Use is similar to the contactless found on physical cards and offers several advantages.
The competitiveness among large technology companies favors the development of new functionalities. Today, it is possible, for example, to make secure purchases abroad using only digital means, thanks to features like NFC, which can be exemplified by the Apple Pay system.
Although it works by approximation, the NFC system does not use technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but needs an internet connection to complete transactions.In Brazil, the technology has become more popular in recent years, with the compatibility of card machines and the possibility of transfer between two smartphones.
It is important to emphasize that, although it seems like a unique and inaccessible technology, it is already possible to find them easily, See below how this technology works, its main advantages and some applications that go beyond simple payments via debit or credit in the day-to-day.
NFC: What it is and how it works on the mobile
NFC stands for Near Field Communication or Near Field Communication. It was invented in the middle of 2002 in a partnership of technology brands in Japan. The operation is similar to the RFID system, used in hotel access cards, backpacks and digital keys, but more secure.
As the main feature, and as the name suggests, NFC only works between devices at a short distance.This reduces the possibility of interference from other wireless frequencies and also that a malicious device intercepts communication between the mobile phone and the other payment machine.
To work on a mobile phone, NFC has some requirements, which today are already common in most devices:
- Presence of NFC chip: the phone must be manufactured with an NFC chip in order for the technology to work.Models manufactured from 2014 have gone to include the chip by default;
- Internet connection: Transactions by approximation require a Wi-Fi or mobile connection, carrying out communication between digital systems.
- compatibility of the financial institution with digital systems: for NFC to work, the user must register the card in a digital wallet. Not all lenders offer the service for all platforms, so it is necessary to check the availability of the service in your institution.
Types of NFC
To be feasible for everyday use, each type of NFC has a configuration, which we can summarize in active and passive.
An example of passive NFC is your debit or credit card, which only emits a frequency of data to the machine, as well as cards for use in public transport.
NFC Applications Beyond Payments
Apple Pay was one of the first approximate digital payment systems to become popular among smartphone users. Today, the service allows online payment in shopping apps and services, with digital checking or facial recognition.
Although its main use is still for payments, NFC can be used in other ways, facilitating communication between different devices.Who remembers the old infrared?The technology was widely used among mobile phone users in the mid-2000s to transfer files nearby.
Connection to audio, video and voice devices
Bluetooth is still the main technology used in matching different devices, especially sound and image, but NFC allows data transmission on other media outputs to be done without the use of adapters and more securely, with less interference.
Sharing of files
Replacing traditional cables and uploads, NFC can send and receive files between devices almost instantly.In addition to images, videos and audio, mobile phones can securely exchange links, short text messages, Wi-Fi settings and even passwords.
Although used by a small number of people in Brazil, tracking tags use NFC as a technology base for their operation. After being linked to a cellphone, they can be renamed and tracked in real time.