Installing the NFC module. What is NFC on a phone and why is this technology needed?

Despite the fact that almost everyone has access to information, not every mobile device user knows what NFC is in a smartphone, what it is needed for this technology and how to use it.

How does NFC work?

NFC - won fame computer technology, which allows you to make purchases in stores and pay for services without money (cash) or a bank card. This is a new and virtually secure method of contactless payment. The communication interface is used in a smartphone. To pay, just bring your smartphone with the installed module to the terminal.

The principle of operation of the NFC module in a smartphone is the same as that of plastic cards with a wireless communication function.

There are several known ways to use the NFC interface in a mobile device. Most often, people use it to make contactless payments. A bank card is attached to the mobile device. It is difficult to intercept bank card data due to the small range of this module. More dangerous in in this case unattended, lost or unlocked smartphones.

The payment transaction is carried out in several stages:

Purchasing and activating a card with PayPass technology.
Install your issuing bank's application.
Activating NFC technology on a mobile device.
Applying the card to the smartphone, starting the data reading procedure.
Receive a PIN code from the bank via SMS for transactions.
Payment for goods and services using a smartphone and a payment terminal.

There is another, less common way to use NFC technology. Using the module you can exchange data. Files are transferred from one mobile device to another, and the special application Android Beam. But exchanging data in this way is inconvenient, since the transmission speed is low and the range is minimal. The method is suitable for transfer text messages, but no more.

The third way to use the technology is to record and read tags. Certain actions are assigned to a tag, such as sending a message, calling a contact, or going online. The function is suitable for people seeking to optimize personal time and automate their everyday life.

How to set up NFC for contactless payment by phone

NFC setup consists of the following steps:

Module activation. The user goes to the “wireless networks” settings section and checks the box next to the NFC name.
Agent selection. The user has the opportunity to select and install the application of the issuing bank of his card for data transfer.
Module binding. The user moves the device closer to the card with PayPass technology until the signal goes off.
Confirmation. Receive an SMS code to complete transactions.
Usage. Payment for goods and services in terminals with NFC technology.

Is it possible to buy a separate NFC module for your phone?

Purchasing a separate contactless communication module for a telephone is possible in the form of several solutions. Can be used with a mobile device special SIM card or antenna. The SIM card works the same as its counterparts. It is produced by mobile operators and installed in a smartphone in a special connector. The SIM card opens up all the possibilities of contactless transactions using mobile phone at the level Apple Pay or Samsung Pay.

NFC antenna is a radio device that performs the functions of an NFC module, but the user will have to install it on their smartphone themselves. The antenna is glued to the SIM card and installed under the phone cover. On model with non-removable lid Installing modules is more difficult, but theoretically possible.

What are nfc tags

Recording and then reading tags is necessary to automate everyday tasks. Tags are analogous to QR codes. When approaching the tag, the smartphone reads it using the NFC module and performs encrypted tasks. For example, opens a video on YouTube, email, SMS message or call a contact from your phone's address book.

Smart ring or bracelet with NFC function — new development from Chinese engineers, suitable for smartphones running on any operating systems. The bracelet can be selected to suit any hand size (the same with the ring). The device weighs very little and fully supports NFC technology. The processor functions, for example, in the band 3 nfc model are performed by a special chipset. Thanks to the chipset, the smart bracelet helps the smartphone exchange data via a contactless channel, maintaining the necessary security. Data on a device can be overwritten hundreds of thousands of times.

The bracelet stores payment information, notes and other personal information. It’s easy to view information - just hold the bracelet to the smartphone screen. The bracelet will instantly establish a connection with the phone and remove the lock from the screen, and can also serve as a “hot” button. For example, when you bring the bracelet to your smartphone, the camera, Internet or social network application will instantly open.

How to find out if your phone has NFC

The NFC icon, if the smartphone has this module, can be found in the settings menu. On an Android device, you need to do this:

Open the settings menu.
Open the “wireless networks” section.
Read the list of networks supported by the device. If the list does not include a network called NFC, then the smartphone cannot exchange data using this technology.

