NFC Readers and Smart Locks
NFC allows smartphone users to perform instant payments with a simple tap. It’s also highly versatile, enabling users to do things like make restaurant or movie reservations, book train or movie tickets, get real-time updates on expenditure, redeem rewards and coupons and more.
NFC readers emit a magnetic field to activate passive devices and transmit data. Those readings are then communicated back to the reader’s server over WiFi or a local network.
Mobile Payments
NFC technology allows customers to make mobile payments with their smartphones or NFC-enabled cards. They simply open their mobile wallet app, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, and hold the device Offroad Led Light Bar within a few inches (4 cm) of an NFC reader to complete a transaction. NFC readers transmit encrypted payment information to the mobile device, making this form of payment more secure than swiping a credit card through a terminal.
This type of mobile payment offers a range of benefits to businesses, including increased convenience for customers and additional sales opportunities through digital wallets. But mobile payments do come with some risks that business owners should consider before implementing this technology.
For example, NFC mobile payments are susceptible to interference from metal objects such as coins or keys in a customer’s pocket or bag, which can block the communication between the chip and the NFC reader. This is why it’s important to have NFC mobile payment readers installed in a way that prevents metal objects from interfering with their function.
Getting set up to accept NFC mobile payments requires choosing a merchant account provider that supports this technology and purchasing an NFC card reader for your POS system. This is a relatively easy process and doesn’t cost any more than setting up a conventional POS credit card processing system.
Digital IDs
When it comes to the security of ID documents, NFC technology offers an innovative way to reduce fraud. While many of the traditional methods for verifying a customer’s identity require the document to be presented in front of a human being, whose ability to detect falsified documents is based on the strength of analytical systems, NFC allows all data on a chip within an official document to be read from the back of the card without any physical contact.
The MobbScan KYC solution developed by Mobbeel enables the information on the NFC chips in identity documents to be read from the MRZ (Machine Readable Zone) in real time. This is accomplished by scanning the document using a mobile device’s camera to capture three pieces of data that are needed to access the rest of the information on the NFC chip: date of issue, document number and verification code.
Once this data is captured, the NFC reader can transmit a challenge to the chip that requires the user to sign with their private key in order to prove they have not tampered with the document’s contents. The signed response, which is verified by the NFC chip’s public key found among the accessible data, will be transmitted back to the terminal that then checks it against the country certificate to validate the authenticity of the challenge.
Smart Locks
One of the big selling points of smart locks is their ability to let you control your door from a smartphone or other connected device. Whether used on the home front door, or in a facility or workspace, this makes it easier to streamline daily operations and strengthen security by requiring that people use an app to unlock the door rather than simply finding that old-fashioned spare key under a flowerpot.
The most common smart lock radios include Zigbee, Z-Wave and Bluetooth, which typically require a hub of some sort (like an Amazon Echo or Apple HomePod mini) to work properly. However, there are also Wi-Fi smart locks that can connect directly to your wireless router and work with the larger SmartThings or HomeKit platforms, without the need for an extra bridge device.
When shopping for a smart lock, look for ones that offer backup power options for emergencies. Most models feature standard key slots, but some have battery backup systems or solar-powered batteries that can keep the lock running for hours or even days in the event of a power or Wi-Fi outage.
It’s also important to consider how the lock works with your existing smart home devices. You’ll want to choose a model that works with the most popular home automation Offroad Led Light Bar systems, like Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as with other smart home gadgets, such as lights and security systems.
Transit Fares
Many public transit systems use NFC readers for a variety of ticketing purposes. The technology is a convenient and safe way to make payments. When tapped against the NFC reader, the Card or mobile device exchanges payment information. This data is used to confirm the transaction, which lets travelers move through fare gates and continue their journey. NFC readers are often installed in transit stations and on board buses to allow commuters to skip paying cash, which helps to streamline boarding times.
NFC is also used in some smart card products, such as the Vodafone SmartPass, an NFC-based contactless SIM card that enables consumers to pay for goods and services at any Visa payWave terminal worldwide. It is an alternative to a traditional credit or debit card, and can be loaded with a range of different vouchers and coupons. The Vodafone product is backed by MasterCard and offers the same level of security as any other MasterCard card.
The New York City area’s subway system uses NFC readers for its OMNY contactless fare payment and ticketing system, which will eventually replace MetroCards on all MTA services (including subways, buses, paratransit, and commuter rail). Customers can tap their linked OMNY cards or smart phones with the Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay symbol or an OMNY-enabled card in a digital wallet against a reader to pay at subway turnstiles and AutoGates and on select bus routes.
