NFC – Near Field Communication

Many devices are being made NFC capable these days. Mobile phones are the most convenient and suitable gadgets that can work with NFC. Nokia 6212 Mobile Phone is an example.

There are 2 kinds of NFC devices – active and passive. Active devices are those that can both send and receive information using NFC. An example is an NFC enabled mobile phone. Passive devices are those that can only hold NFC information in them. They cannot by themselves exchange information. NFC tags on posters and banners are passive NFC devices. They require some active device to read the information from them. A small micro-chip containing the NFC data will be present in the passive tag. When an active NFC device is brought in close proximity with this tag, the radio signals from this device charge up the micro-chip, facilitating the reading of the data.

Making Payments – A soft-copy (a virtual software card) of your credit card is made in your mobile phone. When you need to make a payment, you just have to bring your mobile phone very close to the counter machine or the reader. This counter/reader, which is also NFC activated, can read the credit card details from your phone and the contactless transaction will be made. Instead of using a credit card or debit card directly, you use your phone.

Buying tickets – At an NFC ticket counter, you can purchase tickets on to your cellphone too. You make your payment and get the tickets transferred to your phone. Even some posters and banners that advertise a concert or show can be made NFC enabled. You just have to bring your mobile phone close to the poster/banner, to buy and receive tickets. The FC stadium in Manchester, UK, has this facility.

Accessing and exchanging information – Downloading information or transferring data between 2 devices that support NFC is possible as well. Sharing your photographs and videos from your phone to another phone that is NFC capable can be done too.

Bluetooth and NFC – The main differences between Bluetooth and NFC are:-

1.NFC allows faster detection when 2 devices are brought together for information exchange, than Bluetooth.

2.Bluetooth however is faster than NFC in data transfer rate. While the former gives a speed of 2Mbps, the latter only offers transmission rates ranging from 106kbps to 424kbps. NFC is also expected to support 1Mbps speeds in the future.

3.Bluetooth allows a larger distance of separation between the 2 devices. NFC can work only within 10cm, while Bluetooth can work up to 10m. Here NFC offers more security as you can be sure that no third person can get your credit card details and other personal information when you are making your payment. Moreover, if you wish to transfer files to your friend's phone in a crowded place, you can do it more easily with NFC than Bluetooth.

4.NFC is compatible with older set-ups like RFID as well.

NFC works on the same privacy policy that governs other data transfer technologies. The advantage of using NFC is that it is secure and convenient, saving you lots of time and energy. It is compatible with the older contactless card and RFID set-ups as well. This technology works on the principle of inductive coupling, wherein one device can induce a current in the neighbouring device. The frequency it employs is 13.56MHz. Since a very small amount of energy is used up in the entire process, this method of information exchange is cheap too. Near Field communication is a one way traffic system, where information flow can happen only in one direction at a time (half-duplex).

NFC is extensively finding application in ATMs, turnstiles, parking ticket meter, counters, bus ticket meters, posters, banners, payment machines, entry to restricted areas and more. Owing to its ease of use, many business offices and public services are adopting this method for information exchange. Very soon, NFC will gain international  ground and become a universal method for conducting financial transactions & transferring or accessing  information.