Is NFC technology safe? Won't the money be stolen?

People who have been using contactless phones for a long time bank cards, no need to explain what it is NFC technology. This payment method is safer standard method activation of the PIN card in the terminal, since no one sees the code. Even after stealing a smartphone, an attacker will not be able to withdraw more than 1,000 rubles from the card due to universally applicable restrictions on the limit of amounts in contactless transactions.

Some media reported that attackers have developed terminals that they use in crowds, quietly withdrawing money. But this is only possible if the smartphone is not locked.

Advice: if the fraudster managed to write off money illegally, the account owner can always contact the bank and ask employees to track the movement of funds. The attacker’s account will be quickly found and the money will be returned to the owner if he (the fraudster) has not spent it yet.

Programs for creating NFC tags

There are already many separate applications for creating NFC tags, but their number is constantly growing. The following specialized programs are in great demand:

ABA NFC. The program creates standard labels for various purposes.
WiFi Tap. The program quickly connects the device to a wireless network without entering a password.

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The NFC module was originally intended for one-touch payments. A SIM card with a built-in chip can be used both in shops, municipal transport, and as a contactless “master key” or business card. This technology has also begun to be used in tablets and smartphones.

Leading manufacturers equip mid-range and higher gadgets with special adapters that allow you to instantly transfer data and perform other operations. Despite this, many users do not know what the NFC function is on the phone and how to use this device.

Devices operating on Android began to be equipped with special chips since the release of OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The NFS module is designed for communication between tablets and phones located at short distances from each other.

NFC technology in smartphones provides the user with the following capabilities:

Quickly share various files;
Use the gadget as a pass to various organizations and institutions;
Make contactless payments with one touch;
Store or read data in a specific format.

Many advanced users are interested in what NFS is in a smartphone and whether this function is really necessary for the user, because all gadgets are equipped with Bluetooth.

NFS technology is most often used for payments, which means the signal range is minimal. The connection between your phone and device is completed in seconds, providing complete safety, the same cannot be said about Bluetooth.

Does the device support the NFS interface?

Not all modern gadgets have such a chip. Android may have simple Bluetooth installed, which does not allow the device to be used for secure operations.

How to find out if your smartphone has NFC in order to enjoy all its benefits. You can check the availability of this function through the settings located in the tablet or phone menu:

Go to Android settings;
In the “Wireless networks” line, click “Advanced”;
Enter the NFS settings menu.

Once a user has found a feature they need, they can enable it or set restrictions. To do this, in the same tab you need to:

Check the box next to “Allow data exchange”;
Wait for the Android Beam program to turn on;
If the function does not start automatically, click on Android Beam, then confirm the action.

Note! NFS on Android phone is not a separate means of transferring files or other information, but a command device. Data exchange is carried out via wireless communication. The chip issues a command to activate the Internet and transmit information.

Which smartphones have NFS?

If the user knows what NFC is for, then he can easily use this module when performing various operations. Almost all modern gadgets are equipped with this technology. Here are some examples:

iPhone, starting with the 6S model;
Samsung Galaxy with S3, LG latest models and Xperia X from Sony.

Other manufacturers may also please you with the presence of an advanced device. The NFC function on Android allows you to carry out various operations quickly and safely, which is its main advantage.

Possible options for using the NFS module

The module can operate in several main modes. Namely:

Active. Both smartphones are equipped with a special chip.
Passive. Only one gadget model is used.

Note! The chip operates in several modes. The first is used to exchange information between smartphones or planets. The purpose of the second is a “pass” or card when going on the subway or buying a bus ticket.

Contactless payments

In plastic card emulation mode, the NFS chip makes it possible to pay for services and goods at terminals. Most common Android services Pay, for iPhones - Apple Pay. The module installed on a smartphone allows you to hide the cardholder’s data, thereby securing the operation.

How to pay via NFC from an Android phone:

To make a payment you will need a card with paypass support;
Download a special application;
Log in to your personal page in the main menu;
Select the NFS item;
Place the plastic on the back panel of the smartphone so that the module reads the data it needs.

