NFC Insights | Sumble

What is NFC?

NFC (Near-Field Communication) is a set of communication protocols that enable two electronic devices, one of which is usually a portable device such as a smartphone, to establish communication by bringing them within 4 cm (1.6 in) of each other. NFC devices are commonly used for contactless payment systems, data exchange, and simplified setup of more complex communications like Bluetooth. It's a short-range, high-frequency wireless communication technology that allows for intuitive and secure data transfer.

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What other technologies are related to NFC?

NFC Competitor Technologies

UWB

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) offers similar short-range communication capabilities with potentially higher data rates and more precise location services, making it a competitor in some applications.

mentioned alongside NFC in 30% (956) of relevant job posts

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a competitor, particularly for applications like pairing devices and data transfer, although it typically consumes more power than NFC for simple tasks.

mentioned alongside NFC in 8% (2.3k) of relevant job posts

BLE

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) competes with NFC in applications requiring low power consumption, such as proximity marketing and beacon technology.

mentioned alongside NFC in 12% (1.4k) of relevant job posts

BT

BT (Bluetooth) is a competitor, particularly for applications like pairing devices and data transfer, although it typically consumes more power than NFC for simple tasks.

mentioned alongside NFC in 11% (662) of relevant job posts

RFID

Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) is a broader technology category, and some RFID implementations compete directly with NFC, particularly in areas like access control and inventory management. NFC is essentially a subset of high-frequency RFID.

mentioned alongside NFC in 7% (962) of relevant job posts

Mifare

Mifare is a type of RFID technology that competes with NFC in areas like contactless payments and access control.

mentioned alongside NFC in 56% (115) of relevant job posts

QR

QR codes can be used for similar applications as NFC tags (e.g., information sharing, triggering actions), although they require visual scanning. They are a possible substitute in several contexts.

mentioned alongside NFC in 26% (94) of relevant job posts

NFC Complementary Technologies

Secure Elements

Secure Elements (SE) are hardware components used to securely store sensitive data and execute cryptographic operations. NFC often relies on SEs for secure transactions, making them complementary.

mentioned alongside NFC in 51% (136) of relevant job posts

HCE

Host Card Emulation (HCE) allows NFC-enabled devices to perform contactless payments without relying on a Secure Element, making it a complementary technology.

mentioned alongside NFC in 56% (57) of relevant job posts

ISO7816

ISO7816 is a standard related to smart cards, which are often used with NFC for secure applications, making it complementary.

mentioned alongside NFC in 45% (63) of relevant job posts