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INTRODUCTION:
NFC, or near-field communication, is an easy and intuitive technology that allows you to use
your mobile phone for special purposes. An NFC tag can share and link to information such as
web pages, social media and all other sorts of other information generally. Other areas where
NFC is starting to evolve into are making payments, opening doors secured with contactless
locks, logging on to computers and many more. All of these actions have something in common,
that is they invoke an action based on you placing your phone (or any other NFC device) near
(the N in NFC) the thing you want to read or interact with.
NFC is bridging the gap between both the physical and virtual worlds. By bringing two devices
near each other, there is a virtual reaction. Bluetooth and WiFi do not have this ease in set up. So
the key feature of NFC is: It is automatic! There is no need to launch an application. In more
technological terms, NFC defines the way two products communicate with each other. NFC is
short range wireless RFID technology (1-4cm realistically, 10cm theoretically) which uses low
speeds (106-414 kbps) and a low friction setup (no discovery and no pairing), which then allows
two devices to automatically start communicating when they are close to one another.
NFC standards cover communications protocols and data exchange formats, and are based on
existing radio-frequency identification (RFID) standards including ISO/IEC 14443 and
FeliCa.[3] The standards include ISO/IEC 18092[4] and those defined by the NFC Forum, which
was founded in 2004 by Nokia, Philips Semiconductors (became NXP Semiconductors since
2006) and Sony, and now has more than 160 members.

Hardware & Basics

NFC Device- A device featuring different operating modes based on RF technology. There are
three modes: tag emulation (PICC), NFC peer to peer (NFC) and reader/writer mode (PCD).
NFC Devices must implement at least mandatory parts of the NFC Protocol Stack. The NFC
Devices' operating modes are defined by the NFC Forum
RFID(Radio Frequency Identification): technology used to identify objects carrying RF
transponders. NFC and RFID technology have overlapping standards and terminology.
PCD (Proximity coupling device): a transmitter that can read tags based on ISO14443 (PICC).
The reader emits an electromagnetic field that powers a tag/transmitter by inductivity.
Communicates with PICC using load modulation scheme.
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PICC (Proximity inductive coupling card): a transponder that can be read or written by a
proximity reader. Theses tags are based on the ISO14443 standard. Such tags do not have a
power supply like a battery, but are powered by the electromagnetic field of the reader (PCD)
SWP(Single wire protocol): a connection between the NFC Chips and the UICC to be used as the
secure element; also referred as the USIM
HCI (Host Controller Interface): A specified interface for the NFC Chip for the communication
with the host controller/baseband controller of the device.
IC(Integrated Circiut)
EE(Execution Environment)
NFCC(Near Field Communication Controller): Analog/Digital Frontend IC in the device to
enable it for NFC transactions.
Without getting bogged down in technical talk, NFC operates in two modes-
Active Mode: In this mode, both devices are generating their own RF fields. This would be in the
case that two mobile devices are being used to exchange data.
Passive Mode: In this mode, one of the devices generates the RF field and the other device uses
the field to power itself and communicate. The active device is usually the reader and the
passive device is the tag.


CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE:
NFC devices can be used in contactless payment systems, similar to those currently used in
credit cards and electronic ticket smartcards, and allow mobile payment to replace or supplement
these systems.
With Android, Nokia, and BlackBerry all in various stages of supporting near field
communication technology, others feel the pressure to offer support as well to avoid falling
behind in a technologically advanced world. Where is NFC spreading? Well take a look at some
of the ways near field communication has expanded and whats coming up next.
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Google Wallet
Google wallet is Googles smartphone program that allows users to load credit card information
and pay with the swipe of their phone. Currently phones supporting the technology are limited,
but plans to expand are in the works. Not all credit cards will work with Google Wallet,
however. Currently MasterCard PayPass compatible cards or a prepaid Google card are required,
but it is expected that more technologies and cards will be developed by other companies in the
future as the technology expands and businesses begin to compete for customers.
MasterCard and Visa
Visa is expanding its horizons and testing the use of NFC as a means of smartphone payment
using Visa credit cards. Visa and Samsung have partnered to create a NFC compatible
smartphone geared at fans of the Olympics. The smartphone will carry special content and aims
to makes purchases and other interactions at the Olympic games faster and easier, a major plus
for an event of that size.
Apple iPhones
Finally, Apple is soon to test out NFC in upcoming iPhone models. Having yet another major
corporation backing NFC could push more merchants to offer NFC compatible card readers and
support the technology. As other cell phone manufacturers race to keep up, NFC could grow
substantially and be offered on more and more devices. All in all, the future of near field
communication looks bright.
There are many potential used of NFC, but some of the main uses are:
Access control
Consumer electronics
Healthcare
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Information collection and exchange
Loyalty and coupons
Payments
Transport
For us this could be anything from using an NFC enabled product to pay for the bus fare, paying
for our milk in the corner shop, sharing our contact details with someone or finding out more
about a particular advertised product to name just a few.


REFERENCES:
http://www.nearfieldcommunicationnfc.net/nfc-future.html
http://www.indiasocial.in/near-field-communications-technology-for-the-future/
http://www.identivenfc.com/en/what-is-nfc