220-1102 Question 603
Single answerNear-field communication (NFC)A support technician is helping users configure company-issued Android phones for building access and mobile payments at a corporate event. Several users report that tapping their phones against the access readers and payment terminals does nothing, even though Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled and the phones have mobile wallets installed. The technician needs to identify the MOST likely setting to verify first so the phones can communicate at very short range with the readers. What should the technician check?
- A
Enable NFC in the phone's wireless or connection settings
- B
Pair the phone with the reader over Bluetooth
- C
Connect the phone to the corporate Wi-Fi network
- D
Enable location services for the mobile wallet app
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This question tests practical troubleshooting of NFC in a real support scenario. NFC operates at very short range and is commonly used for contactless payments, badge/access systems, and quick device interactions. On smartphones, NFC usually must be enabled in connection or wireless settings for tap-based communication to work. A common misconception is that Bluetooth or Wi-Fi handles all wireless interactions, but NFC is a separate technology with its own radio and use case. In CompTIA A+ Core 2, candidates should recognize mobile device features and connectivity methods and be able to distinguish NFC from Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other services. Vendor documentation from Android device manufacturers and mobile wallet providers commonly notes that NFC must be turned on for contactless transactions and reader-based interactions.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Near-field communication (NFC) is the short-range wireless technology used for tap-to-pay, badge emulation, and other close-proximity exchanges. If NFC is disabled, the phone will not communicate with access readers or compatible payment terminals, even if the wallet app is installed and other radios such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi are enabled.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Bluetooth is a different wireless technology and typically requires pairing for ongoing communication over longer distances than NFC. Building access readers and contactless payment terminals that use tap functionality generally rely on NFC, not Bluetooth pairing.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Wi-Fi connectivity is not required for the phone to establish the immediate close-range radio link used by NFC readers. Some wallet services may need network access at other times for provisioning or account updates, but the failure described during the tap interaction most directly points to NFC being disabled.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Location services may be required by some apps for policy, nearby-device features, or regional functionality, but they are not the core radio technology used for tap-based NFC communication. Enabling location would not by itself allow the phone to exchange data with an NFC reader.