Near-field communication (NFC) is a
short-range, wireless connectivity technology. It enables NFC-equipped
devices to communicate and share data when they are close (less than
four centimeters) to each other. It works similarly to Bluetooth and
Wi-Fi, but there exist differences in range and underlying technology.
NFC only works over very short distances. It makes use of
electromagnetic radio fields to make connections; Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
are based on radio signals.
Use of NFC Tags
There are
four popular applications of NFC - (a) touch and confirm (passive
mode), (b) touch and go (active mode), (c) touch and connect (P2P mode),
and (d) touch and explore.
Touch and confirm is commonly used for
credit card payments where a device is used to read data from the chip
in a credit card. Tap points that are found on public transport
turnstiles or billboards use active mode application of NFC. The P2P
(peer-to-peer) mode lets users transfer data without the hassles of
Bluetooth connectivity that forces users to first select a device and
then enter a PIN associated with that device. Touch and explore lets
users discover the capabilities of a device.
NFC applications
This
technology is popular in Japan, where several large banks are using it
for payment services. Google Wallet is another popular NFC-based
service. Many new credit cards carry an NFC chip inside them. A large
number of modern Android smartphones, particularly those made by
Samsung, are NFC-capable.
Challenges
Apple has not
endorsed NFC. It is working on a separate technology called Bluetooth
Low-Energy (BLE). In a recent update to its Wallet, Google has warmed up
to non-NFC devices' users. It is no longer mandatory to have an
NFC-capable device to use Google's payment service.
Despite these
high profile setbacks, the technology is far from being dead. There is a
huge infrastructure available; far more extensive and widespread than
for competing alternatives. Several large telecom operators - KDDI, NTT
Docomo, and Softbank - already offer NFC payment services.
Future
The
upward trend in NFC growth is unmistakable. This has led to research in
more uses for this technology. Blackberry maker Research-in-Motion is
already developing NFC for enterprise use; where it will complement
traditional security systems. Governments across the world are testing
this technology to improve public transport. France is currently leading
here. NFC promises to make shopping experiences more personalized. The
University of San Francisco already uses an NFC-based system that lets
students building access and make payments. Alaska Airlines is thinking
about replacing boarding passes with NFC. Dubai Metro uses NFC for their
Nol Cards and have recently tied-up with Du and Etisalat to offer NFC
SIMS to enable Mobile payment.
Businesses and NFC
All
these developments pose a unique opportunity for businesses; weather in
London or Dubai. As NFC will become more widespread businesses will
have to switch to it. Those who will embrace this technology in time
will be better prepared to tackle future challenges.
Aqib has worked in home and commercial security industry for over
23 years. He is here to share his vast expertise and knowledge on
access control solutions such as biometric, gate barriers, RFID cards,
CCTV cameras and even NFC solutions.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aqib_Hussain
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