Using the NFS option, the owner of the gadget will be able to transfer funds for a completed purchase in one touch.

Payments for travel on public transport

If certain settings are available, the NFS system can be used as electronic ticket. Support for the latest technology will allow passengers of the underground and ground transport It’s much faster to use the chip when passing turnstiles or recording a completed trip.

Exchange of information using modern technologies

After activating NFS, it can be used to exchange files. To send information, the user must adhere to a certain algorithm.

How to use NFC on a smartphone:

Activate NFS and Android Beam on gadgets;
Both mobile phones must work and be unlocked;
When the smartphones are close to each other, the user will hear a corresponding signal, which informs that the gadgets are in the field of view.

Attention! You can separate devices only after the transfer of information is completed. The user will be notified of this by a corresponding signal.

Instant scanning of information

Reading using an electronic chip operates by scanning a barcode - a mark located on the media. They are gradually replacing paper codes and contain not only information about the manufacturer, but also composition, shelf life, and other data.

Reading individual marks

The principle of its operation is similar to barcode scanning. But in this situation, it is not the camera on the mobile phone that is used, but the sensor located under the cover. This feature is especially useful in home use.

To create tags, the user needs to install an application, which can be downloaded through the Play Market. The owner of the smartphone will be able to assign a specific task independently: “create a message”, “send a letter”, “make a call”.

What to do if there is no NFS on your phone

Most smartphone owners are interested in how to use Android Pay without NFC. Operators mobile communications developed SIM cards with a built-in module for signal transmission.

What to do if your phone does not support NFC - first option:

Buy a special SIM card;
Place it in the slot on your smartphone;
The chip is automatically activated.

Note! Please note that the signal dimensionsGSMvary and depend on the format on a particular device.

What to do if there is no NFC on your phone - option two:

Buy external device for contactless payments;
Next, you need to read the instructions on how to install NFC in your smartphone - most often you just need to fix it on the SIM card;
Place in tray.

Attention! One drawback is that this method is suitable for gadgets that have a removable cover. Non-separable models and mobile phones with side slots cannot be equipped with an external device.

Advantages and disadvantages of modern technology

The main advantage of the NFS module is low energy consumption, affordable cost, safety and ease of use. But before you activate this function it is necessary to study certain nuances.

Like all devices, the NFC module also has some disadvantages:

Small range. This causes some inconvenience when using this technology. On the other hand, it provides maximum safety. The owner of the smartphone will not be able to accidentally pay for the goods or set a command.

The development of modifications for NFS is uncontrolled. Manufacturers of gadgets "Haomi" and "Sony" are trying to improve the process of transmitting information. They independently produce parts that only work with their smartphones or tablets. To enjoy all the benefits of the module, the consumer will have to buy mobile phones of certain brands, as well as install applications only from these developers.

Note! The developers are gradually trying to eliminate some shortcomings and introduce various improvements into your technology.

If the user does not know how to connect NFC to a smartphone or finds it difficult to do so, it is better to contact a specialized center for help from experienced professionals.

The NFS module allows you to make one-touch purchases and carry out other types of transactions. If your smartphone does not have this function, you can purchase the appropriate chip or SIM card. To ensure proper security, the phone owner will have to enable screen unlocking using a fingerprint or PIN code - there is no other choice.

NFC technology in Russia has already matured to the point where you can even pay for purchases at the nearest Pyaterochka with a smartphone. Therefore, many owners of older devices became interested: how to add NFC to a phone without NFC? If you're here for it, we have two news: bad and good.

The bad news: you can't use NFC to its full potential

Alas, this sad truth. If NFC support is not built into your smartphone by the manufacturer, then no amount of household tricks will help you equip it with all the capabilities of this module.

Why? To answer this question, you need to understand what is hidden behind the words “NFC support”. Firstly, in system board The smartphone must have a special chip soldered into it. Secondly, the smartphone body must contain an NFC antenna, which will transmit signals from the chip to the outside world. And thirdly, your phone's operating system must be able to receive and transmit data using the NFC protocol.

