NFC
Stands for “Near Field Communication.” NFC is a short-range wireless technology that enables simple and secure communication between electronic devices. It may be used on its own or in combination with other wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth.
The communication range of NFC is roughly 10 centimeters. However, an antenna may be used to extended the range up to 20 centimeters. This short range is intentional, as it provides security by only allowing devices to communicate within close proximity of each other. This makes NFC ideal for secure transactions, such as contactless payments at a checkout counter.
If your smartphone or smartwatch supports NFC, you can enable a contactless payment option such as Apple Pay or Android Pay. After linking a credit card to your device, you can make payments by simply holding your device near an NFC-enabled payment machine.
There are many other uses for NFC as well. Examples include:
Paying a fare on public transit, such as a bus or train
Confirming your ticket at a concert or sports event
Syncing workout data from a fitness machine with your device
Viewing special offers on your phone when you enter a store
Loading information about an artist or piece of art at a museum
Viewing a map and related information at a national park
Loading a translated menu at a restaurant
Checking in and checking out at a hotel
Unlocking an NFC-enabled door lock
NFC is often seen as an alternative to QR codes, which require scanning a square code with your device. Both technologies are designed for short-range transactions, but QR code scanning requires a camera, while NFC communication requires a near-field communication chip. NFC communication is arguably simpler since you don’t need to manually scan anything with your device. Additionally, NFC provides two-way communication, while scanning a QR code is a one-way transaction.
NOTE: Since the range of NFC is limited to only a few centimeters, it is ideal for quick data transfers and transactions. For communication that requires a longer time or longer distance, NFC Connection Handover technology may be used to transition the connection to Bluetooth.
Updated April 7, 2018 by Per C.
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