How does the NFC system work on a smartphone? NFC technology in smartphones: what is it for and how to use it? Reading, writing and using tags

NFC is at a stage where many new phones have the necessary hardware built into them, but mobile networks, as a rule, are not ready to start selling new technology.

This means that you don't necessarily have to be told about NFC technology in a store when you buy your new phone, and this useful feature will be hidden in your phone by the time you learn more about NFC technology.

So if you're sure your phone is ready for the NFC revolution, don't worry - we've got you covered!

How to checkhasyour phone supports NFC

Here is the list the best ways Find out if your phone has NFC:

• Do you have an iPhone? NFC appeared in Apple smartphones with iPhone models 6 (only for payment Apple Pay), and advanced NFC functions (payment, writing, reading) are available starting with the iPhone 7 model.
• Check the list NFC phones . Check our to see if your model is listed. However, this is not a guarantee that you have it because NFC phone manufacturers may have different specifications for different countries and carriers. For example Samsung Galaxy The S II is an example of a device that comes with NFC in some countries but not in others.
• Management. Look in the instructions for mobile phone mentions NFC, Near Field Communication or RFID.
• Look at the logo. Look on the device itself for a sign on a blue background with the letters NFC. It will probably be on the back of the phone.
• Check your settings. Look in your phone's settings menu for any mention of NFC. These may be listed in the part that deals with wireless settings or network settings.
• Check your applications. Look in the list of applications for anything that reminds you of NFC.
• Look at the antenna. NFC antennas are typically large and flat, and are mounted in batteries or near the battery compartment.
• Check the battery too. Look for signs of an NFC antenna or any text that reminds you of NFC on the battery itself.
• Practice is everything! Unlock your phone and place a contactless payment card or NFC tag on the back of the phone to see if the phone responds (no need to turn on anything, the function will activate itself).
• IN Play Market there are many for Android simple programs for NFC verification. Follow this link and download any NFC verification app on your smartphone. Below is video how to check if you have NFC.

Video instructions on how to check for NFC in a smartphone

If on your smartphone NFC not detected - There is no way to add it to your smartphone.

Do you have other ways to find out if your device has NFC, let us know in the comments below.

NFC (Near Field Communication) is one of the types wireless communication, operating at a very close range - all new and modern smartphones, as a rule, have it on board even when they leave the factory. However, you can’t expect the presence of a corresponding chip from older devices or low-budget devices. What benefits does the NFC chip bring?

• First of all, NFC makes sense to use for everyday activities, since every day the user must repeatedly change certain settings, for example, adjust the sound, activate Bluetooth or WLAN, turn GPS on and off.
• NFC automates changes to settings because you can store the relevant information in so-called NFC tags. Then you simply read the desired tag with your smartphone and the saved settings take effect.
• NFC is also great for automatic start applications, also in combination with an NFC tag on which you can save a command, for example, turn off Bluetooth and WLAN in the evening, while simultaneously opening the alarm clock application.
• NFC can also be used as a business card or greeting card. In the first case, you can save all the necessary personal information on your NFC card, to which you can attach links to a website or channels social networks. The other user can then simply hold their smartphone over the NFC card and receive all your contact details directly.
• Personalized digital greeting card It makes sense to send primarily in combination with a real postcard. So, for example, you can not only congratulate a friend on his birthday in a letter, but also put an NFC tag in the envelope, with which the recipient can watch a video on YouTube or a couple of saved ones. cloud service pictures.
• For all fans of order, NFC also offers one extremely interesting option: for example, when moving, you can stick tags on boxes and then view its contents with just a touch of your smartphone. Tags are also great for keeping your basement or attic tidy.
• Well, in the end, NFC makes wireless payment via a smartphone possible, even if payment systems such as Android Pay or Apple Pay are not available.

Installing NFC - the first option

In general, you have three different options to equip your smartphone with NFC functionality. Of course, none of them can completely replace the NFC chip integrated by the manufacturer, since such an upgrade is possible only with restrictions.