Agree, if you are not a radio electronics specialist and part-time system programmer, adding NFC to a phone without NFC with your own hands is quite problematic. Therefore, the only real solution is to buy a smartphone with NFC support. For example, .

Good news: you can partially do it!

However, not everything is so bad. To the aid of those who are unable to buy a phone, removable phone accessories come to the rescue - NFC-enabled SIM cards and removable NFC antennas.

SIM cards with NFC support in Russia are produced only by the Big Three operators - MTS, Megafon and Beeline. But we will focus on the first, since the solution he proposes meets our task.

Megafon and Beeline cards are intended for a slightly different purpose: they are installed in phones that already have NFC support, and are used for contactless payment for transport fares from a mobile phone account.

But with the help of the service from MTS you can partially use NFC payment capabilities, namely, to pay in transport and in stores using an MTS Bank card as a wallet.

What is needed for this?

Apply in the office mobile operator MTS Bank card, or install the application on your smartphone for free MTS Money and release a virtual one. The application reminds Google Pay.

In addition, you need to purchase a kit for contactless payment at the MTS salon: a SIM card with an NFC chip and an NFC antenna. She looks like this:

The SIM card is installed in the phone in the usual way, and a thin flexible antenna is brought out from the housing. There is a big limitation here: your phone must have a removable battery. Modern phones With non-removable battery and you can’t upgrade it with a SIM card tray (however, as a rule, NFC is already supported in them). This is what it looks like assembled:

The antenna can be carefully glued to back cover so that it doesn't dangle. That's it - you can top up your account virtual card MTS, launch the application and pay with it in stores and the capital’s metro.

Does it work?

Yes. At the moment, this solution is the only working way for Russia to add NFC to a phone without NFC.

But, of course, its disadvantages are obvious. It is not suitable for all smartphones; it requires an agreement with MTS, external antenna easy to damage, and the seal of the phone case is also compromised, since the antenna is brought out through the seam. In addition, this is still not a full-fledged NFC chip. They are not allowed, for example.

Here's a little more about NFC:

The combination “NFC” (Near field communication) is increasingly found in the specifications of modern smartphones and tablets. In this article we will try to consider this interface from the point of view of practical use, so that readers can independently draw their own conclusion about the need to have it on their phone.

In testing, we used two smartphone models that have already been reviewed in detail on our resource: Acer CloudMobile S500 and Sony Xperia acro S. We would also like to point out that most of the information, including the described programs and usage scenarios, will only apply to smartphones running Android based. It is this operating system that is today the most “friendly” when it comes to working with NFC.

Introduction

At first glance, it may seem that numerous wireless interfaces today already cover all possible popular tasks and scenarios, so another option is simply not needed. However, if you look at the development of modern technologies, you will notice that more and more attention is being paid to energy consumption issues, especially when it comes to mobile devices. In particular, version 4.0 of the well-known family of Bluetooth protocols is precisely aimed at reducing battery costs. The second point worth mentioning is that not every task requires a long range. It happens even the other way around - you want to explicitly limit the distance between interacting devices. In addition to the obvious reduction in consumption, this also affects safety. And a similar remark can be made about the volume of transmitted data. So the idea of a slow wireless interface that operates over short distances and is characterized by low power consumption has a right to exist.

The starting point in the history of NFC development can be taken in 2004, when Nokia, Philips and Sony announced the creation of an interaction interface for the purpose of developing and standardizing various devices, based on touch. However, the first versions of the specifications were created a little earlier. Perhaps, by modern standards, the technology can be considered very young (if you do not take into account the history of RFID), but it is already quite often found in real products and services. In particular, at the Mobile World Congress 2013 held at the end of February, many stands and demonstrations were devoted to this topic.

