The modern mobile industry offers the smartphone user any price category many technologies that he really needs. However, not everyone knows about NFC technology, and even more of those who do not even use it. But this module is extremely important and convenient.

What is the essence of the "near field" technology?

It is most fully called "near field communication" - this is a literal interpretation of the English phrase "near field communication" or NFC for short. This technology is based on the wireless transmission of information. It has a limited operating radius, so data is transferred from device to device at a distance not exceeding 10 cm. In simpler terms, using NFC, gadgets exchange data contactlessly. The main thing is that at this moment they are close to each other.

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

NFC-enabled physical components are very compact in size and have low power consumption. Therefore, the "near field" is actively used even in modest-sized mobile devices. So that users do not have difficulties using NFC in practice (not everyone understands which side to apply the gadget to make the technology work), the location of the chip is often indicated on the device with a special sticker.


How to understand if there is NFC in your gadget?

Due to the small size, communication is used in many gadgets, and not only in phones: for example, in payment terminals; found in cards that are intended for fare payments; present in banking plastic. Now even began to release household appliances equipped with "near field" technology, in particular Smart Refrigerators.

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

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

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


Applications NFC

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

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

Activate this technology for calculations is very simple:

  • there must be a card from the bank that supports the "paypass" mode;
  • you need to install the appropriate application from the issuing bank;
  • after that you need to log in Personal Area"and there select the item" NFC ";
  • then a bank card is attached to the back cover of the device so that all information on it can be read by the sensor.
  1. Information exchange. To implement this function, you need to install a special application, in particular, "Android Beam". It will allow you to transfer a variety of files from one device to another. But do not forget that the transmission speed via NFC is quite slow. Therefore, it is better to send only links, and not the files themselves.
  2. Reading labels. To do this, you also need to install a special application. It can be found on Play market. As a result, the user gets the opportunity to find out, for example, the composition of food products and their expiration date, only by bringing the gadget with NFC to read the barcode from the goods.

Despite this limited scope, NFC technology has proven to be very convenient. And therefore, it is now being actively introduced into budget gadgets, expanding their list every year.

Initially, Near Field Communication technology ( NFC) has gained maximum distribution as a technology for making contactless payments. You can use a smart card with a built-in NFC chip as a travel pass public transport, as a payment card in retail establishments, as a smart business card or as a contactless key card.

However, in recent times, this technology has been increasingly used in devices such as smartphones and tablets: almost all major manufacturers have begun to equip their mid-range and high-end models with NFC adapters.

What is NFC?

If we translate the name of the Near Field Communication technology from English, we get the phrase "near field communication", which can be deciphered into ordinary language as wireless connection over short distances. Thus, we see that two NFC-enabled devices can communicate with each other when they are nearby. And indeed - the "range" of NFC is only a few centimeters.

In mobile devices, NFC technology can be used for various purposes. You can, for example, turn your phone into a virtual bank card, use it as a pass to a pool or a business. You can also quickly exchange files and links, and even, using special applications, read and write information to programmable NFC tags or NFC smart cards.

AT operating system Android, NFC support appeared in Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich - its built-in Beam feature allows you to share files between devices.

Why do you need NFC if you already have Bluetooth?

As you remember, NFC is most often used when paying for various goods or services, and in this case, Bluetooth is not quite suitable. Firstly, because of its large range (there is a possibility of interception of your payment data). And secondly, the connection between two NFC devices, unlike Bluetooth, occurs almost instantly.

Does your device support NFC?

Not all phones and tablets have NFC adapters. Does your tablet support NFC? How to check if it exists?

Some manufacturers, such as Samsung, place the Near Field Communication logo directly on the battery of their smartphones, while others, such as Sony, place the NFC logo on the device.

However, the easiest way to check for an NFC adapter in your phone or tablet is through its settings menu:

Go to the settings menu of your Android device

In the "Wireless networks" section, click "More ..."

Here you should see the NFC settings items:

NFC activation

If your tablet or phone has an NFC adapter, you need to allow it to be used to exchange data between other NFC devices.

Go to Settings -> Wireless networks -> More...

Check the box "allow data exchange when combining the tablet with another device"

This will automatically turn on android function Beam.

