NFC

 Introduction

NFC is a short-range high frequency wireless communication technology that enables the exchange of data between devices over about a 10 cm distance. Near field communication (NFC) is a set of standards for smartphones and similar devices to establish radio communication with each other by touching them together or bringing them into close proximity, usually no more than a few centimeters. Present and anticipated applications include contactless transactions, data exchange, and simplified setup of more complex communications such as Wi-Fi. Communication is also possible between an NFC device and an unpowered NFC chip, called a "tag”.

NFC is an upgrade of the existing proximity card standard (RFID-radio frequency identification) that combines the interface of a smartcard and a reader into a single device. It allows users to seamlessly share content between digital devices, pay bills wirelessly or even use their cellphone as an electronic traveling ticket on existing contactless infrastructure already in use for public transportation.

The significant advantage of NFC over Bluetooth is the shorter set-up time. Instead of performing manual configurations to identify Bluetooth devices, the connection between two NFC devices is established at once (under a 1/10 second).

Due to its shorter range, NFC provides a higher degree of security than Bluetooth and makes NFC suitable for crowded areas where correlating a signal with its transmitting physical device (and by extension, its user) might otherwise prove impossible.

NFC can also work when one of the devices is not powered by a battery (e.g. on a phone that may be turned off, a contactless smart credit card, etc.).

Uses (Elaborated)

NFC builds upon RFID systems by allowing two-way communication between endpoints, where earlier systems such as contactless smart cards were one-way only. Since unpowered NFC "tags" can also be read by NFC devices, it is also capable of replacing earlier one-way applications.

Commerce

NFC devices can be used in contactless payment systems, similar to those currently used in credit cards and electronic ticket smartcards, and allow mobile payment to replace or supplement these systems. For example, Google Wallet allows consumers to store credit card and store loyalty card information in a virtual wallet and then use an NFC-enabled device at terminals that also accept MasterCard Pay Pass transactions. Germany, Austria, Finland, New Zealand, and Italy have trialed NFC ticketing systems for public transport.

India is implementing NFC based transactions in box offices for ticketing purposes.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections

NFC offers a low-speed connection with extremely simple setup, and can be used to bootstrap more capable wireless connections. For example, the Android Beam software uses NFC to automatically complete the steps of enabling, pairing and establishing a Bluetooth connection when doing a file transfer. Nokia has used NFC technology to pair Bluetooth headsets and speakers with one tap in its NFC-enabled devices.[citation needed] The same principle can be applied to the configuration of Wi-Fi networks.

Social networking

NFC can be used in social networking situations, such as sharing contacts, photos, videos or files, and entering multiplayer mobile games.

Identity and access tokens

The NFC Forum promotes the potential for NFC-enabled devices to act as electronic identity documents and keycards. As NFC has a short range and supports encryption, it may be more suitable than earlier, less private RFID systems.

Smartphone automation and NFC tags

Smartphones equipped with NFC can be paired with NFC tags or stickers which can be programmed by NFC apps to automate tasks. This can allow for a change of phone settings, a text to be created and sent, an app to be launched, or any number of commands to be executed, limited only by the NFC app and other apps on the smartphone. This is perhaps one of the most practical current uses for NFC since it does not rely on a company or manufacturer but can be utilized immediately by anyone anywhere with an NFC equipped smartphone and an NFC tag.

Comparison with bluetooth

Aspect	NFC	Bluetooth	Bluetooth Low Energy
RFID compatible	ISO 18000-3	active	active
Standardisation body	ISO/IEC	Bluetooth SIG	Bluetooth SIG
Network Standard	ISO 13157 etc.	IEEE 802.15.1	IEEE 802.15.1
Network Type	Point-to-point	WPAN	WPAN
Cryptography	not with RFID	available	available
Range	< 0.2 m	~100 m (class 1)	~50 m
Frequency	13.56 MHz	2.4–2.5 GHz	2.4–2.5 GHz
Bit rate	424 kbit/s	2.1 Mbit/s	~1.0 Mbit/s
Set-up time	< 0.1 s	< 6 s	< 0.006 s
Power consumption	< 15mA (read)	varies with class	< 15 mA (transmit or receive)

Some NFC enabled phones

Benq T80                                                            

LG 600V Contactless                                                      

Motorola Slvr L7                                              

Nokia 6131

Acer Liquid Express E320              

Acer Liquid Glow E330   

Asus Padfone 2

BlackBerry Bold 9790                     

HTC Desire C                     

HTC Evo 4G LTE

HTC J Butterfly                 

HTC One X          

HTC One VX       

HTC Windows Phone 8S               

HTC Windows Phone 8X               

Nokia 808 PureView      

Nokia Lumia 820              

Nokia Lumia 920              

Nokia N9[26]                                     

Samsung Ativ S                

Samsung Galaxy Ace 2[27]          

Samsung Galaxy Note   

Samsung Galaxy Note II

Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G

Samsung Galaxy S II       

Samsung Galaxy S III      

Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G        

Samsung Wave 578        

Samsung Wave Y                             

Sony Xperia Acro S

Sony Xperia Ion               

Sony Xperia S                    

Sony Xperia Sola              

Sony Xperia T