NFC technology allows you to trigger actions on your phone by tapping the back of the device to another NFC-enabled point of contact.
You may have heard the term NFC before, especially if you’re an Android user. Google’s mobile operating system has had this hardware feature for over a decade, but many users aren’t sure what it does. If you’re reading this, however, you can unlock the capabilities of your smartphone, and we’re not talking about AI apps. With the power of NFC, life becomes as easy as a single tap.
NFC stands for “near field communication,” and it’s a technology that allows you to trigger actions on your phone by tapping the back of the device to another NFC-enabled point of contact. Think of it like a digital handshake between your phone and the world around you. It’s so simple you may not realize how powerful it can be. NFC can enable complete automation of your phone and smart home, quickly connect you to wireless access points and Bluetooth devices, or even be used in more fun and creative ways to share things with friends. If those things sound useful, then you’re in the right place. Keep reading to learn what NFC is and how you can use it to improve your life every day.What is NFC?
NFC, short for “near-field communication,” is a protocol that allows your phone to read information from small copper coils wrapped around a microchip. These are called NFC tags, and they fit into a stamp-sized sticker or other medium, which allows them to be adopted by everything from payment terminals to door locks. If you’ve ever tapped a fob against a reader to access your apartment building or office, you’ve likely used NFC before.
The first Android phone with NFC, the Samsung Nexus S, was released in 2010, but the technology predates it, with the first phone to feature NFC being the clunkily named Panasonic P506iC in 2004. It wasn’t until 2014 that the iPhone adopted this early 2000s technology, but better late than never. Although it’s been around for two decades in mobile phones, NFC only continues to grow its usefulness. Today, most businesses accept NFC payments, as do many mass transit systems like New York City’s Metro.
Many Android phones have an NFC reader/writer built-in, which allows the user to tap the back of the phone to another NFC-enabled device, be that a payment terminal, door lock, Bluetooth device, or a simple NFC tag.Make it easy for guests to use your Wi-Fi
One useful application for NFC is to create an access point for your home Wi-Fi network. Using an NFC sticker — which you can get bags of for only a few dollars — you can assign one sticker to connect any device that taps it to your Wi-Fi network. It’s far easier than spelling out your password for a guest, and it means you don’t have to divulge the password if you use the same alphanumeric phrase as a password elsewhere.