This sign can be found on devices with NFC technology

The formal characteristics of the interface are as follows: operation at a distance of several centimeters, maximum speed information exchange is about 400 Kbps, full-duplex data exchange is supported, operating frequency is 13.56 MHz, connection establishment time does not exceed 0.1 s, operating mode is point-to-point. It can be seen that these parameters radically distinguish NFC from other popular wireless interfaces.

If we talk about devices, in addition to active controllers in NFC, there are also passive options (they are usually called tags) that receive power wirelessly from the active controller. One example is modern maps for travel on public transport. Tags are simply data storage, typically less than 4 KB in size. Most often, they only provide read mode, but there are options with write support.

One of the simplest options for a passive NFC tag

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

The NFC antenna is often placed on the back cover of the smartphone

The short range can have a negative impact when using tablets - finding the right place to “position” may not be as easy as we would like. To solve this problem, some manufacturers mark the location of the antenna with a special sign. As for the range, in our case the connection worked at a distance of no more than four centimeters - both between phones and with a passive tag.

From a security point of view, the developers did not implement elements of protection against interception and relay attacks. This of course makes it difficult to implement secure solutions, since it requires more protection from the applications themselves high level. Note that in fact, such a well-known protocol as TCP/IP behaves similarly. So from a practical point of view, losing a phone without additional protection with customized payment system programs seems more dangerous than intercepting communications.

Perhaps the most important thing to know about NFC today is that the interface itself does not provide any real practical use cases or solutions. Unlike, for example, Bluetooth, whose profiles clearly describe how to transfer a file, how to connect a headset or provide network access, NFC is only a base, and direct operating scenarios are provided by additional software that works through it. On the one hand, this opens up great opportunities for developers, but on the other hand, it is a problem for them when ensuring interaction different applications and devices.

Interestingly, any programs installed on a smartphone or tablet can register with operating system as event handlers related to NFC, and then when externally “called” you will see a standard menu “how do you want to perform this action?” Because some scenarios using NFC imply convenient automation of actions; it is advisable not to overload the device with such utilities.

The NFC Forum tries to help with this uncertainty by proposing to standardize protocols for certain scenarios (specifically NDEF for storage short messages on tags and SNEP (Simple NDEF Exchange Protocol) for the exchange of information between devices), however, the practical determination of the compatibility of specific devices is usually difficult due to the lack of detailed information from the manufacturer and diagnostic tools. Another helper is here Google company, which suggested in the last Android versions own development of Android Beam. It allows you to exchange certain types of information between compatible devices.

Android Beam

First, you need to make sure that both devices have NFC enabled, Android Beam active, and their screens are unlocked. On the models we tested, NFC only works if the screen is on and the device is fully unlocked. But perhaps other devices will use a different algorithm. In any case, the active interface requires very little battery power to operate, and so far the described approach seems quite reasonable. One option to simplify your work is to disable the lock screen. In this case, to identify the tag, it will be enough to simply turn on the smartphone. Another inconvenience is the need to confirm the operation by touching the screen after the devices find each other. This is not always easy to do without disrupting communication, especially when both devices are in the hands of two different people.

The next step is to select one of the applications on the device from which you plan to transfer. In particular, these may be:

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

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

We tried the options listed and almost all of them really work. Even that our devices were released by different manufacturers, did not prevent them from finding a common language. But a few comments are still worth making. There are no problems with routes in Google Maps, but the option with a place is not very interesting, since only the current map display is transmitted. The dot marked on the screen of the original phone does not reach the recipient. The situation can be corrected by using the Addresses application, which transmits data correctly. When sending contacts, the photo is lost, since from a technical point of view the transmission format corresponds text files vcf. If we talk about applications, then you can send not only those installed on the phone, but also simply open cards on Google Play. Books and other content from the store are similarly supported. Naturally, we are talking about transferring links, and not the downloaded or, especially, purchased elements themselves. There was a problem with sending photos: the Sony device was unable to work with this type of data. The official wording is "The recipient's device does not support large data transfers via Android Beam." Here is the first sign that the interface is young or that the technical specifications of the devices are insufficiently detailed. Formally, we have both NFC and Android Beam in two devices, but in practice their real capabilities differ significantly, and this can only be found out by checking. What can we say about less famous manufacturers - their version of implementing this technology can be completely unpredictable.

