up the launch of music on the Troika card. Or turn on a smart light bulb. Or a bunch of other things. Teams are a real bombshell. I don’t understand why Android still doesn’t have this.
Charging
If by now you have decided that you know everything about NFC and are tired of these dull applications. Here’s something bombshell for you.
There is an NFC Forum organization that certifies NFC. In general, each technology has such an organization, and it’s good if it is one.
And the other day they posted another update of the standard. And you know what? NFC now supports wireless charging. Yes, in fact, this is the fourth mode of operation.
How do you ask? Electromagnetic induction, remember? With the help of her.
By the way, Qi-charging works exactly on the same principle. Only there is a larger coil.
But there is one problem. The NFC coil is small, which means that the charging power is small – only 1 watt.
Is it possible to charge a smartphone at this speed? It’s not even worth trying. However, the function for this was not invented.
The main purpose is exactly the opposite – charging other devices with a smartphone. It’s like reverse charging in Galaxy and other smartphones. For example, you can power the wireless headphones themselves, and not the case from them. In fact, we have a very cheap wireless charger, which is in any smartphone and which is easy to insert into any smart device.
By the way, 1 watt is not too little. For comparison with all iPhones except 11 Pro, they put a 5-watt charger. And the power of reverse wireless charging in modern flagships fluctuates around 5 or 7 watts.
But there is one thing – this feature will not work on current models. Smartphones with such a chip will most likely begin to appear in a year and a half. So expect ads for this thing from Samsung.
Bonus for those who have finished reading
Hello, Habr users! I present to your attention the translation of the article “What is NFC and how does it work” by Robert Triggs. It seems, it would seem, why should the author of the original write on this topic in 2019, and should I translate on the threshold of 2020? Today, NFC has taken on a life of its own and is no longer a geeky token technology. Now these are payments, and partly a smart home and smart production. And therefore – why not repeat the past, and for someone new?
NFC is a priority wireless technology, thanks to the development of online payment systems such as Samsung Pay and Google Pay. Especially when it comes to flagship devices and even mid-range (smartphones). You may have heard the term before, but what exactly is NFC? In this part, we will analyze what it is, how it works and what it is used for.
NFC stands for “Near Field Communication” and, as the name suggests, enables short distance communication between compatible devices. This requires at least one device to transmit and another to receive the signal. A number of devices use the NFC standard and will be considered passive or active.
Passive NFC devices include tags and other small transmitters that send information to other NFC devices without the need for their own power source. However, they do not process any information sent from other sources and do not connect to other passive devices. They are often used for interactive wall signs or advertisements, for example.
Active devices can send or receive data and exchange data with each other as well as with passive devices. Smartphones are currently the most common form of active NFC device. Public transport card readers and touch payment terminals are also good examples of this technology.
Now we know what NFC is, but how does it work? Like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other wireless signals, NFC works by transmitting information over radio waves. Near field communication is one of the standards for wireless data transmission. This means that devices must meet certain specifications in order to properly communicate with each other. The technology used in NFC is based on the old ideas of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), which used electromagnetic induction to transmit information.
This marks one significant difference between NFC and Bluetooth/WiFi. The former can be used to induce electricity into passive components (passive NFC), as well as simply send data. This means that passive devices do not require their own power supply. Instead, they are powered by an electromagnetic field generated by active NFC when it enters the area of effect. Unfortunately, NFC technology does not provide enough inductance to charge our smartphones, but QI wireless charging is based on much the same principle.
NFC transmission frequency is 13.56 MHz. You can send data at 106, 212, or 424 kbps. It’s fast enough for a range of data transfers, from contact details to image and music sharing.
To determine what type of information will be exchanged between devices, the NFC standard currently has three different modes of operation. Perhaps the most common use of (NFC) in smartphones is peer-to-peer mode. This allows two NFC-enabled devices to exchange different information with each other. In this mode, both devices switch between active when sending data and passive when receiving.
