Individuals and freelancers
NFC business card: how it works and who it's for
You hand over an NFC business card just like a paper one. The difference: hold it near a smartphone and your contact details appear on the screen. Here is how it works, what it can hold and when it truly replaces paper.
How does an NFC business card work?
The card holds a small NFC (Near Field Communication) chip, the same technology as contactless payment or transit cards. It only works within a few centimetres. When a smartphone comes close, the phone powers the chip through its field, the chip sends it a link, and that link opens in the browser.
The chip has no battery. It doesn't need charging, never switches off and doesn't run down sitting in a wallet.
Which phones can read it?
Almost every recent smartphone. On iPhone XS and later, reading is automatic: hold the card near the top of the unlocked phone. On iPhone 7, 8 and X, use the NFC reader in Control Center. On Android, NFC needs to be turned on in the settings, which is often the default.
No app is needed, neither for you nor for the other person. If their phone has no NFC, you can still send them your profile link by message.
What appears when you tap the card?
Your profile: name, phone, email, website, social networks, booking link. The other person can save your details to their contacts in one tap, without typing anything.
Unlike a printed card, the content can be changed at any time from your ORA space. New number, new job, new website: the card stays the same, the profile follows.
NFC card or paper card: what changes
They are not mutually exclusive. Many professionals keep a few printed cards to leave behind and use the NFC card day to day. What it brings:
- No reprinting when your details change.
- No mistyped numbers: the contact is saved directly.
- One single card: you take it back after the exchange.
- All your links in one place, beyond phone and email.
Who is it for?
Freelancers, sales people, estate agents, craftspeople, consultants: anyone who often shares their details at meetings or trade shows. For a shop, the same chip can open your Google review page or your social networks.
The ORA Card
The ORA Card is made of metal, in business card format (85 × 54 mm), with a matte finish. The chip sits inside the thickness of the metal: no visible antenna or port.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need an app to read an NFC business card?
No. The phone reads the chip and opens your profile in its browser. Nothing to install, for you or for the other person.
Does the card have a battery?
No. The chip is passive: it is powered by the smartphone's field when it is read. It never runs down.
Can I change the information after buying?
Yes. Your profile is edited from your ORA space. The card itself never changes.
Can someone read my card from a distance?
NFC only works within a few centimetres. And the chip only holds a link to your profile, whose content you choose.