Atomic Media Works    The Atomic Group

Near field communication (NFC for short) is a form of contactless communication between devices like smartphones or tablets which allows a user to wave the smartphone over a NFC compatible device (or a pre-programmed NFC data chip) to send or receive information without needing to go through multiple steps setting up a connection. Fast and convenient, NFC technology is popular in parts of Europe and Asia, and is quickly spreading throughout the United States.

 

NFC is available in most Android phones and tablets, in the popular Apple iPhone 6 and 6+ models and will continue to be added to newly introduced hardware in the future.  Compatibility is the key to the growth of NFC as a popular payment and data communication method. It must be able to communicate with other wireless technologies and be able to interact with different types of NFC transmissions.

 

The technology behind NFC allows a device to create a radio frequency current that communicates with another NFC compatible device or a small NFC tag holding the information the reader wants. Passive devices, such as the NFC tag in smart posters, store information and communicate with the reader but do not actively read other devices.

 

Both businesses and individuals benefit from near field communication technology. By integrating credit cards, subway tickets, and paper coupons all into one device, a customer can board a train, pay for groceries, redeem coupons or store loyalty points, and even exchange contact information all with the wave of a smartphone.

 

Who's currently in on the action with NFC technology and mobile payments? Google has launched Google Wallet that supports MasterCard PayPass, PayPal offers money transfers between smartphones, and other companies are expected to follow suit. As the technology grows, more NFC compatible smartphones will be available and more stores will offer NFC card readers for customer.