The read/write mode is one-way data transmission. The active device, perhaps your smartphone, communicates with another device to read information from it. NFC advertising tags also use this mode.
The last mode of operation is card emulation. The NFC device functions as a smart or contactless credit card in order to make payments or connect to public transport payment systems.
Comparison with Bluetooth
So how is NFC different from other wireless technologies? You would think that NFC is not really needed, given that Bluetooth is more widespread and has held the lead for many years (and, by the way, prevails in the smart home and smart production systems mentioned above). However, there are a few important technical differences between the two that give NFC some significant advantages in certain circumstances. The main argument in favor of NFC is that it requires much less power than Bluetooth. This makes NFC ideal for passive devices such as the interactive tags mentioned earlier, as they operate without a main power supply.
However, this energy saving has a number of significant drawbacks. In particular, the transmission range is much shorter than that of Bluetooth. While NFC has a working range of 10 cm, just a few inches, Bluetooth transmits data at a distance of just over 10 meters from the source. Another downside is that NFC is a bit slower than Bluetooth. It transfers data at a maximum speed of only 424 kbps, compared to 2.1 Mbps for Bluetooth 2.1 or about 1 Mbps for Bluetooth Low Energy.
But NFC has one main advantage: faster connection. Due to the use of inductive coupling and the lack of manual pairing, the connection between two devices takes less than one tenth of a second. While modern Bluetooth connects fairly quickly, NFC is still very handy for certain scenarios. And while mobile payments are its undeniable scope.
Samsung Pay, Android Pay, and Apple Pay use NFC technology – although Samsung Pay works differently from the others. As long as Bluetooth works better for connecting devices to transfer/share files, connect to speakers, etc., we hope that NFC will always have a place in this world thanks to rapidly developing mobile payment technologies.
By the way, a question for Habr – do you use NFC tokens in your projects? How?
A ring with an NFS module or NFC smart ring looks like a regular piece of jewelry. However, it is intended to pay for purchases. An article on how to use an NFC ring.
At first glance, an NFC ring is no different from jewelry. The difference lies deeper: the built-in chip turns the usual trifle into a working payment card.
A ring with an NFC chip began to be produced back in 2013 on the Kickstarter start-up project platform. Development “shot”, having collected 240 thousand feet for the implementation of the idea. People liked the device so much that they started buying the product for £22 to promote the project.
Now NFC ring is produced by many Chinese companies. Banks offer smart rings to customers as a nice addition to their services. So far, in Russia, the NFS ring is issued by Alfa-Bank and Moscow Credit Bank. Also, the contactless payment ring is produced by manufacturers of smartphones and other “smart” electronics.
Strong materials are used to make rings. As a rule, this is a special alloy coated with an additional layer of ceramic or tungsten. The coating protects the ring from mechanical damage and retains the original appearance of the product. The male version is available in black, the rings for girls are white or universal gray. The size of the rings ranges from 54 to 70 mm, that is, 7-12 sizes.
The place where the chip is located is marked with a raised button. Models of the high price segment are equipped with several chips, so there are an appropriate number of buttons.
Depending on the model of the ring, the scope of delivery differs. The fact is that some samples do not need to be recharged with electricity, since they generate a charge on their own. One of these models is Jakcom R3, which comes with a ring and documents for it.
Devices from other companies either come with a docking station or charge wirelessly from a smartphone.
By synchronizing the smart ring with your phone, you will receive social media notifications, player and camera control. The ring shows the time, sets the timer and stopwatch. The connection is made using Bluetooth 4.0 technology. The gadget is compatible with smartphones running Android and iOS.
It is noteworthy that the NFC chip on the ring contains information about one device.
The Aliexpress online platform offers a smart ring at a price of 200 rubles.
Few buyers know how to use the NFC ring, although the principle of operation is no different from smart watches and bracelets.
The operation of the ring is supported by the NXP MCU processor, which allows you to use the ring as an ID card to open doors, enter a parking lot or pay on public transport. The NFC chip can rewrite a million (!) command cycles and is designed for 10 years of information storage. Payment cards, bills and information about accounts are viewed when bringing the ring to the smartphone.