If Android Beam doesn't turn on automatically, just tap on it and choose "Yes" to turn it on.

When Android Beam is disabled, it limits sharing NFC data between smartphones or tablets.

Sharing data using NFC

Once you have activated NFC, you can use it to transfer data. For successful data exchange between tablets and phones, please note the following:

Both the sending and receiving devices must have NFC enabled and Android Beam enabled.

None of the devices should be in sleep mode or have a locked screen.

When you bring two devices close enough to each other, a beep will sound to let you know that the devices have found each other.

Do not separate the devices until the data transfer is complete and you hear a successful beep.

Data transfer via NFC

Place the back panels of the devices against each other.

Wait until confirmation appears that both devices have found each other and the sender's screen shows "click to send data":

Click on the screen and the data transfer will start:

You will hear an audible confirmation, both at the beginning and at the end of the data transfer.

Application Sharing

With NFC, you cannot exchange APK files. Instead, the sending device sends the other device a link to this app on Google Play Market, and the recipient opens a page in the Market offering to install it.

Web page sharing

Just like in the previous case, the web page is not transferred from one device to another, but only a link to it is exchanged, which the recipient tablet or phone opens in its web browser.

YouTube video sharing

Again, when sharing a YouTube video, there is no transfer of the file itself - just a second device will open the same video on the YouTube site.

Using NFC tags.

In addition to sharing information between tablets and phones, you can use your device to read (and write) data from NFC tags and smart cards equipped with an NFC chip.

NFC chips are small enough that they can be embedded anywhere - in business cards, bracelets, product labels, stickers, price tags and other items. They can contain information about a person, a URL, information about a product, and even commands that your phone or tablet will have to execute when you tap these tags.

To read data from NFC tags (or to write information to them), you will, of course, need a special application.

For example, using the Yandex.Metro program, you can find out how many trips are left on a one-time Moscow Metro card, and the NFC App Launcher program will allow you to program your phone or tablet to perform certain actions by placing the relevant information in an NFC tag.

Conclusion

Most of the modern Android phones and tablets are already equipped with NFC adapters, but so far this function has little demand and its use is still limited, mainly by the ability to quickly exchange content and contactless payment for services. However, in the future, NFC can penetrate into all areas of our lives, sometimes even completely unexpected ones.

Near Field Communication technology (or NFC for short) was initially popular only as an aid to contactless payments.

However, everything is much more extensive than it seems at first glance.

This technology provides high-quality wireless communication, which has a very small range (up to 10 cm).

This connection provides the ability to make contactless data exchange between devices that are in close proximity.

So, using a SIM card with a built-in chip of this technology, you can use it as a payment card or, for example, a key card.

NFC is based on Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID). This is the identification of radio frequencies, which works in automatic mode.

The data is stored in so-called transponders, they are defined as NFC tags. A radio signal reads and writes data.

The technology radio channel supports both active and passive devices.

So, for example, even key fobs can be adapters for NFC technology.

However, smartphones are increasingly becoming carriers of technology. Many manufacturers supplement gadgets with high-level NFC adapters.

And although many still do not know what NFC is in a smartphone and how to use it, however, the function, at times, turns out to be very handy.

What is NFC?

If we translate the full name of this technology, then literally we get “near field communication”.

In fact, this is a wireless communication that operates at a very close distance.

That is why devices with NFC adapters are able to communicate with each other, but this only works if they are nearby (no more than 10 cm apart).

This technology can be used for various purposes.

So, for example, a phone that has an NFC module can become a bank card or a pass to any establishments.

In addition, the function involves instantly exchanging files or links.

However, for this, both devices must have a special application that reads NFC tags.

Or the phone must have a SIM card with an NFC chip.

Android phones allow you to use the NFC function from version 4.0.

At the present time, devices with NFC tags are used increasingly in various fields. So, for example, with the help of an NFC adapter, it is possible to book tickets, as well as sell them.

Also, in some cities, using an NFC device, you can pay for parking or travel on public transport.

However, NFC chips are most actively used in the service sector and in the field of control and security of access to personal data.

