Near-field communication facts for kids

This is a special chip called a Secure Element. It's an NFC chip found in phones and other devices. It helps keep your information safe when you make secure payments.

Near-field communication (NFC) is a way for two electronic devices to talk to each other when they are very close. They need to be about 4 centimeters (or 1.5 inches) apart or even closer. NFC creates a simple, low-speed connection. This connection can then help set up faster wireless links, like Wi-Fi.

NFC works like other "tap-to-pay" cards. It uses a special connection between two antennas, which are like tiny radios, inside NFC devices. Think of a smartphone and a printer. They can send information back and forth. NFC uses a specific radio frequency (13.56 MHz) and can send data from 106 to 848 kilobits per second.

The NFC Forum is a group that creates the rules and standards for NFC. They also make sure devices work correctly with NFC. NFC can be made very secure, just like credit card payments, by using special codes to protect your information.

NFC standards are based on older radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems. These rules make sure that different NFC devices can understand each other. Groups like the GSMA also help make sure NFC works well on mobile phones. This means your phone can read electronic tags or make payments easily.

How NFC Started

NFC grew from a technology called radio-frequency identification (RFID). RFID lets special devices power up and talk to small electronic tags using radio waves. This was used to identify things, check if they were real, and track them. Other similar ideas, like QR codes and barcodes, became more popular for advertising and industry.

Here are some important dates in NFC history:

• 1983: The first patent related to RFID was given to Charles Walton.
• 1997: An early form of NFC was patented. It was first used in Star Wars toys by Hasbro. This allowed two toys to share data when they were close.
• 2002: Philips and Sony decided to work together to create NFC technology. Engineers Franz Amtmann and Philippe Maugars invented key parts of NFC.
• 2003: NFC became an official international standard.
• 2004: Nokia, Philips, and Sony created the NFC Forum. This group helps NFC technology grow.
• 2005: Mobile phones started experimenting with NFC for things like paying for transport in cities.
• 2009: The NFC Forum released rules for devices to share contacts and website links.
• 2010: The Nokia C7 was one of the first smartphones with NFC. The Samsung Nexus S was the first Android phone to show off NFC.
• 2011: Google showed how NFC could start a game or share a contact.
• 2012: Sony introduced NFC "Smart Tags." These could change settings on your phone with just a tap.
• 2014: Apple announced that its Apple Pay service would use NFC.
• 2015: Google launched Android Pay, which also uses NFC for payments.

How NFC Works

NFC is a type of short-range wireless technology. Devices usually need to be 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) or less apart. NFC works at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. It can send data at speeds from 106 to 424 kilobits per second.

NFC always has two parts: an "initiator" and a "target."

• The initiator device creates a radio field. This field can even power up a passive target.
• A passive target can be a simple tag, sticker, or card that doesn't need its own battery.
• Peer-to-peer communication is also possible. This is when two devices, both with their own power, talk to each other.

NFC tags are like tiny storage devices. They hold data and are usually read-only, but some can be written to. They can store personal information like credit card details, loyalty points, or contact info. The NFC Forum has defined four types of tags. These tags have different speeds and features, like how much memory they have or how secure they are.

NFC uses a special way to connect called "inductive coupling." This is like two small antennas forming a tiny transformer in the air. Because the devices are so close, the radio waves don't travel far. This helps prevent interference with other devices. NFC uses a worldwide radio frequency band that doesn't require a license.

NFC can send data at 106, 212, or 424 kilobits per second.

Communication can happen in two main ways:

• Passive Mode: The initiator device creates the radio field. The target device (like a tag) uses this field for power and sends data back by changing the field.
• Active Mode: Both the initiator and target devices create their own radio fields. They take turns sending and receiving data. Both devices need their own power source for this mode.