• Perhaps the simplest option is to simply glue the NFC tag to the back cover of the smartphone or, if it is not too thick, hide it under the case.
• The phone will then be able to control and manage the NFC tags in a completely normal way, since the tags can “talk” to each other. In addition, this method There is one advantage: in this form the function does not consume battery power.
• Of course, no other settings can be applied, since the system cannot connect to the NFC tag.
• For this reason, you won't be able to use apps like NFC Tools because they require system access to the NFC chip.
• Of course, you can use other devices equipped with an NFC module to read information from the NFC tag on your smartphone.

Installing NFC - the second option

The second option for equipping your phone with the NFC function is several years old, but it is extremely effective.

• An SD card with an NFC chip is used. Of course, your smartphone must have a Micro-SD card slot for this option to be considered at all.
• The advantage of this method: the system can access the chip and then the use of the above-mentioned applications becomes possible.
• The supplier of this kind of Micro-SD cards is a company called Moneto.
• But a mobile payment service provider such as DeviceFidelity, for example, offers similar solutions with which you can not only make payments, but also use the rest of the functionality NFC.
• However, there are often problems with MicroSD card availability, so this option may be difficult to implement.

Installing NFC - option three

And finally, there is still the option of replacing the back cover of your smartphone yourself.

• Be careful: when performing this procedure, you may completely void the warranty on your smartphone, especially if you damage anything inside the device.
• If you do decide to replace the back cover, then the main task is only to install the back cover with an integrated NFC chip.
• After this, the system will gain access to the chip, and therefore the full range of NFC functionality will become available to you.
• Whether such a back cover exists for your smartphone, you can check, for example, on Amazon.com.
• Removing the back cover is different for each device. Depending on the model and manufacturer, you may even need an additional tool.
• Given all this, you should only start replacing the back panel of your smartphone if you understand exactly what will need to be done and take into account what difficulties may arise along the way.
• Therefore, this last method is not the most comfortable, but for smartphone connoisseurs it may be worth a look.

Surely some of my readers have heard about NFC technology. A number of people quite actively use this technology in their daily lives, but the vast majority of users are not familiar with it and have a rather vague understanding of what it is and how it works. This material is intended to shed light on this topic, in it I will tell you in detail what NFC is on a phone, introduce the reader to the history of this technology, tell you what the principles of its operation are and how to use it.

What is NFC in a smartphone?

This term NFC is an abbreviation for the words “Near Field Communication” (translated as “near field communication”). This name was not taken by chance, since NFC is a technology wireless transmission data over short (up to 4 cm) distances using radio waves.

This technology is an extension of the capabilities of the previously existing contactless card standard (ISO 14443 codification). NFS works based on the action of magnetic field induction and interconnection loop antennas, its operating frequency is 13.56 MHz, while the data exchange speed here is low, only 424 Kbps.

Thanks to its small size, fast connection and low power consumption this technology widely used in small devices (in so-called “NFC tags”, smartphones, plastic cards, etc.). If you still don’t know, I recommend checking out the link.

What is NFC and why does a smartphone need it [video]:

History of NFC

In order to better understand what NFC is on your phone, I recommend watching the video above, and we will move on and study the history of this technology. NFS has its roots in the technology of “radio frequency identification” (RFID in English), which dates back to 1983. Near Field Communication technology made it possible to record the necessary data stored in special RFID tags using radio signals.

The year of birth of NFC itself is considered to be 2004, when three IT giants - Sony, Philips and Nokia created the “NFC forum”, a non-profit organization designed to promote the creation of a unified interface for the interaction of devices, working on the basis of a simple touch to each other.

Thanks to the further development of this technology, the so-called “NFS tags” appeared in 2006; in 2007, for the first time, such a tag was introduced in the Nokia 6131, and in 2009, the NFC forum created the Peer-to-Peer standard, allowing smartphones to exchange contacts with each other using NFS , links, initialize Bluetooth and so on.