Features of NFC in a smartphone

For smartphones, there are three most popular uses for NFC technology:

  • Reading mode. This feature allows you to read passive tags.
  • Card emulation. With this option, it is possible to use the phone as a card (bank or pass card).
  • R2R. This is a mode that allows two phones to exchange data by pairing with each other.

The fact is that only a phone with an NFC module can become a carrier of technology. That is, the chip is built into the device.

At the same time, it is assumed that it will be inseparable from the user, since the device may have extremely convenient functions.

After all, the phone is always at hand, but the payment card may not be nearby, and then the smartphone with the module will replace it.

NFC also allows you to pay for purchases directly from a virtual wallet, which is even more convenient (because then there is no need to cash out the wallet).

Also, the use of this function is possible to identify the owner of various bonus cards or travel tickets.

NFC tags

Labels are called certain information zones that are programmed. They are usually embedded in posters or billboards.

Also sometimes they can be found on the shelves with products in large hypermarkets.

When reading them, you can get Additional information, some links and even watch videos (for example, trailers for).

However, in addition to exchanging files and information between devices, the NFC function can be used to write and read data from various installed NFC tags, as well as SIM cards with the same chip.

The fact is that such chips are quite small in size.

This allows them to be integrated into various fixtures and devices. They can be business cards, product price tags, stickers or labels, bracelets, key rings, etc.

However, the process of working with NFC tags involves a certain algorithm of actions, which is performed through a special application on a smartphone.

However, there are many such applications and each of them is responsible for certain data.

And there are also applications that allow you to program information into the tag on your smartphone.

Tag scanning

First of all, you need to enable the NFC function in your smartphone. After activating the screen.

After - you should touch the phone to the tag, but do it so that the NFC adapter in the smartphone touches the tag.

After that, the gadget automatically reads the information entered into the tag chip and automatically displays it on the screen. However, you will have to click on the screen to view it fully.

Music file transfer

You need to enable the NFC function on both devices and activate the screens of smartphones. Go to the file that stores media content.

Having opened the media library, you should select the desired one. When you play a track, the file will automatically be streamed to another device.

However, it is worth considering that to transfer the file, you need to turn the phones back to each other and lean them so that the NFC tags are in contact.

After pairing, the phones will vibrate, after which you need to slightly move away from each other, which will prevent reconnection, which may interfere with file transfer.

After being transferred to the receiving phone, the media file will play automatically, and you can find it in a special application.

However, it is worth considering that if the audio is stopped on the transmitting device, the transmission will also stop.

NFC or Bluetooth?

The fact is that Bluetooth and NFC technologies are similar to each other in terms of the principle of operation. However, the difference between them is significant and quite noticeable.

So, if we talk about NFC, then the connection time of this function is one tenth of a second, which is an undeniable advantage over Bluetooth.

In addition, the short range makes NFC much more secure.

However, NFC has a much slower transfer rate than , and you will have to keep the devices close to each other (it can be compared to the infrared ports on older phones).

That is why technologies are used for different purposes.

So, for example, Bluetooth is not used to pay for goods or as a pass, since such a connection is not reliable enough and there is a possibility that payment data will be intercepted.

In addition, the practical instant connection of devices with NFC does not spend much time.

However, in the case of large file transfers, Bluetooth will be more suitable, since its data transfer speed is much higher and it does not require devices to stay as close as possible for a long time.

In addition, the development of bank payments at the present time is quite progressive, which leads to the increasing use of NFC modules.

For example, global payment systems and banking corporations create cards with embedded NFC chips.

Not so long ago, a number of companies created a special Google Wallet service, which involves installation on smartphones based on .

This application will allow the user to turn the gadget into a credit card, which can be used to pay for purchases or make payments at terminals.

However, for this, terminals must be equipped with PayPass technology, which will read NFC chips.

How can I tell if my smartphone has NFC?

The fact is that not every modern smartphone has a built-in NFC adapter. However, some do not even assume the presence of such a function on their gadget.

Some devices place the words Near Field Communication or just the NFC logo on the battery or on the body of the phone.

However, there is a way to check if your smartphone has an NFC adapter. To do this, you need to perform a number of actions:

  • Go to the smartphone settings menu;
  • Open "Wireless networks" and click "More ...";
  • If the function is present on the phone, then you can see the NFC settings item.

