By Nick H Change is inevitable. Technology is bringing about change at a higher pace. People are starting to realize the potential of NFC business cards. Some have it embedded in their debit and credit cards, but most people use it on smartphones. Let’s now understand what NFC business cards are and how they work.
What is an NFC business card?
“An NFC device is a type of wireless “smart chip” that can store information or allow devices to interact with each other without requiring any direct physical contact between them. It consists of an antenna, a microchip, and associated electronic components. The information is typically stored on the microchip as data such as text, pictures, or sounds and can be read when an RFID reader activates the chip.”
How do they work?
Active devices: The active device contains its power source and emits a radio signal detected by the reader or smartphone. It also has information stored on it.
Passive devices: The passive device does not have a power source. It is how the active device gets “charged” to begin transmitting data. This can be done through induction, where the radio signal is transferred through touch or through a small battery that needs to be replaced. An example of a passive device is the sticker you have on your debit card to use with mobile payments.
Where are NFC business cards used?
Identification
This is one of the most common uses for business cards. It allows you to tap your phone against another phone or card reader and exchange contact information instantly without typing it in manually or exchanging paper business cards.
Communication:
This means the use of wireless technology to send information from one card to another without the need for a cable or connector. This can be done with an active or passive device. Your smartphone may already have wireless connectivity, but this will only work if you have an NFC-enabled smartphone.
Security:
This is a relatively new use for NFC technology which can be used as an alternative to PIN codes and passwords. Some companies are considering this feature as a secondary security measure for transactions like payments and logging into other devices.
For payment.
Some mobile payment devices, such as Samsung Pay, have chips embedded in their credit and debit cards instead of stickers, so they will not take up space on your smartphone.
The Internet of Things:
This is a relatively new use for NFC business cards, but it has caught on quickly. Companies such as EZ-Link and MasterCard have developed “smart cards” that link to each other wirelessly and use NFC technology to send information back and forth between them.
Conclusion
NFC technology is still relatively new, but it is slowly growing in popularity and has been touted as the future of wireless payment. Companies like Samsung are making NFC business cards a necessity for consumers who want to use electronic payments.