Android Beam

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Use NFC technology to send and share files to your contacts

 There are plenty of ways you can share files from one Android device to another, but none of them are as quick and easy as Near Field Communication (NFC). Devices running the latest OS update, Ice Cream Sandwich, are fortunate enough to have the capacity to launch Android Beam. This feature automatically configures all your NFC connection settings, and leaves the user only needing to select the file they want to send, and its recipient. Unfortunately for older devices, Android Beam is not available, and the process of using NFC is a little harder to set up and use, if it is supported at all.In this case the best way to access your phone's NFC capability is by downloading the File Expert app. In this tutorial we will show you how to set up Android Beam .
  1. Open up your device's app drawer and go to the Settings app. Scroll down through the page of options until you reach the Wireless & Networks sub-menu. Some devices have this sub-menu at the top, and some near the bottom under the Accounts tab, so keep your eyes peeled.
  2. The Wireless & Networks menu lists how your device connects to other devices and the internet. To be able to start sharing files and contacts to other NFC-enabled devices, you first need to tick the NFC tab. Once activated, open up the Android Beam option underneath it.
  3. If you're new to the concept of NFC, then make sure you read through all the instructions listed. Although a simple process, it can be a little confusing at first, so make sure you understand it. Turn the switch, in the top-right of the screen, to On when you're ready to proceed.
  4. At this point you'll want to make sure you have a second device to connect with. On the secondary phone make sure you follow the same steps as above. Once you're ready to beam put the two phones back-to-back and hold them there until you feel a vibration or a hear a pinging noise.
  5. While keeping the phones together, you should now notice the Touch to Beam screen appear on both phones. Whatever is currently being shown on the device can be beamed over by simply touching the screen. The beaming process takes a few seconds to complete.