Short answer: NFC (Near Field Communication) is a wireless technology that connects two devices a few centimetres apart. An NFC card holds a tiny chip and antenna that store a link. The phone powers the chip with its own field, reads the link and opens it right away. The chip needs no battery.
How it works
NFC runs at 13.56 MHz over a very short distance, typically a few centimetres. That's why you have to hold the phone close, and why it isn't read by accident.
- The chip stores a link. We write an address to it, for example your Google review form or Instagram profile.
- The phone supplies power. An NFC card has no battery: the phone's electromagnetic field powers the chip for a moment.
- The phone opens the link. It opens in the browser or in the matching app.
Which phones can read NFC
| Phone | How it reads |
|---|---|
| iPhone XS and newer | Automatically, with the screen unlocked |
| iPhone 7 to iPhone X | With the NFC reader in Control Center |
| Android with NFC | Automatically, if NFC is switched on in settings |
On iPhone the antenna is at the top of the phone; on Android it's often in the middle of the back.
How businesses use NFC
- Reviews: a stand that opens your Google review form
- Social media: your Instagram, Facebook or TikTok page in one tap
- Digital business cards: save a contact in one tap (coming soon)
- Wi-Fi, menus and bookings: in hotels and restaurants (coming soon)
See every use on the solutions page.
Is NFC safe?
A business NFC card only stores a link and doesn't read any data from the phone. Ataris locks every chip after programming, so nobody can rewrite it or send your customers to a different page.
Want to see what customers see? Try the NFC simulator.