Every active NFC device can work in one or more of these three ways:

• NFC card emulation: This lets your smartphone act like a smart card. You can use it to pay for things or for tickets.
• NFC reader/writer: This lets your NFC device read information from NFC tags. These tags can be in posters or labels.
• NFC peer-to-peer: This lets two NFC devices talk directly to each other. They can share information quickly.

NFC tags are small data storage devices. They can be read by an NFC device, and sometimes written to. They usually hold between 96 and 8,192 bytes of data. They are often read-only but can be rewritten. People use them to store secure personal data, like debit or credit card info, loyalty program details, or contact numbers.

How Secure is NFC?

Even though NFC only works over a few centimeters, it's possible for someone to try to listen in on the signal. They could also try to change the data. However, many apps use special coding (encryption) to make the connection safe. This is like putting your data in a secret code.

An attacker might be able to listen to the radio signal from up to 10 meters away. But it's much harder to listen to a passive device (like a tag) than an active one (like a phone).

Because NFC uses similar rules to other smart cards, it can be vulnerable to "relay attacks." This is like someone in the middle pretending to be you. They forward your request to a reader and send the answer back to you. But special apps and security features help prevent this.

NFC Standards

This picture shows the different layers of rules that make NFC work. Think of it like steps that allow devices to talk to each other.

NFC standards are rules for how devices communicate and share data. They are based on older RFID rules. The main groups that create these standards are ISO/IEC and the NFC Forum.

The GSM Association (GSMA) is a big group of mobile phone companies. Many of its members are working to use NFC services. They help create rules for NFC on mobile phones. For example, they worked with AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile to create a payment platform called Softcard. This platform allowed phones to act like credit cards. Later, Google bought this technology.

The NFC Forum is a non-profit group started in 2004 by NXP Semiconductors, Sony, and Nokia. Their goal is to make NFC popular in electronics, phones, and computers. They create rules for different types of NFC tags and make sure devices from different companies can work together.

What Can NFC Do?

NFC allows devices to talk in one or two directions. This makes it useful for many things!

NFC devices can act like electronic ID cards or keys. They are used in "contactless payment" systems. This lets you pay with your phone instead of a credit card. You might hear this called NFC/CTLS. NFC can also share small files, like contacts. It can even help set up faster connections, like Wi-Fi, to share bigger files like photos or videos.

Shopping and Payments

NFC devices are great for contactless payments. You can just tap your phone to pay, similar to how you use a credit card or a smart transit card.

• On Android phones (version 4.4 and newer), a feature called Host Card Emulation (HCE) lets apps act like NFC smart cards. This means you can use many different apps for payments or loyalty programs.
• Apple also added NFC payment support with Apple Pay in 2014. Since iOS 11, Apple devices can also read data from NFC tags.
• In the UK, popular NFC payment apps include Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and others. Millions of people use their phones to pay!

Connecting Other Devices

NFC can quickly set up other wireless connections. It's like a quick handshake!

• For example, Android Beam used NFC to connect two phones for a Bluetooth file transfer. Once the transfer was done, Bluetooth would turn off.
• Nokia, Samsung, BlackBerry, and Sony have used NFC to connect Bluetooth headsets or speakers with just one tap.
• This same idea can be used to set up Wi-Fi networks easily.
• Samsung Galaxy phones have a feature called S-Beam. It uses NFC to share network addresses, then uses Wi-Fi Direct to share large files very quickly (up to 300 Mbit/s).

Social Sharing

NFC can be used for social networking. You can share contacts, text messages, links to photos, videos, or files. You can even use it to join multiplayer mobile games!

Identity and Access

NFC-enabled devices can act like electronic ID documents, such as in passports or ID cards. They can also be used as keycards for public transport, login cards, car keys, or access badges. Because NFC has a short range and can be encrypted, it's often more secure than older RFID systems for these uses.

Smartphone Automation with NFC Tags

You can pair NFC-equipped smartphones with NFC tags or stickers. These tags can be programmed using NFC apps. For example, you could tap a tag by your bed to automatically turn off your phone's sound and set an alarm. Or tap a tag in your car to open your navigation app.