Activating the NFC function

After you have decided on the support of the NFC function by the gadget, you need to allow the use of the adapter, which will allow you to exchange data with other devices that support NFC.

To activate you need:

  • Go to the settings menu;
  • After in the "Wireless networks" click "More ...";
  • And check the box (on some devices, switch the toggle switch) on the item “allow data exchange when combining the device with other devices”;
  • After that, the Android Beam function should turn on automatically, but if this does not happen, then you must click "Yes" in the window that appears, which will activate this function.

Disabling the Android Beam feature limits NFC's ability to pair and transfer data between devices.

NFC and data sharing

After activating the NFC function, it can be used for data transfer (data transfer also occurs during payments).

However, for a successful connection and data exchange, several points must be taken into account:

  • Both devices must have Android Beam enabled, as well as NFC;
  • Both devices must have the screen activated, while being in sleep or safe mode ruled out;
  • Both devices notify with a signal or vibration about a successful connection, however, for this they must be brought close to each other in the place where the NFC chip is inserted;
  • It is necessary to keep the devices nearby until the transfer is completely completed, and the phone notifies you of the end of the data exchange.

Data transfer

The fact is that regardless of the data that must be transferred, the way to use the Android Beam function is unchanged.

It also does not change depending on the received and transmitted device. Its algorithm is as follows:

  • open the file (content) to be transferred;
  • lean the devices against each other with their back panels;
  • wait for connection confirmation by means of a signal or vibration;
  • click on the screen "click to transfer data";
  • click on the screen to start data exchange;
  • wait for the notification about the start of the transfer;
  • slightly remove the devices, but do not move them more than 10 cm;
  • wait for the beep to signal the end of the data transfer.

Application Transfer

A big plus of NFC is that it provides the ability to transfer APK files. However, everything is not so simple.

Instead of the file itself, the device sends a link to the application to the Play Store. After on the recipient's device, you can easily follow the link and download the application, and not look for it all over.

Web page transfer

Just like when transferring applications, the device transfers only a link to a web page, which allows you to quickly open it on the recipient's device using a browser.

This will happen automatically after receiving the link.

YouTube video transfer

You can guess that, just like in previous times, the device will only send a link that will open automatically with a special program on the Android device and the video will start playing immediately.

NFC-enabled devices

The first device to support the NFC function was Nokia phone 6131 which was released in 2006. However, at that time given function was absolutely not in demand and useless due to the lack of infrastructure.

However, in given time Everything has NFC more devices. One of them is Sony Xperia S with dual-core processor and HD screen.

This phone is based on Android and has two NFC tags called XPERIA SmartTags.

They allow you to program the execution and launch of certain actions when the phone is in range of NFC.

More and more companies are embedding NFC chips in their own or releasing certain devices (not always smartphones) with modules. So, for example, Intel plans and is already implementing production with NFC chips.

Samsung is also increasingly adding NFC functionality to its devices.

Considering that such large companies are increasingly concerned about the availability of NFC devices for users, it can be assumed that soon this feature will appear in all smartphones, which will allow its mass use.

Important NFC Points

If we talk about what NFC is on a smartphone and how to use it, you should understand and learn a number of certain moments, as well as the "reverse side" of the application of this function.

The NFC function allows you to significantly facilitate some areas and the use of a number of everyday items that are sometimes not convenient to carry with you.

However, it should be understood that this technology also complicates some things in some way, including the issue of security.

And although, compared to the same, the NFC function is more secure, it should be understood that not everything is so simple.

Since the technology only works at close range, turning it off is useless, but constantly turning the function on and off is also not very convenient.

So it turns out that we can ensure the complete security of our data only after disabling the function, however, in this case, its convenience is significantly reduced and the function becomes practically useless.

The fact is that when using the NFC function as a mobile wallet, a password, pin code and other similar means of protection will not always provide complete data security.

So, for example, the loss / theft of a phone threatens that attackers can use another device with NFC, get your data, withdraw money from a mobile wallet or pay it somewhere.

Although it should be understood that the loss of a wallet can lead to approximately the same consequences. That is, the function is relatively safe. It all depends on attention and the case.

