How to share content using NFC on a BlackBerry 10 smartphone

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing - Q5 or Z10] In case you’ve heard of NFC (near field communication), but aren’t familiar with it, NFC is a short-range wireless technology that makes sharing content and information quick and easy. For example, the next time you take a picture at a party and your friends want a copy, instead of emailing it you can share it right to their phones, then and there. Not only will they be able to get the picture right away, you can avoid potential data charges that would result from sending attachments from your smartphone over the mobile network. On top of sharing pictures, here are a few more possibilities that NFC offers: Pay for your bus or subway ride Pay for your morning coffee without taking out your wallet Grab a coupon from a poster you see on the street Gain access to your building when you get to work Send a webpage you’re viewing to a friend Add a friend to your BBM contacts Copy smart tag information to an NFC tag Pairing with accessories such as the BlackBerry Music Gateway Simultaneously exchange contact cards with a new friend or business acquaintance To help you get started, here’s a quick overview of how to turn NFC on, as well as how to share content with another NFC enabled device. Turn on NFC To identify if NFC is turned on, look for the NFC symbol in the top left corner of your home screen (circled in red below). If this icon isn’t displayed, complete the following steps to turn on NFC. On the home screen, swipe down from the top of screen Tap Settings followed by Network Connections Tap NFC and set the NFC Connectivity switch to On Share content using NFC Depending on how many files you want to send, follow these steps on your BlackBerry smartphone: To send a single file, find and open a file, tap Share and select NFC To send multiple files, find and highlight the files that you want to send, and then tap Share followed by NFC Align the back of your BlackBerry smartphone with an NFC-enabled device Tap Send if prompted Tip: After tapping with another device, you do not need to hold them together while the content is shared. The initial tap is all that’s required in order to start the wireless transfer of the content you are sharing or receiving. Customizing NFC Settings You can set whether your smartphone prompts you before sending or receiving files. You can also set when your device can be used for doing things such as making credit card payments or providing access credentials to get into a building. On the home screen, swipe down from the top of the screen Tap Settings followed by Network Connections Tap NFC Troubleshooting NFC Nothing happens when I try to share something with another NFC enabled device. Verify that NFC technology is turned on. To review this setting, review the Turn on NFC section above. By default your BlackBerry won’t allow NFC payment transactions if the display, aka backlight, or your smartphone is turned off. You can set your smartphone to allow NFC payment transactions when the backlight and/or smartphone is off by following the instructions in the Customizing NFC Settings section above. Nothing happens when someone tries to share something with me. Verify that  your smartphone is turned on, NFC has been enabled, the screen is awake and the device is unlocked. Got a question about NFC? Leave a comment and let me know! To learn about a feature on your BlackBerry 10 smartphone or troubleshoot an issue, there are several great options available to help. Visit http://www.blackberry.com/support for access to product manuals, how-to demos, tips and tricks, YouTube videos, support forums, knowledge base articles, Twitter support, and contact information for your region.

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