By the way, regarding the work of Android Beam itself. The description of the technology indicates that data transmission uses Bluetooth communication after initial coordination of settings via NFC. Considering that all working formats required a really small amount of transferred data, NFC speed was quite enough for them, but for photographs it would have been clearly not enough. So we can assume that Sony has not implemented the switch to a faster interface. It is not possible to understand whether this problem is software (remember that this device has Android 4.0.4 installed) or hardware.

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

Reading and writing tags

The described Android Beam uses the ability to transmit and process short information messages. However, in reality, they can not only be transmitted from the phone, but also read from passive tags. In some ways, this technology is similar to the well-known QR codes that are read by a phone camera. At the same time useful information(for example, a link to a website page) takes literally several tens of bytes. Tags can be used by companies, for example, to promote their products or services. Considering the compact size of the passive tag (more precisely, its thickness is comparable to a sheet of paper - because of the antenna, the area will still be significant, no less than a five-ruble coin), it can be placed almost anywhere: on a box with a product, in a magazine, on an information sheet. counter and other places.

Passive NFC tags can be manufactured as key fobs

If we talk about making tags with our own hands, then this is a completely feasible scenario. To do this, you need to purchase clean blanks and use a special program for your phone to write down the required information on them. For example, we bought several different options: a sticker of minimal thickness, a protected plastic circle and key chains. All of them had a very small amount of memory - only 144 bytes (there are also 4 KB options on the market). The number of rewrite cycles was not specified, but for most application scenarios this parameter is not critical. To work with tags, we can recommend NXP Semiconductors programs - TagInfo and TagWriter.

The first will allow you to read data from the tag and decrypt information according to the NDEF standard, and the second will help you create your own tags. Several NDEF sub-options are supported: contact, link, text, SMS, email message, phone number, Bluetooth connection, geographic location, link to local file, application launch, URI. Please note that when creating a record, you need to take into account the amount of data stored. For example, a contact photo can take up several kilobytes, messages or text can also easily exceed 144 bytes. By the way, the NFC TagInfo program from NFC Research Lab with a special plugin can read and show you a color photo from a biometric passport. With a data volume of one and a half dozen kilobytes, reading them via NFC takes about 20 seconds. An additional level of protection in this case is provided by the need to specify some passport details to read data from the chip.

Note that automatic processing number of tags read depends on the content. In particular, sometimes additional confirmation is required to carry out the action itself. For example, in the case of SMS, a completed message form opens, but the user must actually confirm the sending. But the recorded web link can immediately open in the browser. Any automation is associated with a loss of control, so the described capabilities should be used carefully, since by simply replacing or reprogramming tags, attackers can redirect you to a fake site instead of the original one. We did not find any standard OS settings to limit such autorun (unless you disable NFC itself).

Another important point when using tags in public places, protection against overwriting. When recording a tag, you can set a protection flag that will block all attempts to change the information, but it will no longer be possible to remove it. So the label will be used in read-only mode in the future. For home use, in most cases this is not very critical.

Let's mention a few more programs for recording tags:

Using ready-made tags to control the device

One of the active participants in the NFC implementation process is Sony. Its devices come pre-installed with the Smart Connect program, which supports working with original Sony tags. If you wish, using the SmartTag Maker utility, you can create them yourself from blank blanks. The system uses the NDEF URI format with encoding of the label number/color in the text link. In total, the system provides up to eight tags, which are designated as “home”, “office”, “car”, “bedroom”, “listen”, “play”, “activities”, “watch”.

Variant of original Sony SmartTags

The Smart Connect program itself works not only with NFC tags, but also with other devices connected to the phone, including headsets, power supply, Bluetooth devices. It’s quite convenient that the standard settings already correspond well to the above scenarios. In this case, the user can reprogram all circuits; each of them specifies a set of conditions and actions.

