The use of NFC technology is on the rise. It is increasingly common to find these acronyms anywhere. This is because it is an ideal mechanism to establish wireless communication between devices without a previous pairing. Do you know what does NFC stand for? Here, I will tell you. With this open system, different transactions can now be carried out in real-time and almost instantly, through the validation and identification of people or teams. Keep reading and I’ll tell you everything you need to know about NFC technology.
What does NFC stand for?
NFC is standing for Near Field Communication. In other words, it is an open platform for instant communication, through which data can be transferred up to 424 kbit per second between devices.
This technology is characterized by operating in the 13.56 MHz band, at high frequency and a short-range, since it works in a range no greater than 20 centimeters between one equipment and another.
Comparing it with similar technologies such as Bluetooth with several meters of range could seem a drawback. Still, we will see that this has its advantages, especially in terms of the security of interconnected devices.
The strongest point of this system is the speed with which it communicates without requiring the pairing of devices. Also, its use is very safe and transparent for all users. In general, all devices that have this technology can receive and send data in real-time.
HOW DOES NFC WORK?
The operation of NFC technology is quite simple. It can be in 2 different ways:
Active Mode: The two devices have an NFC chip, thus causing an electromagnetic field to exchange information. Similar to how Bluetooth technology works for device synchronization. For example, when a wireless speaker plays the music that mobile plays.
Passive Mode: Only one device is active and the other uses the magnetic field it generates for data transfer. This is the most common use. For example, when we pay at the supermarket with our watch, a mobile phone or card with the chip simply brings them closer to the payment terminal.
WHAT IS THE NFC FOR?
NFC technology is ideal for exchanging data wirelessly between one device and another. This technology offers a wide range of possibilities, of which we will now see the most important.
This is the most frequent and prominent use of NFC. All you have to do is bring the phone, the card (as long as it has an NFC chip) or the smartwatch to the payment device so that the expense is directly associated with a purchase receipt and the discount is automatically made from the user’s bank account.
It is the favorite of many people today, as it is very fast and convenient by dispensing with traditional cards and cash.
Many financial institutions have developed their payment gateways, as have the manufacturers of mobile phones and sports heart rate monitors. Nowadays, it is already common to find the Apple Pay, Garmin Pay or Fitbit Pay applications available that allow payments.
This is a function widely used in companies and any type of venue where it is necessary to know who is accessing at all times.
In this case, the NFC is used to regulate access to various places using some type of identification card, be it a building or the entrance to places or public transport. It is only required to bring a special card, a phone or a smartwatch to the reading device.
In the future, these uses will be expanded. New possibilities are beginning to appear, such as access to car parks without having to take a ticket or being able to open the car just by bringing the mobile closer to the driver’s door.
AUTOMATION
NFC chips are also used to automate some everyday processes. For example, in smart homes, it is used to activate Wi-Fi automatically when the user arrives, just by bringing the watch or phone closer to the reading equipment. It is also quite useful for activating Bluetooth in the car.
SYNCHRONIZE DEVICES
It is the use with which the use and pairing by Bluetooth of two devices are dispensed with since NFC allows automatic synchronization in a faster way. For example, speakers or chargers can be activated just by bringing the mobile device closer to these computers.
ORIGIN OF NFC TECHNOLOGY
NFC is a technology that existed long before its impulse. It refers to a variety of identification through radio frequency or RFID. The difference is that its name is different and is more limited since it only works a few inches away.
In 2004 an institution was born whose function is to establish and control the NFC’s standard aspects, whose name is NFC-Forum, which has as members the companies Nokia, Google, Paypal, Visa, At & t, Dell, Sony, Intel, Samsung and Microsoft.
NFC-Forum is responsible for the architecture, specifications and parameters of the operation of NFC technology. It also drives the development of protocols to monitor compliance with specifications and educate users about using this technology.
IS NFC TECHNOLOGY SAFE?
NFC technology, like any other electronic mechanism, has a small degree of vulnerability because it works using a radio frequency, which can make it easy to copy the codes that belong to the chip.
However, this is only possible if the device to be copied is very close, which reduces the chances of this happening easily. When operating at a maximum of 20 centimeters, it is very difficult for a third computer to interfere.
Also, the security provided by this communication mechanism is reinforced by the measures that NFC chip providers continuously adopt, such as SSL encryption and the new anti-fraud matters that are implemented in credit and debit cards.
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