What is an NFC business card?
An NFC business card is a printed card with a passive radio chip inside it. When a compatible phone comes within a few centimetres, the phone reads one web address from the chip and offers to open the linked digital business card. The recipient installs nothing and pairs nothing.
NFC means Near Field Communication. The card chip has no battery and does not broadcast continuously. It receives enough power from the nearby phone to return the stored link.
Cardify stores the contact details on the live profile, not on the chip. A title or phone-number change therefore updates the profile without replacing the physical card.
Which phones can read an NFC business card?
Phone support matters because an NFC card must work during a real meeting, not only in a demonstration.
- iPhone XR, iPhone XS and later models: read supported NFC tags in the background while the phone is on and unlocked. The recipient taps the notification to open the link.
- iPhone 7, 8 and X: have NFC hardware but require an explicit tag-reading action rather than the same background experience as newer models.
- Android: compatible phones read NFC tags when NFC is available and enabled. Support varies by model, especially among budget devices.
- Phones without NFC: scan the QR code printed on the same Cardify card and reach the identical profile.
The QR fallback is part of the product, not an optional extra.
Why every Cardify NFC card also has a QR code
A business card is exchanged before you know which phone the other person carries. Printing NFC and QR on the same card removes that compatibility guess.
A tap and a scan both open the same Cardify profile. The profile can show Arabic and English contact details and save a vCard without requiring the recipient to install Cardify.
Use these two separate resources for the profile and setup details: digital business card page. NFC setup guide.
NFC tap vs QR scan
| Criterion | NFC tap | QR scan |
|---|---|---|
| Phone requirement | Compatible NFC hardware, enabled | A working camera |
| Sharing action | Hold the phone near the card | Open the camera and frame the code |
| Distance | A few centimetres | Visible camera range |
| Destination | The live Cardify profile | The same live Cardify profile |
| Cardify price | OMR 25.000 per card | Included on every NFC card |
NFC is useful for people who exchange cards frequently. QR makes the same card accessible when NFC is unavailable. Cardify combines both rather than asking a buyer to choose one.
A Cardify NFC card can be re-pointed
The chip stores a Cardify web address. Cardify can point that address at the correct live profile while the printed card remains unchanged.
When a person changes title, the company edits the profile. When a card is reassigned, the destination can be changed to the replacement profile. The old contact details do not need to remain on the chip.
This is different from writing a fixed vCard directly onto an NFC tag, where the contact data itself becomes static.
Who should order NFC business cards?
- Exhibition and conference teams: people handling many short introductions in one day.
- Field sales teams: staff whose success depends on the new contact being saved immediately.
- Executives: people representing the company in repeated external meetings.
- Reception desks: one fixed NFC stand that opens a company or team profile.
- Site offices and service vehicles: a durable tap point backed by the same QR destination.
NFC does not need to be issued to every employee. Cardify digital profiles are free, so the physical NFC product can be reserved for roles that will use the tap regularly.
How to order NFC business cards in Oman
Create the digital card first, confirm the Arabic and English details, and choose which employees need the physical NFC product. The same destination is used for the NFC chip and the printed QR code.
The published Cardify price is OMR 25.000 per NFC card, including the chip, printing and programming. Cardify pricing states delivery across Oman in two to four working days, with same-day pickup in Muscat. Check the pricing page for the current terms before ordering. See verified pricing.
Technical sources
The device and chip explanations above are checked against primary technical documentation:
- Apple Developer, background NFC tag reading
- Android Developers, NFC basics
- NFC Forum, technical overview of NFC
Frequently asked questions
What is an NFC business card?
An NFC business card is a physical card with a passive radio chip that stores a web address. A compatible phone reads that address at close range and opens the linked digital profile without pairing or installing an app.
Which phones can read an NFC business card?
Newer iPhones support background NFC tag reading, and many Android phones read NFC tags when NFC is enabled. Model support varies, so every Cardify NFC card also carries a QR code that opens the same profile.
What happens if the other person has no NFC?
They scan the QR code printed on the same card. The NFC chip and QR code both open the identical Cardify profile, so the saved contact is the same.
Can a Cardify NFC card be reprogrammed?
Cardify NFC cards can be re-pointed to a different Cardify profile. This lets a company update the destination when a card is reassigned while keeping the physical card.
How much does a Cardify NFC business card cost?
The published price is OMR 25.000 per card, including the chip, printing and programming. The digital Cardify platform itself is free for unlimited employees.
Is tapping an NFC business card safe?
The passive card chip returns a stored web address at very short range. It does not pair with the phone, read the phone, or contain payment credentials.
Does the recipient need the Cardify app?
No. The NFC tap or QR scan opens a web profile in the phone browser. The recipient can view and save the contact without installing Cardify.
Can NFC and QR be used on the same business card?
Yes. Every Cardify NFC card combines both. NFC provides the tap experience, while QR covers phones without compatible NFC support.
Start with the free profile, add NFC where it helps
Create the Arabic and English digital card first. Order the OMR 25.000 NFC product only for the people who need a physical tap card.
Get started free