Conclusion

Many Android devices already have built-in NFC chips. However, the use of this function is still very limited and not very widespread.

Now this function is used as an opportunity for contactless payment for services, however, this application is not always and everywhere possible.

It is worth knowing that NFC technology owes its appearance to such well-known companies as Sony and Philips.

Two corporations teamed up to create latest standard radio communications. After a while, it was called Near Field Communication (NFC).

However, before that, both companies made attempts to create this kind of technology. So until 2002, both companies had developments with the names MIFARE (Philips) and FeliCa (Sony).

And although the technologies were similar, however, their compatibility was not possible due to a number of reasons.

After a while, both corporations realized their shortcomings and came to a common opinion that the combination of knowledge and resources would help achieve what they wanted, in the end it turned out to be so.

They combined all the advantages of previous developments and tried to reduce the shortcomings as much as possible. In addition, the main purpose of the development was the possibility of its application in practice.

NFC has always been focused on pairing and transferring various kinds of data between devices that are not paired with each other.

However, initially, only electronic media should have become such devices, and later it became clear that NFC could also be used in various other devices and objects.

The technology also allows you to instantly communicate with devices in close proximity, which has led to a number of various applications of this technology.

In addition, data transfer occurs immediately after connection (only in individual cases additional steps are required).

This technology is implemented in the simplest and most convenient form - a chip. It works in both active and passive modes.

That is, as an active device, the device works as a pass or a key, and as a passive device, it works as a transmitter of recorded / programmed information.

And although on this moment NFC technology is used extremely passively and in very limited areas, but it can be assumed that it will not be so long before it will be widely popularized around the world.

Already now it is possible to understand that its use is possible in rather extensive areas.

So, most likely, the technology will penetrate into the most various spheres of human life, perhaps even into those that are unimaginable.

That is why smartphones with NFC will soon be on every corner, and their value will increase significantly.

Many corporations understand that the implementation of such a project will bring significant benefits in the future.

Safety

Time saving

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Initially, Near Field Communication technology ( NFC) has gained maximum distribution as a technology for making contactless payments. You can use a smart card with an embedded NFC chip as a public transport ticket, as a payment card in retail establishments, as a smart business card or as a contactless key card.

However, in recent times, this technology has been increasingly used in devices such as smartphones and tablets: almost all major manufacturers have begun to equip their mid-range and high-end models with NFC adapters.

What is NFC?

If we translate the name of Near Field Communication technology from English, we get the phrase "near field communication", which can be deciphered into ordinary language as wireless communication over short distances. Thus, we see that two NFC-enabled devices can communicate with each other when they are nearby. And indeed - the "range" of NFC is only a few centimeters.

In mobile devices, NFC technology can be used for various purposes. You can, for example, turn your phone into a virtual bank card, use it as a pass to a pool or a business. You can also quickly exchange files and links, and even, using special applications, read and write information to programmable NFC tags or NFC smart cards.

In the Android operating system, NFC support appeared in Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich - its built-in Beam feature allows you to share files between devices.

Why do you need NFC if you already have Bluetooth?

As you remember, NFC is most often used when paying for various goods or services, and in this case, Bluetooth is not quite suitable. Firstly, because of its large range (there is a possibility of interception of your payment data). And secondly, the connection between two NFC devices, unlike Bluetooth, occurs almost instantly.

Does your device support NFC?

Not all phones and tablets have NFC adapters. Does your tablet support NFC? How to check if it exists?

Some manufacturers, such as Samsung, place the Near Field Communication logo directly on the battery of their smartphones, while others, such as Sony, place the NFC logo on the device.

However, the easiest way to check for an NFC adapter in your phone or tablet is through its settings menu:

Go to the settings menu of your Android device

In the "Wireless networks" section, click "More ..."

Here you should see the NFC settings items:

NFC activation

If your tablet or phone has an NFC adapter, you need to allow it to be used to exchange data between other NFC devices.

Go to Settings -> Wireless networks -> More...

Check the box "allow data exchange when combining the tablet with another device"

This will automatically turn on Android Beam.

If Android Beam doesn't turn on automatically, just tap on it and choose "Yes" to turn it on.

