What is the Full Form of NFC?
Near Field Communication is a wireless technology for short-range connectivity in a smartphone, tablets, payment cards, etc. NFC helps an individual to transform information from one device to another in one touch for various purposes like bill payment, sharing content, or downloading information.
History of NFC
- NFC technology history started in 2004 with the NFC Forum by Nokia, Philips, and Sony. The intention of forming this organization is to promote the convenience and security of near-field communication.
- The technology base started way before with Radio-frequency identification (RFID).
- In 2006 forum was successfully able to put the first step of the structure of NFC technology with a specification of NFC tags, creating a roadmap for the future for various companies to work in this field.
- NFC tags read-only stickers with information, which can be read by smartphones.
- Nokia launched the first NFC-enabled phone Nokia 6131 in 2007.
- By the year 2011, many companies launched NFC compatible devices in the market to test their popularity.
- From 2011-2016
- Development of Payment system through smart poster via the mobile phone app.
- The payment process developed through the partnership of many companies like Samsung and VISA decides to develop the payment system.
- Development in the security system of the NFC device IBM developed authentication technology.
- Payment systems are launched by companies through a tie-up with mobile companies and banks.
- After 2016 services like google pay, apple pay offered customers ease of payment through handheld devices or wearables.
Characteristics of NFC
- Single Touch: Near Field, Devices works with one single touch to save time in process of data transfer, payment, banking, and information transfer.
- Versatile: NFC technology works with various fields like offices, cafes, and restaurants, colleges, universities to keep track of employees and students to maintain data security. At the same time, social networking, gaming, and the collection of coupons through the wireless network is easy for individuals.
- Technology: Quick and easy setup for wireless technology through devices.
- Short-range: NFC devices work with short distances usually up to 10 cm, as it works through the creation of a magnetic field with the use of power to receive a signal through radio fields.
How does it work?
For NFC to work devices, which are willing to transfer and receive, must have NFC chip within their built. Near Field Communication use electromagnetic radio fields to make the transfer of data, both devices need to be very close to each other. Device transfer data to another device with physical touch or from not more than a few centimeters (not more than 10cm) away from each other. The action of transfer should be performed intentionally to avoid any unwanted theft or transaction due to pocket dial.
NFC uses magnetic induction, which emits electronic current creating a magnetic field between devices to bridge the distance, while the signal received by similar technology by receiver devices and transfer of data occurs. Speed of transfer is generally not more than 424kb/s
- P2P Transfer: transferring information by switching between the active and passive state of the device
- Read/Write mode: Active device reads/writes with a passive device through NFC.
- Card Emulation: Payment system used to get information on the card for wireless payment in one tap.
Examples of NFC
- Samsung Textiles: NFC tags allow individually to update social media, customize profiles in mobile (silent, normal, outdoor), making a call, open a webpage through its applications. Once individual programmed tiles in one tap it automatically, adjust itself according to the environment.
- Sony Xperia Smart Tags: In competition with Samsung Textile, Xperia smart tags work on NFC technology. Once the individual places these tags at home, office, cars, etc. It adjusts itself according to the environment like turning Wi-Fi on in mobile devices instead of using mobile networks, switching profiles into silent in office or bedroom with one tap.
- Nokia Tags: Nokia promotes using NFC tags in public areas, so individuals with one tap look into categories of products, colors, facilities, price range, etc.
- Research in Motion: Famous especially in BlackBerry, with one-touch music can be stream in-car system home music system or can be shared with friends.
NFC vs RFID
| NFC | RFID |
| Near Field Communication not only read but share, transfer, write and work as a tag in payment system. | RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification which enables powered device to read tags unpowered tags, sticks |
| NFC Used for Banking, Payment system, data transfer. | RFID used for Tagging products, Tracking locations, Tracing progress. |
| NFC works with short distance | RFID can work from comparatively long distance |
| Expensive | Cheap |
Advantages and Disadvantages in Full Form of NFC
Below are the points to explain the advantages and disadvantages :
Advantages
- Ease of Use: Since the development of mobile wallets, customers can make quick payments through smartphones or wearables. With one-touch payment, consumers don’t need to carry cash or heavy wallet with them.
- Versatile: NFC provides various services like payment, banking, reservation of movies or restaurants and collecting coupons makes it an attractive package of multiple services in your pocket with a single device.
- User Experience: Development in quick and wireless technology helps many businesses and consumers to increase productivity and avoid time-consuming processes.
- Smooth Functioning: Many offices, colleges, universities use security systems for entry and exit through their Mobile device. Many employers maintain data security use information sharing through NFC in the office.
- Security: services like mobile wallets are proving themselves to be much more secure than credit cards, where device card details and payment details are password protected even in case of mobile theft. NFC enables Cards are much safer than cards with the magnetic strip since it avoids physical access of customer’s debit and credit cards.
Disadvantages
- Short Distance: NFC only works when two devices are very close, which can prove to be a headache for people comparatively at the long distances since they can only connect the device when they are close to each other.
- Low Speed: Data transfer rate is still very low 100kb/s to 424kb/s, which makes it difficult and time-consuming for transferring large data.
- Expensive: Adopting NFC technology is difficult for the small business sector since installation and maintenance costs can reduce substantial profit.
- Less Advantage: Many customers looking for payment through the NFC system goes toward larger companies, smaller companies for whom NFC is expensive losing their customers.
- Security Issues: Even after proven security comparisons with credit cards, NFC system still faces security threats, because huge technology development frauds still occurred. With mobile hacking entire data and NFC systems come in to question. Vulnerability in case of security issues towards personal data acts as a continuous challenge in this technology.
- Power Consumption: It is observed that the power consumption rate in NFC compatible devices are a bit high compare to others.
Conclusion – Full Form of NFC
Near Field Communication faces challenges in security, Cost in the market but shown growth since 2010 through various mobile devices, payment systems, banking services through partnerships between companies to develop new, easy and secure infrastructure. Companies like Apple and Samsung use NFC in flagship devices as a selling point, with mobile wallet technology and new NFC enable cards making this technology secure and easy to use for every individual.
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This is a guide to the Full Form of NFC. Here we discuss the history of NFC, characters, examples, how does it work with the advantages and disadvantages in detail. You can also go through our other related articles to learn more –