Nowadays, NFS technology is included in the functionality of many mobile devices(support for this technology appeared in Android OS version 4.0), we can find NFS tags in the subway and supermarkets, on architectural monuments, bank cards oh and so on.

Advantages and disadvantages of NFC

What are the advantages of NFC over other alternative technologies (like Bluetooth)? They are as follows:

• Short range. Due to the fact that NFS operates over a short range, the probability of interception of existing data is very low. This is especially true for monetary transactions, which reduces the possibility of their theft;
• Fast connection between NFC devices. If, in the case of Bluetooth, it takes some time to establish a connection, then with NFS the connection occurs almost instantly;
• Small device size. The NFS chip can be placed anywhere, and this creates a huge field of possibilities for its use;
• Low cost. NFC tags can be purchased for very little money and are freely programmable using a smartphone.

The main disadvantage of this technology is the low data transfer speed. To compensate for this, some applications try to combine NFS technology with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (using NFS speed when establishing a connection between devices, and using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when transferring files themselves).

What is an NFC tag

Typically, an NFC tag is a small device equipped with an NFC chip. Such a tag does not have its own power supply; it is powered by a receiver (smartphone), without which it is simply useless.

Typically, such marks take the form of small transparent (or painted) circles that can be embedded in posters, monuments, billboards, store displays, and so on. If your phone has a built-in NFS module, then you can read information from such a tag (for example, by reading the NFS tag on a monument, you will receive information about the date of creation of the monument, its creator, and so on).

How to find out if your phone has NFC

So, you have decided to take advantage of NFC technology, and at the same time you are interested in how to find out if your smartphone has NFC, read on. Usually manufacturers in technical specifications of your device indicate the presence of NFS technology (you can look for information in the instructions for your phone). In addition, a mention of the presence of NFS can be seen on the battery of your smartphone (or under it).

Checking support for NFC technology on your phone

If the external attributes of the presence of NFS were not detected by you, then go to the settings of your Android smartphone, select the item “ Wireless networks" (or " Additional settings), and if your phone supports this technology, then you will see the corresponding item there (you need to check the box to activate it).

As for the iPhone, NFS technology has been implemented since the iPhone 6. This technology is not available on earlier models.

How to use NFC on a smartphone

To use the NFC function, go to the “Settings” of your device and activate the “NFC” mode (usually it is located in “Wireless Networks”, but there may be variations in the location of this item associated with the specific version of your operating system). You also need to enable the “Android Beam” option, and make sure that not one of the two devices (if both are smartphones) does not have a locked screen or is in sleep mode. I hope you understand what NFC technology is and now we will learn how to use it.

If one of the devices is a regular NFS tag, then it will be enough to bring the back of the smartphone to it (with previously activated NFC and Android Beam functions) and wait for a characteristic sound signal, after which the contents of the tag will be read and appear on the PC screen (if the content is intended for normal visual demonstration). This technology is similar to the well-known QR code technology, which works in a similar way.

Thus, you can share not only photos, but also links, virtual business cards, text and apk files and other relatively small information. To transfer large files, it is better to use other ways (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.).

In addition, there are a number of external applications that use wireless remote technology in their work. For example, in the File Expert HD, Send! File Transfer NFC technology is designed to quickly establish a connection, and Bluetooth or Wi-Fi are used for data transfer, which guarantees faster transfer of large files.

To record information on NFC tags, you should use the functionality of such applications as NFC ReTag, ABA NFC, SmartTag Maker and others.

Video review of Near Field Communication

After we figured out what NFC is in a phone, we can conclude that this technology has become an integral part of our lives. Many of us can see its use when working with terminals and banking transactions, when transferring information between smartphones, in public transport and many other places and areas of public life. At the same time, NFC functionality continues to expand and improve, and I am sure that we will encounter NFC-based technologies more than once in the future. You'll see.

