The shared bicycle industry has taken a leap forward with the introduction of NFC unlocking technology, making the process of unlocking a bike as simple as a single tap. This innovation is evolving from the traditional method of opening an app, scanning a QR code, and entering a password to the seamless "one-tap" experience. NFC technology is gaining momentum, yet it remains surprising that many mobile phone manufacturers have been slow to adopt it. Devices like the Hammer Nut PRO, Meizu PRO7, and all OPPO and Vivo phones either lack NFC capabilities entirely or offer limited functionality. It seems these companies are either indifferent or skeptical about NFC technology.
Recently, the Samsung Galaxy Note8 was launched overseas, and while it may take some time to hit stores globally, it has already made waves in China. On the 26th, Mobike shared bicycles showcased test photos of the Galaxy Note8 online, announcing plans to collaborate with Samsung to develop a new smart lock featuring NFC unlocking. In the near future, users with NFC-enabled phones, including the Note8, will be able to unlock bikes simply by touching the lock, eliminating the need to open an app or scan a code. Similarly, ofo Xiao Huang also announced that its new smart lock would support NFC touch unlocking.
As this news spread, users of shared bikes were thrilled, and NFC technology quickly gained attention. However, looking at the broader mobile phone market, NFC-equipped devices remain relatively rare. Phones from brands like OnePlus, Oppo, and Vivo often lack NFC functionality, leaving many consumers disappointed.
NFC technology offers several distinct advantages over Bluetooth, which we commonly use today. Firstly, it can operate without power, allowing devices to communicate even when turned off. Secondly, pairing is unnecessary—communication happens instantly upon contact. Lastly, NFC only connects to one device at a time, ensuring secure communication over short distances, reducing the risk of eavesdropping.
NFC technology has long been used in the field of IC cards—think of the transportation cards we use daily, school meal cards, community access passes, and even event tickets. Essentially, these are composed of an NFC chip and coil. They do not require a built-in battery and can function by reading the card wirelessly.
Interestingly, this "black technology" isn't as novel as people might think. As early as 2006, Nokia launched the world's first NFC-enabled phone, but due to the lack of practical applications, the market response was lukewarm. By 2010, Samsung’s Nexus S brought NFC to Android, and Google introduced Google Wallet, which allowed users to emulate bank cards using NFC. This meant that seven years ago, people abroad already had the ability to perform "cashless mobile payments."
A few years ago, the three major operators even attempted to promote NFC technology. For instance, China Mobile once issued "NFC-SIM cards," allowing users to access UnionPay flash or bus card functions by simply replacing their SIM card. However, compared to the versatility of modern NFC phones, which can simulate multiple types of cards, the NFC-SIM card’s functionality was limited—it could only support UnionPay services and local bus cards. Coupled with the nascent IoT concept at the time, the market wasn’t ready for widespread mobile payments. Users didn’t even know about this new service, and the requirement to replace the SIM card deterred adoption. The commercial failure of NFC-SIM cards was unsurprising.
In reality, the cost of adding an NFC module to a phone is minimal—around a dollar. If a dedicated security chip for card simulation is added, the total cost increases to around five dollars. But with poor user experiences and an immature market, many manufacturers viewed NFC as a gimmick feature, equipping only high-end models or cutting costs entirely. It’s no wonder that some have removed NFC altogether.
It’s worth noting that NFC’s resurgence over the past two years is largely due to technological maturity and the rise of offline payments. Intense mobile payment incentives encouraged users to discover that NFC-enabled phones could help them save money during transactions. Meanwhile, tech giants realized profits through various "Pay" services. The results speak for themselves—most NFC-aggressive manufacturers now have their own payment businesses.
This outcome is somewhat bittersweet—but at least for users, they benefit from more features and better experiences. For mobile phone manufacturers, the renewed interest in NFC isn’t driven by embracing new technology but by pursuing their own commercial interests. Although the profit margins aren’t high, as long as the user experience remains positive, there’s no real criticism to be made.
What’s interesting is that shared bikes, which appeal to a wider audience than mobile payments, have embraced NFC unlocking. The transition from scanning codes via an app to a seamless NFC touch is a significant improvement in user experience. Will this push mobile phone manufacturers who previously dismissed NFC to reconsider?
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