NFC in your phone is a feature that some people can no longer do without for their daily shopping, while for others it remains a mysterious gadget. 🔮 What is NFC, what is this technology used for, and how do you enable it on your phone? You don't have to ask the Vikings twice for tips. We'll soon tell you how to use NFC!
Modern smartphone with NFC function
Let's start by saying that you need a modern smartphone to use NFC (don't worry, most devices today have a built-in antenna for it). You'll also need a data package. No, you don't need internet on your phone at all to pay for goods in a store. The transaction works just like with a regular plastic card, but instead of the card, you tap your phone to the payment terminal. The data package will be useful for something else entirely.
In Mobile Vikings' prepaid offer, you'll get the right amount of gigabytes, which you can use to show off your purchases by posting photos online. But that's not all, because as part of the package, you'll get unlimited calls and SMS. So you can call your friends to ask for their opinions.
So, what do you say? Ready? Now it's time for the NFC story.
What is NFC in a phone?🕵️♂️
NFC, or near-field communication, is a clever technology that uses radio waves to wirelessly exchange data over short distances – up to 20 cm.
NFC in your phone works like a contactless card – you tap your smartphone to the reader and *beep!* – the devices establish a connection. The difference is that the NFC module combines both the interface of smart cards and a reader. This means it can communicate freely in both directions – with other readers, cards, and naturally, with other devices equipped with NFC. Receiving and sending data can happen at the same time.
Attention, here comes the part for the curious ones. 🤓 The connection mentioned above is made possible by the electromagnetic induction of two antenna loops positioned next to each other.
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NFC function in your phone – what does it enable? 💳
The short range, the lack of need to pair devices, and the speed of establishing a connection make the NFC antenna in your phone ideal for making contactless mobile payments. 💸 Given the prevalence of contactless readers in Poland, this is an exceptionally useful feature that can simplify life and lighten your pockets of your wallet. After all, let's face it – nowadays, you're more likely to forget to bring your hand from home than your phone.
(Unless you're going to a greengrocer's, for some reason greengrocers often prefer physical change, that's their charm and poetica licentia 🥬🍅🍆🥒🥕)
Is NFC safe? ☔
So, but is a virtual duplicate of a payment card on your phone even a safe thing? In practice, mobile payments can be even safer than making the same transaction with a physical contactless card. How is that possible? Well, your phone is usually secured with a password, fingerprint, or face scan – you can set up your smartphone to only authorize payments after unlocking the device. 🦺
How to add NFC to your phone? ➕
Now for the most important part! What do you need to enjoy mobile payments with your smartphone?
- First, you can't buy an NFC module separately for your phone – you need to have a model that is factory-equipped with this antenna. 📱 You'll need to check your device's specifications, but for new smartphones, this is already a common feature.
- To use mobile payments, you also need a SIM card that supports the NFC standard – at Mobile Vikings, of course, we send exactly these types of cards to all our users. 💌 After all, convenience and smart solutions are what Vikings love most.
- The last thing you'll need is a few minutes of free time to configure your device and add your payment card to the app that will handle payments. ⏱️ On Android devices, you can download Google Pay for this purpose, and for iPhones – Apple Pay.
If you have trouble configuring your phone or app, call our HelpDesk at 732 007 007. Our heroes will help you solve the problem, even if you're not a Viking crew member.
How to use NFC? 📱
This is the moment. Equipped with your newly activated NFC, you step into the store to make a test transaction. With a trembling hand, you reach for your favorite cottage cheese, pretending everything is going as usual. You approach the checkout, and your stomach churns when the cashier asks about the payment method. 😨 What do you say? That you'll pay with your phone? That it's mobile? That it's by card? Does it make any difference?
We're clearing up the doubts – the correct answer is number three, because for the reader, it makes no difference whether you present it with a physical contactless card or a phone with NFC functionality.
Your heart races as you hold your phone near the terminal. Something beeped, a wheel is loading, and... a green checkmark next to your card's image confirms that it seems to have worked. A quick check of the reader's screen. Everything is fine there too. ✔️ The cashier grunts, suggesting you stop blocking the queue, but you ignore her. You've obtained the coveted cottage cheese even though you left your wallet at home. Because you now have working NFC on your phone. The future looks bright.
NFC in phones vs. Bluetooth: are there any differences?
Yes, there are a few, although we're dealing with two of the most popular wireless data sharing technologies currently. Bluetooth is the older brother of NFC, as its pioneering days were in the 1990s. It's not as old as the oldest Vikings, but it has managed to transfer millions of data between nearby devices. Interestingly, it can transfer more data than NFC and over longer distances. For NFC, it's 4 cm, for Bluetooth, it's significantly more. The maximum data transfer speed for NFC is 424 kbits/s. For Bluetooth, it's 1–3 Mbit/s. While one NFC-enabled device can only be connected to one other device, Bluetooth allows connections for up to eight devices simultaneously.
So why is NFC more prevalent for mobile payments than Bluetooth? Because it doesn't require device pairing, making it more convenient. Inductive coupling also provides faster connectivity between devices. Thanks to its fast data transfer and shorter reading range, NFC is also considered a more secure technology. By maintaining a 4 cm distance between devices, there's no chance for someone from a distance to intercept your transmission.
Once you taste the convenience of using the NFC module, you won't be able to imagine life without this feature. Do you like these kinds of convenient and innovative solutions? 👟 In that case, you'll like Autorecharge. And have you heard of an operator where unused gigabytes carry over to the next month? We'll give you a hint – all this and even more pleasure you'll find in the simple prepaid offer from Mobile Vikings.