As a condition, you can use tag identification or device connection, and you can additionally limit the operating time of the circuit. The set of actions is quite wide, it includes launching an application, opening a link in the browser, launching music, adjusting volume and mode, connecting a Bluetooth audio device, sending SMS, calling, control wireless interfaces, brightness adjustment and other actions. Moreover, they can also be assigned to exit this mode, which is carried out by repeated recognition of the tag, by a new event/tag, or by the expiration of a specified time interval.

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

In the store Play Store There are several utilities for this scenario, let's mention a couple of them:

Let us remind you that you should not install several similar programs at once. This mode will not add any convenience, since when a tag is detected on the phone screen, a dialog box will appear asking you to select a program to process it.

While searching for programs for working with tags, we also came across another class of utilities that may be of interest if there are recordable tags. These programs use their own original recording format, which only they can work with. In this case, the set of possible actions is almost no different from those described above:

Let us recall that in present moment The tag can be read only when the device is unlocked. So the scenario “came home, put the phone on the nightstand - automatically switched the profile, turned off the call and Bluetooth, set the alarm” will require some actions from the user. This behavior still slightly limits the capabilities of programs.

Exchange information between devices

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

Considering that NFC's own speed is very low, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is usually used to quickly transfer files, and NFC only works at the stage of negotiating connection parameters and establishing communication. To test this scenario, we tried several file transfer programs that claim to support NFC on our devices.

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

Blue NFC, as the name suggests, also simplifies file sharing over Bluetooth by replacing the power-on, search, and pairing steps with touch and NFC sharing. The speed of operation is not very high - at the level of the program mentioned above.

File Expert HD also uses Bluetooth, but the speed is already 100-200 KB/s. True, in fairness it is worth noting that this program has many other file sharing modes.

Conclusion

As of the spring of 2013, we can say that NFC technology is already confidently occupying a place in modern smartphones top and mid level. Interest in it can be indirectly assessed by the number of programs in the Play Store: only free projects there are already several hundred. Given market dominance (especially in terms of number of models) Android platforms, it is the one that is most popular today for NFC devices. On iOS regular funds for NFC is not provided, but Windows Phone 8 has significantly limited opportunities work with NFC for third-party applications.

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

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

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

Passive tags can be used almost anywhere, from posters to magazines to product tags. They can contain information about the product, a link to the website, Wi-Fi settings, contact details, geographical coordinates or other small amount of data. The spread of this method of information exchange directly depends on the number compatible devices from users. This scenario can be compared to common QR codes, which today are, perhaps, still simpler in terms of implementation and more popular.

To change system settings Even tags without recording capabilities can be used with some programs, so many users will be able to try this scenario. However, it should be noted that in this case the set of options will be written in specific device, and transferring it to another device may be difficult. Most utilities for this purpose still require their own recorded tags, which allows them to store all the required information in encoded form directly in the tag (or cloud), so that to use these settings on another device, it will be enough to have the same program on it.

We did not consider in this article such NFC use cases as payment systems, electronic wallets and micropayments, tickets and coupons, transport cards and passes. These topics, especially the first, deserve separate consideration. We will try to return to them if there is reader interest and the spread of such solutions.

NFC (Near Field Communication from English "close range communication") is an indispensable technology when it comes to transferring data between two devices. Whether you want to send photos, videos, files or make payments, NFC can make it easy. However, not everyone knows this, but the technology has a huge number of very useful applications! Today we will discuss very important things that you simply need to know when it comes to how to use NFC.

NFC on the phone. What is this?

The name of the technology suggests how it actually works. Two NFC-compatible devices exchange data while in close proximity to each other. Communication is carried out via radio frequencies.

In a mobile environment, NFC can be used for file sharing. This specific use came to the fore when Google released Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which also showcased Android Beam functionality. With NFC and Android Beam, devices can share files very quickly. Moreover, the presence of NFC on an Android device also allows you to write or read NFC tags, which allow, for example, to turn the device's operating modes on or off.

How to check for NFC?