When Android Beam is disabled, it limits the ability to share NFC data between smartphones or tablets.

Sharing data using NFC

Once you have activated NFC, you can use it to transfer data. For successful data exchange between tablets and phones, please note the following:

Both the sending and receiving devices must have NFC enabled and Android Beam enabled.

None of the devices should be in sleep mode or have a locked screen.

When you bring two devices close enough to each other, a beep will sound to let you know that the devices have found each other.

Do not separate the devices until the data transfer is complete and you hear a successful beep.

Data transfer via NFC

Place the back panels of the devices against each other.

Wait until confirmation appears that both devices have found each other and the sender's screen shows "click to send data":

Click on the screen and the data transfer will start:

You will hear an audible confirmation, both at the beginning and at the end of the data transfer.

Application Sharing

With NFC, you cannot share APK files. Instead, the sending device passes a link to this application to the other device in Google Play Market, and the recipient opens a page in the Market with a proposal to install it.

Web page sharing

Just like in the previous case, the web page is not transferred from one device to another, but only a link to it is exchanged, which the recipient tablet or phone opens in its web browser.

YouTube video sharing

Again, when sharing a YouTube video, there is no transfer of the file itself - just a second device will open the same video on the YouTube site.

Using NFC tags.

In addition to sharing information between tablets and phones, you can use your device to read (and write) data from NFC tags and smart cards equipped with an NFC chip.

NFC chips are small enough that they can be embedded anywhere - in business cards, bracelets, product labels, stickers, price tags and other items. They can contain information about a person, a URL, information about a product, and even commands that your phone or tablet will have to execute when you tap these tags.

To read data from NFC tags (or to write information to them), you will, of course, need a special application.

For example, using the Yandex.Metro program, you can find out how many trips are left on a one-time Moscow Metro card, and the NFC App Launcher program will allow you to program your phone or tablet to perform certain actions by placing the relevant information in an NFC tag.

Conclusion

Most of today's Android phones and tablets are already equipped with NFC adapters, but so far this feature has little demand and its use is still limited, mainly by the ability to quickly share content and contactless payment for services. However, in the future, NFC can penetrate into all areas of our lives, sometimes even completely unexpected ones.

The combination of “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 conclude that it is necessary to have it on their phone.

In testing, we used two models of smartphones that have already been discussed in detail on our resource: Acer CloudMobile S500 and Sony Xperia acro S. We also want to note that most of the information, including the described programs and usage scenarios, will only apply to smartphones on Android based. It is this operating system that is the most “friendly” today 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 can see that more and more attention is paid to energy consumption, especially when it comes to mobile devices. In particular, version 4.0 of the well-known family of Bluetooth protocols is just focused on reducing battery costs. The second point worth mentioning is that not every task requires a long range. It even happens 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. Yes, and about the volume of transmitted data, you can also make a similar remark. So the idea of ​​a non-fast wireless interface running on short distances and characterized by low power consumption, it has a right to exist.

The starting point in the history of the development of NFC can be taken in 2004, when Nokia, Philips and Sony announced the creation of a touch-based interface for the development and standardization of interaction between various devices. 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 common 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: work at a distance of several centimeters, maximum speed information exchange is about 400 Kbps, full duplex data exchange is supported, the operating frequency is 13.56 MHz, the connection establishment time does not exceed 0.1 s, the operation mode is point-to-point. It can be seen that these parameters fundamentally distinguish NFC from other popular wireless interfaces.

If we talk about devices, then in addition to active controllers in NFC, there are also passive options (they are usually called tags), which receive power wirelessly from the active controller. One example is modern maps for public transport. Labels are simply data storage, typically less than 4 KB in size. Most often, only read mode is provided for them, 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 power consumption make it possible to implement NFC even in small designs such as SIM cards or microSD memory cards. However, for full operation, the use of a special antenna is required. In phones, it is usually located on the back of the battery cover or built into the back panel if the device does not require a removable battery.

The NFC antenna is often placed on the back of a smartphone.