These apps don't need a special company or manufacturer. You can use them right away with an NFC phone and a tag. The NFC Forum also created a way to make sure NFC tag data is real and hasn't been changed.

Gaming

NFC has been used in video games!

• Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure used NFC in its toy figures. Each figure had unique data, making them special.
• The Wii U GamePad was the first game console to have NFC built-in.
• Nintendo's amiibo figures also use NFC. Tapping an amiibo to your console unlocks special features in games.

Sports

The Adidas Telstar 18 soccer ball has an NFC chip inside. This chip lets you interact with the ball using your smartphone!

NFC vs. Bluetooth

NFC and Bluetooth are both ways for devices to talk wirelessly over short distances. Here's how they compare:

NFC is slower than Bluetooth and has a much shorter range. But it uses much less power and doesn't need you to "pair" devices manually.

NFC connects much faster than standard Bluetooth (in less than 0.1 seconds). Its maximum data speed (424 kbit/s) is slower than Bluetooth V2.1 (2.1 Mbit/s).

NFC's short range (less than 20 cm) makes it harder for unwanted people to listen in. This is good for busy places where you want to keep your signal private.

NFC can also work with older RFID systems. It uses very little power, similar to Bluetooth Low Energy. However, if NFC is powering a device that has no battery (like a smart credit card), it uses more power than Bluetooth Low Energy.

Devices That Use NFC

Many devices use NFC today.

• In 2011, over 40 Android phones came with NFC.
• BlackBerry phones with OS 7.0 and newer also support NFC.
• MasterCard added NFC support for its PayPass service on Android and BlackBerry phones.
• Samsung and Visa partnered to add a 'payWave' app to the Galaxy S4 phone.
• Microsoft added NFC to Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8. They created a "Wallet hub" for NFC payments.
• In 2014, the iPhone 6 from Apple started supporting NFC. Since 2019, iPhones can also read and label NFC tags using apps.

Where NFC is Used Around the World

By 2011, hundreds of NFC tests had been done. Some companies then started using NFC services in many countries. For example, Orange rolled out NFC technology to banks, stores, and transport companies in several European countries.

• China: China Telecom launched NFC in 2013. They worked with banks to put payment apps on SIM cards. They planned to have many NFC phones and SIM cards by 2014.
• USA: Softcard (from Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) focused on in-store payments using NFC.
• Spain: Vodafone launched its NFC-based SmartPass mobile payment service with Visa. You could pay with your phone using an NFC-enabled SIM card.
• Canada: Rogers Communications launched Suretap in 2014. This allowed users to pay with their phone using gift cards and prepaid MasterCards.
• Sri Lanka: The country's first smart card for workers uses NFC.
• Canada: Tim Hortons (a coffee shop) allowed users to link their prepaid Tim Card to their BlackBerry 10 app. They could then pay by tapping their NFC phone.
• USA: Google Wallet lets you store credit card and loyalty card info. You can then use your NFC phone to pay at places that accept MasterCard PayPass.
• Europe and other places: Germany, Austria, Finland, New Zealand, Italy, Iran, Turkey, and Greece have tested NFC ticketing for public transport. Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, fully replaced paper tickets with NFC cards for public transport in 2013.
• Australia: Bankmecu and Cuscal tested NFC payment stickers. You could stick them to your phone and use them to pay.
• India: India has been using NFC for ticketing at box offices.
• Kenya: Google and Equity Bank introduced NFC payment systems for public transport in Nairobi called BebaPay.
• Australia: In 2019, Victoria, Australia, started testing NFC-enabled Android phones to pay for public transport.

See also

In Spanish: Comunicación de campo cercano para niños

• Campus card
• CIPURSE
• Device-to-device
• EZ-link
• FeliCa
• Indoor positioning system (IPS)
• Object hyperlinking
• Poken
• RuBee
• Smart keychain
• TecTiles
• TransferJet