NFC - what is it?
NFC – what is it?
NFC (Near Field Communication) is a technology for wirelessly transmitting information over short distances.
To initiate communication, it is necessary to bring the NFC reader (active device) close to the NFC tag (passive NFC tag) on which the information is stored.
Active NFC modules can be found in devices such as mobile phones, tablets, headphones, speakers, payment terminals, etc.
The most popular application of NFC technology is contactless payments.
NFC tags
NFC Tag
, also known as an NFC tag or NFC label, is an electronic system in which any information can be saved to enable its subsequent reading.
NFC tags do not require internal power supply because they are powered by radio waves when an active device with an NFC module (e.g. a mobile phone) is brought close to it.
We invite you to check out our offer of NFC tags, in particular we recommend:
NFC tags
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NFC stickers
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NFC keychains
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specialized NFC tags
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tags on metal
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contactless NFC cards
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Reception
Theoretically, the maximum range of NFC communication is 10 - 20 cm. In practice, the communication range does not exceed 5 - 6 cm. Most often, information transfer is performed by touching the reader to the NFC tag.
NFC in practice
The low price of NFC tags and the widespread availability of readers in mobile phones contribute to the constantly growing popularity of NFC technology. NFC tags store small amounts of information (usually several dozen/hundred bytes). Reading the saved data is very fast and is limited to touching the phone to the passive NFC system.
Examples of applications of NFC technology
Contactless payments
The phone's NFC module is able to emulate a payment card, making it possible to conclude a contactless payment transaction using the phone.
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Interactive posters / stands / leaflets
In advertising, we most often use NFC tags, which, due to their minimal thickness, can be easily placed in advertising materials.
Information stored in NFC tags may, among other things, direct the user to a specific website, launch a specific application, display information or provide contact details.
Protection of goods against counterfeits
NFC technology enables identification of the authenticity of NFC tags, thanks to which users can confirm the legality of the purchased product or document by bringing their mobile phone close to it.
The technology for protecting products against counterfeiting and guaranteeing integrity using electronic seals is provided by the Brand Protector solution.
Warehouse management/logistics
Marking products with NFC tags allows them to be quickly identified. Additionally, the NFC tag memory can be used to store information about electronically identified products.
Monitoring of goods stored in difficult conditions is possible thanks to specialized NFC tags. Our offer includes dedicated solutions for identifying wood, specialized packaging, containers, bedding, clothes, etc.
Identification of people/animals
The unique NFC tag number allows you to clearly identify and monitor the activities of people and animals.
To identify people, we recommend purchasing silicone wristbands, plastic proximity cards or NFC keychains.
Animal identification is made possible by microchips placed under the animal's skin.
Automation
NFC tags allow you to save complex configuration information that can be read and used in a very short time.
Example applications:
- pairing of Bluetooth devices
- provision of WIFI network
- activation of configuration profiles on the phone
For automation purposes, we recommend using NFC stickers or dedicated tags for use on metal surfaces.
Micropayments
NFC technology enables the introduction of a micropayment system (e.g. in the Prepaid model). In-house contactless micropayment and time tracking systems are used in rental companies/hotels/pools/spas.
Balance debit operations are performed by identifying the person assigned to a silicone wristband with a built-in NFC chip.
Technical information
NFC technology uses radio waves with a frequency of 13.56MHz for communication. Communication is possible both between an active device and a passive NFC tag (ISO 14443) and in Peer to Peer mode (ISO 18092), where two active devices can exchange information with each other.
For most NFC tags we can guarantee min. 100 thousand Hassle-free data read/write operations and data storage period of up to 10 years.