Near Field Communication(NFC)

ABSTRACT 

 Near Field Communication or NFC, is a short-range high frequency wirelesscommunication technology which enables the exchange of data between devices over about a 10centimeter (around 4 inches) distance. The technology is a simple extension of the ISO 14443  proximity-card standard (contactless card,RFID) that combines the interface of a smartcard and areader into a single device. An NFC device can communicate with both existing ISO 14443smartcards and readers, as well as with other NFC devices, and is thereby compatible with existing contactless infrastructure already in use for public transportation and payment. NFC is primarilyaimed at usage in mobile phones . 

 Near-field Communication (NFC) is characterized as a very short-range radiocommunication technology with a lot of potential, especially when applied to mobile handsets.Imagine yourself using your cell phone to interact with posters, magazines, and even with products while at the store, and with such interaction initiating a request or search for relatedinformation in real-time. Other usages of NFC include the electronic wallet to make paymentsusing your handset, the same way you do with your credit card. With NFC all this is possible. But NFC is still a young technology.

Near Field Communication(NFC)

Near-field Communication (NFC) is characterized as a very short-range radio communication technology with a lot of potential, especially when applied to mobile handsets. Imagine yourself using your cellphone to interact with posters, magazines, and even with products while at the store, and with such interaction initiating a request or search for related information in real-time. Other usages of NFC include the electronic wallet to make payments using your handset, the same way you do with your credit card. With NFC all this is possible. But NFC is still a young technology. That said, NFC-enabled handsets are being introduced into the market, and deployments and pilots around the world are occurring. 

Near-field Communication or NFC is a standard defined by the NFC Forum, a global consortium of hardware, software/application, credit card companies, banking, network-providers, and others who are interested in the advancement and standardization of this promising technology.

NFC is a short-range radio technology that operates on the 13.56 MHz frequency, with data transfers of up to 424 kilobits per second. NFC communication is triggered when two NFC-compatible devices are brought within close proximity, around four centimeters. Because the transmission range is so short, NFC-based transactions are inherently secure; more on this shortly.

When compared to the other short-range radio technologies, NFC is extremely short ranged and what I call people-centric. Some of the other short-range communication technologies have similar characteristics, for example RFID, while others are completely different yet complimentary to NFC; for example Bluetooth and Infrared. A good scenario of such compliment is the combination of NFC and Bluetooth, where NFC is used for pairing (authenticating) a Bluetooth session used for the transfer of data.

So-called breakout technologies come and go, with only a relative handful ever having a significant impact. NFC (Near Field Communications) technology is still pretty new, but it has the potential to be the next big thing in our personal and business lives.

WHAT IS NFC TECHNOLOGY?

NFC is a wireless technology that allows two devices to exchange information. The current specification calls for the devices’ antennas to be within about 3/4 of an inch of each other.

This requirement provides one of the key benefits of NFC: security. Throw in data encryption, and it’s highly unlikely that Sam Spy can sniff the data in an NFC transaction. It’s this tight security that leads many people to believe that NFC is the hot ticket item in contactless payment systems.

HOW NFC WORKS

Sony, Nokia, and Philips helped form the NFC Forum in 2004 in order to advance the standard, which is based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. RFID uses passive electronic tags (essentially, electronic barcodes) to store data. When used in close proximity, the RFID reader supplies power to the RFID tag via magnetic induction; the tag then broadcasts its data to a reader.

NFC operates in a similar manner. Working in close proximity, an active NFC device uses induction to power a passive NFC tag. But the technology also works between two active or powered NFC devices, opening up more possibilities than just scanning fancy barcodes.

The NFC specification spells out how NFC devices operate, sending and receiving data using short-range radio transmissions at 1356MHz. It also defines the speed at which data is sent. NFC currently supports data rates of 106Kbps, 212Kbps and 424Kbps. (Not much faster than a modem from the early days of the Internet.) That’s ideal, because NFC data is usually very short; you wouldn’t use it to send a video to your srnartphone, but it’s a great way to exchange contact information with a client.

NFC works in three modes. Reader/writer mode lets your NFC capable device work with passive tags. Peer-to-peer mode lets two active NFC devices exchange data such as contact information. Card emulation mode lets an NFC device act like a smartcard, such as those used in transportation and ticketing systems.

Passive NFC devices only need an induction loop to pick up the necessary power from an active NFC device, a transmitter chip, which usually also contains the data that you want to share, and an antenna.