A built-in lock option will allow the ring to activate the device by proximity.
The distance at which the ring transmits information is less than that of chips in smartphones or tags – 15 mm versus 10 cm.
The chip creates a “smart button” that controls applications. Having assigned a task to the adapter, the ring opens the camera, changes the sound mode – the option depends on the wishes of the owner.
Before you can activate the NFC ring, you need to install the official application of the NFC Ring Control developer on your smartphone.
To set up an NFC ring, enable the NFC Android Beam option on your smartphone. Enter the “Settings” section, the “More” item and move the slider to the “Enable” position.
To securely protect information in case of theft or loss, set a password through the application. Open the Key Details menu, confirm your agreement and enter a four-digit key.
Test the set password. To do this, lock the phone and unlock it using the established method (draw a picture, enter a digital key). The standard lock will be released and a lockscreen will appear to unlock the ring. Swipe the ring over the screen – the phone will exit the lock mode. In some cases, there may be certain restrictions on coupons. Usually they are indicated either on themselves or on the official 1xBet website. In this case, the minimum and maximum amount for a partial sale will be determined – individually for each coupon. There are situations in which the coupon is only available for sale at the full rate. At the same time, the number of transactions for the sale of the coupon amount in partial mode is not limited to 1xbet mirror. The only limitation is only the amount of the bet.
A useful function of the NFC ring is “smart alarm”. Super Alarm regulates the on/off of the alarm by approaching the ring to the smartphone.
The IC Card Service option reads information from linked payment cards.
By installing an additional programmed label in the door lock, you can open the door by approaching the ring.
Remember, App Lock blocks access to selected programs – applications become available only when the ring approaches.
What is and how to use the NFC ring
I have extensive experience in setting up and connecting access control systems (ACS) and time tracking systems. And also I am engaged in setup of servers, computers, workplaces.
I work as an engineer at the Technoopening company.
NFC (Near Field Communication) is a fairly common feature on most modern mid-range and high-end smartphones. As the online payment ecosystem spreads around the world, its popularity is growing. However, many still have a few questions about this. What is an NFC module? How to use it?
What is it?
Near Field Communication is a wireless communication standard designed for high-speed data transfer between two devices over a shorter distance. One is a transmitter and the other is a receiver. Both can be active or passive.
Passive devices do not require a power source to receive and transmit data due to the low power consumption of the technology. These can be terminals, readers or tags. They are comfortable and can be placed anywhere. However, passive devices do not process data on their own and do not connect to other passive devices.
Active support NFC and use power supply to operate. They can send and receive data, as well as exchange it with other devices. The best example of an active device is a smartphone.
Compared to Bluetooth, the technology has a much shorter range – only 10 cm. But there is one area where NFC is invaluable – contactless payment via mobile phone.
How does it work?
The technology behind NFC is similar to RFID, which uses radio waves to send and receive data. The difference is that Near Field Communication uses a new set of protocols for wireless communications and also limits it to a specific frequency of 13.56 MHz.
To initiate a transmission, the sender and the receiving device must be in close contact with each other – about a few centimeters. Once this happens, the data will be encrypted. Electromagnetic fields are used to transmit actual data. The recipient may then need to send the encrypted data back, repeating the loop until the transaction completes. The whole process takes a few seconds.
One of the best features of NFC is its support for passive devices that don’t need a power source. Instead, they are activated by the electromagnetic field of an active device that enters the area of effect. The power generated is sufficient to receive data from the sender.
The Near Field Communication module supports three modes of operation depending on the situation:
- Peer-to-Peer, which facilitates two-way data transfer between two devices. Smartphones use peer-to-peer mode during transactions.
- Read/Write describing the one-way communication model. In this mode, one acts as a transmitter and the other as a receiver.
- Card emulation, when the active device acts as a smart card that can be connected to the terminal.