NFC (Near Field Communication) is a technology that allows adjacent devices to communicate with each other without contact. NFC technology is embedded in smartphones, payment cards, and smartbands. NFC technology may have been talked about a lot recently, but this technology is nothing new. Since a few years ago, several smartphone manufacturers embedded NFC technology in several series of upper-middle class smartphones or on flagship smartphones.
NFC on smartphones a few years ago may have been less booming, but now NFC has increasingly gained a place due to other technological developments. For example, the e-toll card, which is mandatory for drivers who want to enter tolls, makes NFC smartphones sell well. NFC smartphones allow e-toll cardholders to top up their balances and update their e-toll balances.
What is NFC?
As mentioned above, NFC technology allows two NFC-tech devices to communicate with each other if they are close together.
One device will act as a transmitter, and the other device will act as a signal catcher. For example, e-toll/e-money cards and other devices that become transmitters (can be smartphones, smartbands, card reader machines on e-tolls, ATM machines, EDC machines, etc.).
How does NFC work?
NFC works by bringing two devices closer together, but perhaps it will remind us of Bluetooth and wifi, both of which rely on radio waves to transmit information. In NFC, the technology used is the old type of radio frequency identification (RFID), which uses electromagnetic induction to transmit information.
NFC on an active device, e.g. NFC on a smartphone. NFC on this smartphone can induce an electric current in passive devices (e-toll cards or e-money) for data transfer purposes. Thus, NFC technology on passive devices does not require power for data transfer purposes. Therefore, we can see that the e-toll/e-money card does not have a battery but can still communicate with active NFC devices such as smartphones.
Thanks to NFC technology, now e-toll/e-money cards are commonly used to pay for buses, enter toll gates, pay for groceries, and many others. Just one tap, then the transaction can be done.
E-toll/e-money is a contactless payment solution that is highly recommended during this pandemic, because it can minimize the spread of viruses by touching or contacting objects.
In order for two devices with NFC to communicate with each other, they must be at a fairly close distance, no more than 10 cm. Another with Bluetooth, which can still reach a distance of 10-meters to communicate data.
How does NFC function on a cellphone?
The advantage of NFC is the connection speed. In less than 10 seconds, two devices can be connected using NFC, faster than Bluetooth. Currently, NFC is still limited to upper-middle-class smartphones and flagship smartphones. Even though NFC is widely available on smartphones, you can enjoy its functions as below:
1. Payment/Payment without contact
Smartphones with NFC can make payments just by bringing them closer to the postal terminal. Samsung, for example, has the Samsung Pay payment line. The Samsung Pay app was originally created for phones with NFC. Without an NFC phone, Samsung Pay is of little use. With Samsung Pay and NFC, users can make contactless payments. Enter your credit or debit card data into Samsung Pay. When you want to pay the cashier, just open Samsung Pay and stick or hold the phone to the reader.
2. Read e-toll/e-money balance
If you frequently use e-tolls or e-wallets, then a phone with NFC will be useful. The reason is, you don't need to go to ATMs or to Indomaret and Alfamart to check your balance.
3. Transfer data to the PC
Some PCs today are even equipped with NFC technology. Well, if your phone also has NFC, then you can use it to transfer data from your phone to your PC wirelessly, without Bluetooth, just NFC.
4. Wifi connection
There's currently a tool called Wi-Fi Porter, which lets you directly access public Wi-Fi without the need to enter a password. Plug the NFC phone into the Wi-Fi port, and voila! You are directly connected to wifi.
5. Send Phone Number
Still sending phone numbers via WhatsApp and SMS? Wow, with NFC, you can send phone numbers just by holding the phones close to each other, you know! Sophisticated right.
6. Transfer media between NFC phones
Want to send photos, videos, or important documents to a friend's phone? Well, if you use an NFC-enabled phone, you just need to hold the phones close to each other to be able to transfer data quickly.
There are still many other NFC functions that have not been written here. You can look it up yourself, or you can try it right away by buying an NFC phone.
This is the latest information about NFC technology in smartphones. I hope this article will be useful. Thank you all for visiting my blog and waiting for the next information to be up to date. ☺