The short range can be detrimental when using tablets - finding the right place to "attach" 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 the applications themselves to protect themselves at a higher level. Note that in fact, such a well-known protocol as TCP / IP behaves similarly. So from a practical point of view, it seems more dangerous to lose the phone without additional protection with customized payment systems programs than interception of 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 work scenarios are provided by an additional software that works through it. On the one hand, this opens up wide opportunities for developers, and on the other hand, it is a problem for them when ensuring the interaction of different applications and devices.

Interestingly, any programs installed on a smartphone or tablet can register in the operating system as NFC-related event handlers, and then when you externally “call”, you will see the standard menu “how do you want to perform this action?”. Since some scenarios for using NFC involve 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 offering to standardize protocols for certain scenarios (notably NDEF for storing short messages on tags and SNEP (Simple NDEF Exchange Protocol) for exchanging information between devices), but practical determination of the compatibility of specific devices is usually difficult due to the lack of detailed information from the manufacturer and diagnostic tools. Here is another helper Google which proposed in latest versions Android own development of Android Beam. It allows certain types of information to be exchanged 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 it is possible that another algorithm will be used in other devices. In any case, the active interface requires very little battery power to operate, and so far the approach described seems to be quite reasonable. One of the options to simplify the work is to turn off the lock screen. In this case, to recognize the tag, it will be enough just to 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 breaking the connection, 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 the transfer is planned. In particular, these may be:

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

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

We have tried the options in the list, and almost all of them really work. Even the fact that our devices were produced 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, and the location option is not very interesting, because only the current map display is transmitted. The point marked on the screen of the source phone does not reach the recipient. The situation is corrected by using the "Addresses" application, which transfers the data correctly. When sending contacts, a photo is lost because, from a technical point of view, the transfer format corresponds to text files vcf. If we talk about applications, then you can send not only those installed on your phone, but also just open cards on Google Play. Similarly, books and other content from the store are supported. Naturally, we are talking about the transfer of links, and not the downloaded or 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 of the youth of the interface or lack of detail technical specifications devices. Formally, we have both NFC and Android Beam in two devices, but in practice their real capabilities differ significantly, and you can find out about this only as a result of verification. What can we say about less famous manufacturers - their implementation of this technology can be completely unpredictable.

Incidentally, as regards android work Beam. The description of the technology indicates that for data transfer, the establishment of a connection via Bluetooth is used after the initial negotiation of settings via NFC. Considering that all working formats assumed a really small amount of transmitted data, NFC speed was quite enough for them, but for photos it would be clearly not enough. So we can assume that Sony just did not implement switching to a faster interface. It is not possible to understand whether this problem is software (recall that Android 4.0.4 is installed on this device) or hardware.

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

Reading and writing labels

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 a sense, this technology is similar to the well-known QR codes that are read by the phone's camera. Wherein useful information(for example, a link to a website page) takes just a few tens of bytes. Tags can be used by companies, for example, to promote their products or services. Given the compact size of the passive tag (more precisely, the thickness 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 rack and other places.

Passive NFC tags can be made into key fobs

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

The first will allow you to read the data from the tag and decrypt the information according to the NDEF standard, and the second will help you create your own tags. At the same time, several sub-variants of NDEF are supported: contact, link, text, SMS, mail message, telephone number, Bluetooth connection, geographic location, local file link, 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 go beyond 144 bytes. By the way, the NFC TagInfo program from the NFC Research Lab with a special plug-in 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 details of the passport for reading data from the chip.

Note that the automatic processing of read tags 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 actual sending must be confirmed by the user. But the recorded web link can immediately open in the browser. Any automation is associated with a loss of control, so the described features should be used with caution, because by simply replacing or reprogramming labels, attackers can redirect you to a fake site instead of the original one. We did not find regular OS settings to limit such autorun (unless you disable NFC itself).

Another important point when using labels in public places is overwrite protection. When writing a label, you can set a protection flag that will block all attempts to change information, but it will be impossible to remove it. So the label will continue to be used in read-only mode. For home use, this is in most cases not very critical.

