NFC mobile app development has succeeded in marveling the world over with its ability to deliver fast cashless transactions with just a Smartphone tap. Projected as 166 million NFC mobile payment users for 2018 is evidence of the fact that Smartphone users enjoy this fast and convenient payment program. Brands such as Samsung, Apple, and Google have already verified the usefulness of NFC technology by integrating NFC-based payment mechanisms into their mobile wallets. A technology that has intrigued consumers, as well as brands, is worth mulling about.

WHAT IS NFC?

NFC is a technology based on standards that provides short-range wireless connectivity technology that carries secure two-way interactions between electronic devices. Communications are built clearly, not involving user set-up as in many other wireless communications. As such, NFC enables users to conduct contactless transactions, view digital information, and connect mobile devices via touching devices.

NFC near field communication includes contactless communication up to 4 to 5 centimeters of distance. In this way, communications are inherently safer because devices normally only come into contact and therefore communicate when the user is in contact.

The connection is more reliable and does not suffer from contact wear, corrosion, and dirt problems experienced by systems using physical connectors since no physical connectors are used with NFC near field communication. At a frequency of 13.56 MHz, NFC uses inductive coupling-a license-free allocation in the HF portion of the radio spectrum.

NFC is a type of RFID but it has a set of different requirements that regulate its function, design, etc. That ensures NFC hardware can be used together with components from several suppliers. Not only the contactless operating environment but also the device formats and data transfer speeds are dictated by NFC requirements.

HOW DOES NFC WORK?

Data transmission via NFC technology requires two NFC compatible devices: a transmitter and a receiver. An NFC tag/sticker for example and a Smartphone. In the case of an NFC tag and a Smartphone, the NFC tag is a passive unit which can only send the data but cannot receive it while the mobile is an active NFC unit capable of processing both the signals from the NFC tag and transmitting the data to other NFC-enabled Smartphones as well.

While a Bluetooth device works identically, the fact that it does not require device pairing and data transmission permission is what makes NFC unique. All the consumer has to do is tap the transmitting system with an NFC compliant Smartphone for collecting information or making payment through NFC technology.

Below are the two directions NFC technology communicates:

One-Way Communication:

A passive NFC device is required and an active NFC device is required. Examples of one-way communication are communication between an NFC tag and an NFC-enabled Smartphone, an NFC payment card, and a card reader.

Two-Way Communication:

It needs two NFC devices that are working. An example of two-way communication is communication between two NFC-enabled Smartphones for file transfer.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NFC AND OTHER WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES:

NFC is a platform that separates itself from other wireless systems, not only in the hardware used but also in the implementations envisaged.

Bluetooth: While both Bluetooth and NFC can be used for data transfer, Bluetooth has been optimized for data transmission over far longer distances. NFC is just built to be nearby.

11 Wi-Fi / IEEE: Wi-Fi is designed for local area networks and is not a peer-to-peer technology short range.

RFID: While RFID is in many ways somewhat similar to NFC, RFID is a much wider platform. NFC is a special case defined by standards that render it interoperable.

Relying on the radiated near-field for its contact, the entire NFC idea is based on the fact that there is the minimal distance through which contact can be made, and this is what is crucial to its effectiveness, making it somewhat distinct from other modes of communication.

Nowadays NFC is commonly used. It took a large number of businesses to hire mobile app developer and embrace it, has been available for several years, before it could be put in broad market use. Now it’s heard, its usage is rapidly increasing.

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NFC APPLICATIONS:

NFC technology has evolved from a mixture of contactless recognition and interconnection technologies like RFID, allowing for very simple communication over a few centimeters space. They can communicate simply by bringing two electronic devices closer together and this greatly simplifies the identification and security issues, making information exchange much easier. In this way, it is expected that Near Field Communications, NFC technology would make it easier to escape the complicated configuration procedures needed by other longer-range technologies.

Near field communication NFC ideally lends itself to a wide variety of mobile apps including:

Payment cards

Ticketing

Mobile phones, PDAs, etc

Check-out cash registers or “point-of-sale” equipment

Turnstiles

Vending machines

Parking meters

ATMs

Applications around the office and house, e.g. garage doors, etc

Conclusion:

Nowadays NFC is commonly used. It took a large number of businesses to embrace it, having been available for some years, before it could be put in broad market use. Now it’s heard, its usage is rapidly increasing.