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NFC Tags – They’re Cheap, Secure and Easy to Scan

What are NFC Tags?

An NFC tag starts as a passive IC. These come in various formats, round one shown, for mounting in the chosen package.

NFC tags come in all shapes and sizes, from paper stickers to plastic cards, key fobs, discs, badges, wristbands and even rings.

Near-field communication (NFC) allows devices within a few centimeters of each other to exchange information wirelessly. NFC also allows devices to read information from electronic tags.

NFC is used for tap to pay services which is why most mobile phones support NFC. Reading NFC tags is supported by most Android phone devices and iPhones since the iPhone 7.

NFC tags are commonly used for access control. Many hotels and businesses use NFC tags

Examples of different formats of NFC tags
Inosscan NFC tags. Epoxy disk and silicon wrist band

Where can you get NFC Tags?

You can purchase NFC Tags from this site, see below. Our Tags are shipped from Australia so shipping times maybe an issue for you.

There are also suppliers pretty much everywhere. In most countries you will be able to get tags same day or within a couple of days. You’ll have to wait longer if you want a custom package or custom printing.

How much do NFC Tags cost?

You should be able to find a Tag to suit your needs for around US$1.

The cost of an NFC Tag comes down to the way the chip is packaged. A paper sticker may only cost a few cents, a plastic card or key fob a US Dollar, a ring might cost US$10.

NFC tags are very cheap

All you need to scan NFC Tags is your phone

How Inosscan uses NFC Tags

Inosscan makes using NFC tags simple and secure. Instead of writing information to a tag, Inosscan uses its unique ID to connect it to a person’s record.

This means you can use any NFC tag right out of the box—no need for expensive hardware or complex setup. Just open a person’s record in the app and scan a tag to link it to them. You get the benefits of secure NFC technology without the high cost or extra equipment.

Tags are easy to reuse as there is nothing to erase from a tag in order to reuse it.

What NFC Tags are supported by Inosscan?

A number of different Integrated Circuits (IC) are used as the core of NFC Tags. Each IC complies with one of the NFC standards.

iPhones support a limited set of the NFC standards. Apple has decided to limit NFC support on iOS to only the more recent and more secure standards. As such Inosscan is limited to Tags supported by iPhone’s to maintain iPhone and Android compatibility.

Inosscan supports the MIFARE range of NFC Tags:

  • MIFARE DESFire
  • MIFARE Ultralight
  • NTAG (all the NTAG series. Most common are 213, 215, 216)

Ensure one of the above IC’s are used in any NFC tags you purchase.

Your Tag supplier will be able to advise you.

Why is there an NFC Tag Reader available on the Inosscan website?

Inosscan for Android allows for the use of a Bluetooth connected NFC Tag Reader.

This is so you can create a Scanning Station, or Scanning Kiosk, using a cheap Android Tablet. Place this Scanning Station in your registration area to allow your event participants to check/scan themselves in and out. Doing so will make managing your event even easier.

You could also use this tag reader to allow people to scan remotely from your phone like at the entrance to a bus, boat or room.

Support for the external NFC tag terminal is in development for iOS.

Scanning an NFC Tag

Get your phone ready to scan a tag, approach a tag with your phone and Inosscan will indicate success or failure.

iPhones read NFC Tags near the top of the phone at the center. Tags can be read from the front or the back of the phone.

Most Android phones read NFC Tags from the center back of the phone.

To scan a tag at a scanning station, approach the reader with the tag and look for the result on the screen.

 

Scanning a tag using a phone

Using a phone

Scanning a tag on a scanning station/kiosk

Using a station

More information about the Tags available on the Inosscan website

The epoxy tag is cheap, waterproof and versatile – you can attach it to almost anything:

  • Attach it to clothing
  • Attach it to a key ring
  • Attach it to equipment like a dive vest or life jacket
  • Attach it to a back pack or luggage

The silicon wrist band is a one size fits all wrist band which stays with the person for the duration of your event. Scanning this one is a positive scan for the person wearing it.

 

NFC Tags or QR Codes?

Which technology is best for your event or activity?
Take a look at our comparison

View Comparison