What is NFC all about?
As the name itself may suggest, Near Field Communication or NFC is essentially a method by which two electronic devices communicate with each other. While the official standards set for NFC allow you to connect devices 4cm apart from each other, the technology can work up to 10cm.Consider NFC as something closer to a barcode system, which allows the scanner to read the code and identify the product without the need of Wi-Fi, LTE, or even a mobile network connection. However, the “reading” that NFC tags do is not only customizable to a whole new level, but it can be used for far more complex functions than just identifying products.Does my phone have NFC?
As a rule of thumb, you can expect most major flagship and even mid-range devices to boast an NFC chip under their hood. While Apple devices have been equipped with the NFC chip ever since 2014, they are restricted by the manufacturer to work only for Apple Pay.If you own an Android device and still unsure of whether your beloved device comes with an NFC chip, there is a way to find out. Depending on your mobile manufacturer, you can find the NFC option in the Settings app hidden under “Wireless & Networks” or “More”. On some devices like the Sony Xperia line-up, you can even find the subtle NFC logo engraved on the back panel.Things you can do with NFC on Android
While a few handpicked countries enjoy Android Pay and NFC for mobile payments, the rest of you may hate the fact that such a brilliant piece of tech isn’t being put to good use. Regardless of whether you can go grocery shopping with Android Pay yet, there are plenty of mind blowing things that the little NFC chip can do for you.Add Wi-Fi network with NFC on Android
NFC alarm that forces you to get out of bed
Download Sleep as Android from the Google Play Store
This app comes with a feature called CAPTCHA that makes it much harder to turn off the alarm. With several options such as solving a math problem, posing for a selfie, scanning a QR or NFC code and more, Sleep as Android is a great way to shake up your oversleeping habit.Once you have downloaded the Sleep as Android app on your device, head over to the Settings menu and look for “CAPTCHA: Stop Oversleeping” option, tapping on which will bring about several options, including “NFC tag”. Select the option and scan your NFC tag with NFC on Android to create your morning alarm and place it somewhere farther from your bed, like the bathroom or the kitchen.Every time your alarm starts ringing, you won’t be able to deactivate it until your physically head over to where you have placed the NFC tag and scan it.Sharing media and files with NFC on Android Beam
Turn on “Driving Mode” with NFC in your car
Download MacroDroid from the Google Play Store
MacroDroid is an automation app that allows you to “trigger” certain apps or Android services when the connected NFC tag is scanned. To get started, tap on the “Add Macro” tab on the main menu and scroll down to find “NFC Tag” from the list of trigger options. On the pop-up menu, select “Write New Tag” and enter the name of your car so you can identify and even configure the trigger easily later on.Once you get the “NFC Tag Configured” message, go ahead and start adding actions to your newly created trigger from the list. To create a driving mode NFC tag for your car, start off by using the “Bluetooth Configure” action and select “Toggle Bluetooth”.You can add up to 5 actions to each NFC tag in the free version of the MacroDroid, which should be enough for you to add other actions like “Lanch Application” for triggering apps like the Music Player and Google Maps as soon as you enter the car. Press the check mark at the bottom of the screen and you now have a car-ready NFC tag that will automate your driving mode for you.Replace your wallet with NFC on Android Pay
Download Android Pay from the Google Play Store
Once you have downloaded the Android Pay app, you can start off by adding your credit/debit cards, along with other membership cards from Best Buy, IKEA, Walmart, Starbucks and more. Our card details are saved with the Android Pay app and can now be used at all the serviceable stores for quick mobile payment.Once you have your cart sorted out, simply pull out your Android device, unlock it and place it near the terminal until you see a check mark on your screen. Using the NFC chip built into your phone and the one in the payment receiver, Android Pay will make your mobile transactions quicker than ever.Create next-gen NFC business cards
View your public transit card info
Pros of using NFC on Android:
- The versatility of NFC technology makes it suitable for all kinds of industries like banking, transport, entertainment and so much more.
- One-touch payment solutions with NFC is quite possibly the future of online mobile transactions.
- Short-range transmission makes it a safe technology and can also be used to support security apps.
- NFC Tags are fairly cheap, easily pair with Android devices, and can be used for practically any automation purpose around the house and the workplace.
Cons of using NFC on Android:
- Despite the NFC Forum that controls and promotes the use of this technology, there isn’t a gold standard for the use of NFC on mobile payments.
- Although services like Apple Pay and Android Pay are growing rapidly, the growth of NFC for mobile payments is not strong enough to convince merchants to invest in the technology.
What is the future of NFC on Android?
NFC is a technology that is on the verge of exploding into every field of marketing and industry as we speak. Since the tiny chip is easily configurable, readable by almost all current Android devices, and does not require an active power source to work, the possibilities are endless.Imagine restaurants giving out NFC tags instead of takeaway menus so that you can carry it around as a keychain and have their entire list of special right on your phone when you need them. Some game manufacturers like Disney and Nintendo have already created NFC-based toys that help young ones bring their favorite characters alive by just bringing the phone or tablet closer to them.While there is a need for a universal security standard to be set for the use of NFC, the positives far outweigh the negative aspects that this technology could potentially hold.Wrapping it up
Near Field Communication, or NFC is a part of our day-to-day lives, even if it isn’t necessarily obvious. As major manufacturers move towards making NFC on Android a standard technology like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, developers are also showing more and more interest towards creating apps and services that push the limits of what this wireless technology is capable of.Transferring files from one device to another with the touch of a button, heading over to get groceries at Walmart with just your phone in your pocket, or sharing your contact details like a boss with NFC business cards – which is your favorite way that this technology is put to use? We would love to know what you think about NFC on Android and how you find it to be most useful in your daily routine in the comments section down below.Similar / posts
What is NFC and does it work? Here some awesome ways to use NFC on Android
March 22nd, 2017
Updated on February 19th, 2019
What is NFC and does it work? Here some awesome ways to use NFC on Android
March 22nd, 2017
Updated on February 19th, 2019
What is NFC and does it work? Here some awesome ways to use NFC on Android
March 22nd, 2017
Updated on February 19th, 2019