NFC (Near Field Communication) is a technology that is quite popular in the modern world; it may seem strange, but such ordinary things as an intercom key or a metro card are based on it. Those. This is the ability of objects to transmit a small amount of data over a very short distance. Let's see how we can use this ability in our Android gadgets, which is called Android Beam.

Main features of using NFC

1. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is direct data transfer between phones. So, with the help of NFC, you can establish a connection between devices by touching them and transfer almost any multimedia file or, for example, a link to a page with one touch. In this case, data is transmitted via Bluetooth using NFC; only communication between devices is established.
2. Quick pairing with Bluetooth accessories that also support NFC. One such device, for example, is portable speaker Nokia Play 360.
3. You can also use NFC to turn your gadget into a virtual wallet. To do this, you will need to install a special application (Google Wallet), configure it, and then pay by touch in any NFC-enabled terminal.
4. Another very interesting application of NFC is tags. Small cards can be programmed through applications (such as Trigger) and set up profiles, launch applications, etc. For example, a tag in a car will activate the navigator and communication with a Bluetooth keyboard, and a tag on bedside table will put the phone on silent mode and set the alarm. Agree, it’s very convenient :)

How to enable NFC

• Go to settings
• Wireless networks -> More
• Now, if the device supports NFC, there will be a corresponding setting, check the box to activate it.

How to transfer a file via NFC

• Activate NFC on both devices
• Check that both devices are active and the screen is not locked
• Select the file we want to transfer
• Touching the back covers
• After the sound signal on the transmitting device, all you have to do is tap on the screen

For convenience I removed short video on how to transfer files via NFC:

Don't forget to like! 🙂

It seems that the days are long gone when you could notice the wide eyes of the seller at the checkout if you decided to pay for your purchase with a smartphone. NFC technology has actively stepped into the masses over the past few years (Apple played a role here with its iPhone), but its main advantage turned out to be that the function is available not only expensive smartphones, but also for devices in the mid-price segment. Let's look at some of them and figure out how this technology works.

NFC is a high-frequency wireless communication technology with a short (no more than 10 cm) range. It works thanks to radio frequency identification (RFID): using radio signals, data from transponders is read and written. The connection establishment time between devices does not exceed 0.1 seconds. The operating frequency for NFC is 13.56 MHz, the maximum data exchange speed does not exceed 400 Kbps.

How NFC works

NFC is based on electromagnetic induction: at a frequency of 13.56 MHz, the reader transmitter constantly emits a sine wave signal using an antenna. The sensor also has an antenna, and when the sensor and reader are close enough for NFC to work, a magnetic field is generated by an alternating current in the reader coil. After this, a current is created in the second coil - the sensor. This energy is easily enough for the latter to operate, so NFC is capable of working with passive devices.

In passive mode, the reader creates an electromagnetic field, the NFC tag modulates it and generates a response. That is, the tag does not have to be connected to a power source or have a built-in battery, so its size can be reduced to a minimum.

In smartphones, the NFC antenna is usually secured under the back cover for a more stable signal. It allows the device to become not only a means of payment and a travel ticket, but also a key or store loyalty card. Moreover, the technology is available, including budget smartphones: There is an NFC chip, for example, in , and .

What is NFC for?

There are currently three main applications for NFC. The first and most common is card emulation for contactless payments. An NFC-enabled smartphone can pretend to be a bank card or metro ticket. In this case, bank card data is stored not in the phone’s memory, but on a special chip, similar to that used in EMV standard cards. It encrypts all data, manages the authentication process and initiates payment transactions. The means of payment may be or more.

The second area of ​​application of NFC is reader mode. In this mode, the smartphone acts as a scanner for NFC tags containing various additional information. Recently, NFC tags have begun to replace barcodes in Western stores. They can be found on food products in supermarkets and, by holding up an NFC-enabled device, you can find out the expiration date and composition of the product. NFC tags are also used to display interactive advertising information.