Let's mention a few more programs for writing labels:

Using predefined tags to manage a device

One of the active participants in the implementation of NFC is Sony. Its devices are pre-installed with the Smart Connect program that supports work 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 the tag number/color encoded in the text link. In total, the system provides up to eight labels, which are designated as “home”, “office”, “car”, “bedroom”, “listen”, “play”, “activity”, “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. Conveniently enough, 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 recognition or device connection, in addition, you can limit the operation time of the circuit. The set of actions is quite wide, it includes launching an application, opening a link in a browser, launching music, adjusting the volume and mode, connecting a Bluetooth audio device, sending SMS, making a call, managing wireless interfaces, adjusting brightness, and other actions. Moreover, they can also be assigned to exit this mode, which is carried out by re-identifying the tag, by a new event / tag, or by the expiration of the 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, it can be used transport cards. The fact is that each of them has its own unique identifier that can be tied to certain actions. special programs. As a possible reaction, such operations as changing the profile, enabling / disabling interfaces, and many others can act.

The Play Store has several utilities for this scenario, to mention a couple of them:

Recall that you should not install several such programs at once. Convenience from this mode will not be added, since when a label is detected on the phone screen, a dialog box will appear with the choice of a program for processing it.

While searching for programs to work with labels, we also came across another class of utilities that may be of interest in the case of writable labels. These programs use their own original recording format, which only they themselves can work with. In this case, the set of possible actions is almost the same as those described above:

Recall that in this moment the label is 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 limits the possibilities of programs a little.

Exchange of information between devices

With the exception of Android Beam, the scenarios described above assume the operation of one phone with a tag or specialized terminal. If we talk about the direct connection of the devices to each other, then the main issue here is compatibility. Of course, in the case of products from one manufacturer, especially a large one, it is possible to simply install the appropriate program into 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 you.

Considering that the native speed of NFC is very slow, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is usually used for fast file transfer, and NFC only works during the connection negotiation and pairing phase. To test this scenario, we tried several file transfer programs that claim to support NFC on our devices.

send! File Transfer(NFC) in free version allows you to share files of photos, music and videos. You can use NFC or QR codes to establish a connection. The transmission is carried out via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (in case both devices have Wi-Fi Direct support, which was not found in the Sony phone used). As a result, we managed to see a speed of 65 KB / s, which, of course, is too low even for photos.

Blue NFC, as the name suggests, also simplifies Bluetooth file sharing by replacing the power, search, and pairing steps with touch and NFC sharing. The speed of work 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 spring 2013, we can say that NFC technology is already confidently taking its place in modern smartphones top and middle levels. Indirectly, interest in it can be estimated by the number of programs in the Play Store: there are already several hundred free projects alone. Given the dominance of the market (especially in terms of the number of models) of the Android platform, it is today the most popular for NFC devices. iOS does not provide native tools for NFC, but Windows phone 8 has significantly limited NFC capabilities for third-party applications.

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

  • contactless data transmission;
  • work only at short distances;
  • the ability to exchange information with other devices or passive tags;
  • low cost solution;
  • low power consumption;
  • low data rate.

At the moment, for smartphones and tablets, there are three most relevant options for using NFC: data exchange between devices (contacts, applications, links, photos and other files), reading tags with special information and changing device modes / settings / profiles, quick pairing with peripherals (such as headsets). In the first case, you can try to work with the standard Android Beam program or install alternative options. They can be helpful if needed. high speed exchange (via Wi-Fi), but require availability the same program on every device.

Passive tags can be used almost anywhere, from posters to magazines and product tags. They can record information about the product, a link to the site, wifi settings, Contact details, geographical coordinates or other small amount of data. The spread of this method of information exchange directly depends on the number of compatible devices users have. This scenario can be compared to common QR codes, which today are perhaps easier to implement and more popular.

Even non-writable labels can be used with some programs to change system settings, so many users will be able to try this scenario in practice. True, it should be noted that in this case, the set of options will be recorded in a specific device, and it may be difficult to transfer it to another device. Most utilities of this purpose still require their own recorded tags, which allows them to store all the required information in an encoded form directly in the tag (or cloud), so that in order to use these settings on another device, it will be enough to have the same program on it.

We have not considered in this article such scenarios for using NFC as payment systems, electronic wallets and micropayments, tickets and coupons, transport cards and passes. These topics, especially the first one, deserve separate consideration. We will try to return to them in the presence of reader interest and the dissemination of such solutions.