Active NFC devices add a power source, a transceiver (transmitter/receiver) chip, and an antenna. The part count is small, as are the sizes of the components, so NFC capabilities can be built into a number of devices.

NFC & SMARTPHONES

There are many NFC-enabled smartphones available. Many models are currently only available outside the U.S., but they appear to be on the rise in the states. Google’s Android OS supports NFC technology, and Apple has obtained patents for NFC technology for its iPhones and iPads.

Google Wallet (www.google.com/wallet) is one example of an NFC payment system. You can make a purchase at any store that accepts Google Wallet or MasterCard PayPass. Simply tap the payment terminal with your smartphone, enter your PIN, and the transaction is complete.

NFC USES

Although NFC is commonly associated with contactless payment systems, the technology has many other possibilities.

Contactless payment 

Smartphones can be more than just a replacement for credit/debit cards. You can use a smart- phone, or any device with a built-in computer, to keep track of your credit! debit card usage, including logging what you purchased, how much it cost, and where you bought it.

Stores can use NFC devices in place of loyalty cards and provide paperless coupons for customers. Thus, no more waiting in line behind a coupon dipper sorting through dozens of coupons.

Medical

NFC-enabled medical devices can monitor your health and even dispense medication. For example, the SleepTrak from iMPak Health uses an NFC device the size of a credit card to monitor your sleep habits. Attach the device to your arm at bedtime. In the morning, an NFC-equipped smartphone reads the card and sends the data to your doctor.

Other NFC medical devices in the works include diabetic monitoring systems that can communicate with insulin pumps and advise how much insulin to dispense after a blood sugar check.

Access control

Many businesses provide temporary access to their facilities. An NFC device, such as a smartphone, could act as the employee’s key-card. Employers could implement certain criteria, such as time limits that provide access only during business hours, or an expiration date that provides users access only for a day, a week, or a month.

Tickets and transportation

Some NFC devices let you store ticket information and purchases for a variety of services, from theater and sporting events to airlines, toll roads, and parking spots. At some point, you’ll be able to wave your NFC-enabled smartphone at a parking meter and be on your way.

With the Isis system, you can preload a virtual debit card on your smartphone or use a virtual credit card to pay for your travel. Simply tap a payment terminal in the transit system with your smartphone, and you’re on your way; no need to buy a ticket.

Advertising/marketing

Companies can place passive NFC tags in catalogs, marketing materials, even posters for upcoming movies. If you want to know more, you can scan the NFC tag, which will direct your smartphone’s browser to the relevant website.

Inventory management

Combining RFID and NFC can lead to cost reductions in inventory control. Replacing costly REID readers with simple NFC smartphones will allow more personnel to perform inventory, reducing the time it takes and the dreaded inventory fatigue.

THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE

NFC is a promising technology. While NFC applications aren’t in the domain of consumers, it’s consumer usage that will be necessary for NFC to reach critical mass. That’s why 2012 may be the most important year for NFC, with Isis trials getting underway, and more and more smartphones incorporating NFC chips. It is possible that you may be able to use your next smartphone to buy your groceries, pay for your parking, and simplify your next medical checkup.

A History of E-Wallets and Near Field Communication Technology



Digital wallets use both online banking and near field communication technology. Early innovators in the field of online banking allowed people to pay bills and make purchases without having to reach for a credit card. Around the same time, firms like Sony, Nokia and Philips began to seriously develop near field communication (NFC) technology. NFC is based on radio-frequency identification (RFID) and allows two access points to share information with another merely by being close to one another.



You might have used NFC to pay for gas at the pump or to add friends to your social network using your phone. Soon, or so the proponents of NFC claim, you’ll be able to pay for everything using NFC on your phone. One main difference between e-wallets and other payment services is that the e-wallet is tied directly to your bank account.


NFC and the Digital Wallet Today



Digital wallets face two obstacles: Getting the public to start using them and getting vendors to start accepting them. Still, the limited use today doesn’t seem to stop any of the major players from going headlong into developing e-wallets further. Visa and American Express are both pursuing the technology. Google and Amazon, big players in the world of commerce, but not finance, also offer e-wallets to their customers. Starbucks allows user to tap and pay with their smartphone using an app.

http://www.patexia.com/feed/near-field-communication-technology-electronic-wallets-and-the-future-of-digital-transactions-1760

More refers:

www.techstudy.net   www.androidpit.com     http://apcmag.com/