NFC tags that send SMS messages are frequently used in many scenarios. For example, tags at public transport stations in Helsinki allow buying a ticket or getting schedule information with a simple tap of an NFC tag. The phone sends a message to the service, which then replies directly to the user.
Until now, when tapping those tags with Windows Phone 8 devices, users only got a message that the phone was not able to handle the request.
Enabling the SMS Tag Use Case
Starting today, the free NFCsms app enables this use case. When tapping the NFC tag, the phone will automatically suggest installing NFCsms from the store.
Once NFCsms is installed, the phone will show the correct prompt when tapping an SMS tag – it prompts the user if he’d like to send a message. If the user accepts, he will instantly be forwarded to the default WP message composer app to review & send the message.
You can write SMS NFC tags with Nfc Interactor. SMS links can also be used from web pages – they need to be formatted according to the RFC 5724 standard.