Recall a well-known joke: laziness is the engine of progress. Are you tired of shuffling a deck of payment cards of various banks in front of the ATM, confusing which of them contains the money? Maybe you decided to keep up to date and not overload your wallet and pockets with cash? And how do you like the prospect of instantly buying transport tickets without bothering yourself with wasting time in lines? All these obvious amenities characterize the potential of the rapidly evolving Near Field Communication contactless technology.
Bluetooth and NFC
NFC technology is not the first invention to allow wireless file sharing. The principle of operation of Near Field Communication technology is based on the interaction of magnetic fields of specialized devices. In this case, the interacting devices are located at a distance of up to 10 cm. Its predecessor - Bluetooth technology - provides communication at a greater distance - up to 100 m. Its work is based on the reception and transmission of radio waves in the ISM band (2.4-2.48 GHz )
For Near Field Communication, the maximum data transfer rate reaches 424 Kbps per second, which is an order of magnitude lower than the Bluetooth communication speed of 2.1 Mbps. Is there really a regression?
Comparing the two above-mentioned technologies, we note that reducing the communication range provides a higher level of data transfer security. An important advantage of a newer than Bluetooth method of communication is the instant connection of interoperable devices (about 0.1 s). In addition, it involves communication with passive (non-radiating) NFC devices.
Mass technology
The future expansion of Near Field Communication is determined by the universal and widespread nature of devices - its carriers: the NFC function in a phone, tablet or smart card is available to the mass user. Technology naturally advances technological progress. In the Russian mobile phone market in 2014, the share of smartphone sales reached 58%. Of these, 80% are equipped with the Android 4.0 operating system adapted for short-range communications. The NFC Android short-range function introduced in it, offered to smartphone owners, is called the Beam option.
NFC principle
Some experts claim that the first version of contactless communication technology - Bluetooth - is outdated. He is now criticized for the built-in profiles that strictly regulate the connection of the headset, file transfer, network access. Such a dogmatic arrangement initially limits the scope of Bluetooth.
New technology offers more constructive approaches. Payment card emulation, reader mode and device communication mode are today's technical capabilities. In the future, the concept of how to use NFC will progress.
In fact, NFC is quite flexible, since it initially offers a multivariate format: a database with parameters stitched in it, some of which are redundant. This is important to ensure the development of technology. These parameters themselves participate in the configuration of near contactless communication, being substituted into the variables of various types of software. This concept provides versatility and multivariance.
NFC Potential
Technology is evolving: many owners of smartphones equipped with the Android operating system know how to use NFC to make contactless payments. A SIM card from an operator developing near-field technology (its name is literally translated from English), emulates contactless payment, discount cards, service documents, reads RFID tags attached to goods, and also connects two devices for reception and transmission files in P2P mode.
We remind readers why NFC is promising: there is a powerful non-profit association of international corporations that initiate its development and distribution. These are the famous locomotives of the scientific and technological revolution: Google, Microsoft, Nokia, NXP Semiconductors, Philips, Samsung, Sony.
Near Field Communication technology is actively supported by 14 leading mobile network operators, which occupy more than 40% of the global mobile communications market.
An example of a major investment in this technology is equipment in London: 60 thousand NFC-terminals for the 2012 Olympics.
Purchasing NFC Devices
When buying a modern device, it is logical to determine whether it has support for the contactless communication method we are considering. This can be recognized by external signs or by directly entering the device menu. What does an NFC smartphone look like?
The presence of the contactless function is eloquently indicated by the NFC logo on the gadget panel or the inscription Near Field Communication on its batteries. However, we recommend that you turn on the smartphone and pay attention to whether there is a sub-item “NFC Technology” in the “Wireless Networks” item. Among the models of smartphones that implement Near Field Communication features are Xperia Sola, Xperia P, Sony Xperia S, HTC One X, Google Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus.
However, in addition to the active controller, implemented in a smartphone or tablet, there are passive ones. An example of the latter are cards used for multiple tolls in vehicles.
How to use NFC in the Android menu
Using the Beam feature in Android OS involves unlocking the screen of each interacting smartphone or tablet. Further, a simple setup is necessary: in the menu you should go to the item "Wireless networks", use the sub-item "More ...", confirm the permission to exchange data with another device. This way you activate the Beam function.
If the device with which your smartphone or tablet interacts with it is detected, you will hear a beep. A second beep will sound after the completion of the information transfer process. Note that the NFC function instead of the data transmits a link to them in case of exchange of applications (ARK files), web pages, videos from YouTube. Using a smartphone and tablet, it becomes possible to read information from various specialized cards equipped with NFC chips.
Introducing new contactless communications
According to statistics, the maximum growth in the popularity of smartphones began at the end of 2011, when the installation of built-in special functions on these devices, in particular those implementing contactless communication, was significantly activated. The reason for this is obvious: smartphones and tablets equipped with it are turning into even more multifunctional ones. With their help, user identification, the implementation of the electronic wallet function, the replacement of several bank cards, a bonus card, a ticket or an electronic key at once become possible. The listed methods are not an exhaustive list of how to use NFC: a promising technology is developing further. Currently, the capabilities of such a connection between smartphones are widely used.
Security questions
Skimming (the use of fraudulent reading pads on ATMs and terminals) of data becomes impossible with contactless NFC technology, since there is basically no card getting into technical devices. The owner of the smartphone at the same time sets its lock code. A specialized program (wallet) blocks attempts to unauthorized use of NFC software.
year 2014. The development of near field technology in Russia
The largest Russian mobile operators have become pioneers in the development of the NFC market. Megafon realized for its customers the possibility of making cashless payments by installing NFC-terminals in the branches. Also, this operator introduced in St. Petersburg non-cash payment for the services of the Metro using this technology.
Beeline, in parallel with Megafon, provides non-cash services to the St. Petersburg metro.
MTS, together with Lukoil, has become a pioneer in the contactless payment of gas at gas stations.
Sberbank of Russia has already produced cards of the MasterCard system, which work without contact using NFC-technology.
The immediate prospects for the development of technology
The prospects for the development of near-field technology show the British. Since the end of last year, Cash on Tap has been operating on Foggy Albion. With its help, customers of the local mobile operator Everything Everywhere got the opportunity to make cashless payments.
The project was implemented in conjunction with the MasterCard payment system. Currently, their money transfer amounts are quite limited in amount - up to £ 20.00. In addition, the service provides all users a loan of £ 10.00.
Cash on Tap did not arise from scratch. A powerful infrastructure was planned and implemented for him, numbering 230 thousand trade and service enterprises. This service should be noted. It will progress, the amount of transfers will grow.
Conclusion
Gartner, an IT consulting company, believes Near Field Communication is a promising area. However, she emphasizes that the effectiveness of introducing a new and promising technology, the idea of which is quick and user-friendly contactless payment, depends on many factors. After all, quality support for NFC consists of the concerted actions of many legal entities - manufacturers of smartphones and tablets, mobile operators, commercial banks, sellers practicing cashless payments.
Banks consider the latter circumstance critical. Indeed, with the non-synchronism of such interaction, development will be hindered. They offer, as an alternative, NFC contactless payment services through QR codes. Moreover, according to bankers, NFC-payment can still be read. The presence in the settlement bank of QR codes of readers' devices and, accordingly, the practice of verification requests addressed to them are good barriers against fraud.
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