Not all phones and tablets have NFC. How to check if the technology is built into your device? One way is to check the back panel for the appropriate inscription. On some (old) Samsung phones, for example, you will see “Near Field Communication” printed on the battery.

On some devices (especially Sony phones) you can see the N icon - the official symbol indicating that the device supports the technology.

However, if you do not find the corresponding inscription on the body of your smartphone, you can look into the settings. The algorithm is like this:

Go to Settings.
Click More.
Scroll down and you should see NFC And Android Beam.

How to enable NFC

If the device is equipped with the appropriate chip, and Android Beam needs to be activated, so that you can use NFC:

Go to Settings > Advanced.
Click on NFC switch to activate it. Android function Beam will automatically be turned on.
If Android Beam doesn't turn on automatically, simply tap on it and select Turn on.

To successfully exchange data using this technology, the following must be taken into account:

Both sending and receiving devices must support NFC and Android Beam.
Both technologies must be enabled.
None of the devices should be locked or turned off.
You will receive audio and vibration alerts when the two devices detect each other.
Do not separate your devices until the data exchange is complete.
You will hear beep when the file or content was successfully transferred.

It is worth considering that the data transfer speed directly via the NFC channel is not very fast, so it will not be possible to transfer large files. For example, you can send web pages, map locations, contacts.

How to transfer data

Regardless of the content or data you want to transfer using NFC (such as photos/pictures, contact information, web pages, videos, applications, etc.), and it does not matter whether the information will be transmitted from a tablet or phone. The algorithm is the same for all devices:

Open content to transfer.
Place the devices facing each other with their backs facing each other.
Wait for audible and tactile confirmation that both devices have detected each other.
Pay attention to the sender screen. It should display a “Confirm Transfer” prompt.
A notification about the start of the transfer will appear on the sender's screen.
You will hear an audio confirmation when the data transfer is complete. In addition, you will either receive a notification that the transfer is complete, or the corresponding application on the recipient's smartphone will display the received file.

Transferring Applications

Transferring apps using NFC does not transfer them as an APK file. Instead, the device simply sends information and then opens Play Store with the corresponding application.

Transfer of use of web content and information

Sending web pages using NFC does not mean sending the web page itself. It will simply send the web address of the page and the other device will open it in their default web browser.

Transfer videos to YouTube

From a technical point of view, sharing a video on YouTube does not involve transferring the video file itself from device to device. After transferring the information, the YouTube application with the required video will open on the receiving device, which greatly simplifies its search.

Transfer contacts

When transferring contacts via NFC, if the receiving device has multiple accounts Google posts, the receiving device asks the user in which account to create new contacts. Otherwise, the contact information will be automatically saved and the Contacts app will display it.

Transferring photos

Not all NFC-compatible devices can share photos with each other. In cases where the photo transfer is complete, the receiving device receives a notification that the exchange is complete.

Using NFC tags

In addition to sharing content with other NFC-enabled devices, you can also use the technology to customize your phone or tablet's settings with one touch. You can do this by holding your NFC-compatible device in front of the programmed tag.

The tag is a power-free NFC chip small enough to be embedded in items such as posters, business cards, bottles, stickers, keychains, pens, and more. The microchip can store small pieces of data that can be read by an NFC-enabled device. Different tags have different amounts of memory. You can store different types of data on the tag, such as a URL, contact information, or even commands and parameters that the reader can accept upon contact.

You can program the tag to perform tasks such as opening web pages, adjusting phone settings, launching applications, and more.

Everything you need to know about NFC tags

You can encode tags and perform tasks or set parameter settings such as:

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings
Sound and volume settings
Display options
Messages
Applications and shortcuts
Multimedia
Alarms
Events
Safety
Make a phone call

Making payments using NFC on your phone

Mobile payments are a very important application of NFC. At the moment, the most popular services for mobile OS is Android Pay and Samsung Pay.

To sum it up

Most Android phones on the market already come with NFC functionality, so most people who read our article will be able to expand their understanding of the functionality of their gadget. Do you have any other tips for using NFC? If so, let us know your ideas in the comments!