The future of contactless networking: what is already here and what to plan for

The future of contactless networking: what is already here and what to plan for — Online Business Cards

By Online Business Cards Editorial Team | Published | Updated | Explainers

Contactless networking is already ordinary: codes, links, phone-to-phone sharing and video calls. Here is what is here now, what is changing, and how to set up your details so they keep working whatever comes next.

Ten years ago, "contactless" mostly meant paying by card. Now people swap contact details without touching anything: they scan a code, open a link, hold two phones together or paste their details into a video call. This guide looks at what contactless networking already means, what is changing, and how to set up your own details so they keep working, without guessing at predictions nobody can promise.

What is already here

QR codes everywhere

Recent iPhone and Android cameras read QR codes directly, with no app. That has made a code on a badge, a slide or a phone screen the most widely compatible way to hand someone your details in person. Our guide to QR code trends in business shows where codes are used now.

Links that go anywhere

A link to your profile can go in a text, a WhatsApp message, an email signature, a LinkedIn profile or a social bio. It is the simplest contactless method, and the one that works at a distance. Our guide to six ways to share a digital business card goes through each.

Phone-to-phone sharing

Apple's NameDrop, introduced in iOS 17, lets two iPhones swap contact details when held close together. Android's Quick Share sends files and links between nearby devices. Both are quick between compatible phones, and less useful when the phones are different. Our guide to NFC, Bluetooth and phone-to-phone sharing compares them.

NFC cards and tags

NFC business cards open a profile when held near a phone. iPhones from the XS onwards read them without an app, and most Android phones can when NFC is switched on. We sell digital-only cards; we do not sell NFC cards. Our NFC vs QR code comparison explains when each makes sense.

Wallets

A pass in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet can keep your own card one swipe away. See our guide to keeping your card in your wallet.

Video calls

For many people, the first meeting now happens on screen. Pasting your link in the chat, or showing a code on a closing slide, is contactless networking too. Our guide to sharing your details on video calls covers Zoom, Teams and Google Meet.

What is changing

A few changes are already documented, rather than speculated about:

  • NFC is getting more forgiving. The NFC Forum's Release 15 specification, announced in June 2025, extends the certified range from half a centimetre to 2 cm, so connections need less precise alignment.
  • Phone makers keep adding sharing features. NameDrop arrived in 2023, and Google brought its sharing features together as Quick Share in 2024. Expect these to keep improving, mainly between phones of the same make.
  • People are more alert to QR code scams. Warnings about fake codes on car park signs and posters have made people more careful about what they scan, which makes clear, trustworthy codes more important. Our QR code scams guide explains how to make yours easy to trust.

Beyond that, nobody can say for certain which method will win. That uncertainty is the strongest argument for the approach below.

Ways to share contact details without touching anything

Method | Needs an app? | Works across iPhone and Android?

QR code | No, the camera reads it | Yes

Link by message or email | No | Yes

Phone-to-phone sharing such as NameDrop | Built into the phone | Usually only between the same type of phone

Pasting a link into a video call | No | Yes

How to plan for whatever comes next

Have one link that everything points to. Your QR code, any NFC card, your email signature and your social bios should all lead to the same profile. New sharing methods come and go; a stable link works with all of them. Keep the profile current. Contactless methods only change how people reach your details. If the profile is out of date, faster sharing just spreads old information faster. Always have a fallback. Some people will have the latest phone; some will not. A QR code on your screen and the ability to text your link covers almost everyone. Keep the follow-up personal. Technology makes the swap easier, but people still decide whether to stay in touch. A short message after you meet, with your link and a line about what you discussed, matters more than the method. Mind the data. If your card collects details from people, the usual data protection rules apply, whatever technology carries them. See our UK GDPR checklist.

Which plan you need

Both of our plans give you one profile with its own link and QR code, ready for every method above. Brand Presence (£45, one-off) covers your details, social links, documents, gallery and analytics. The Business Plan (£90, one-off) adds contact leads, a card scanner, bookings, enquiries, forms, a CRM and export. Compare them on our plans, or see the contactless business card.

Read next: NFC and QR code technology in networking and How NFC business cards work. You can also browse all our guides.

Frequently asked questions

What is contactless networking?

Contactless networking means swapping contact details without handing over paper, for example by scanning a QR code, opening a link, holding two phones together or sharing a link on a video call.

What is the future of contactless networking?

The documented changes are a longer NFC range from the NFC Forum's 2025 specification, improving phone-to-phone sharing such as NameDrop and Quick Share, and more caution about QR code scams. Which method dominates is uncertain, so one stable link that works with all of them is the safest plan.

Is NFC or QR code the future of networking?

Probably both, alongside links. QR codes work with almost any smartphone camera, while NFC is quick between compatible devices. A profile link that both point to keeps you ready for either.

How do I make sure my contact details keep working as technology changes?

Use one profile link for everything, keep the profile up to date, and always have a fallback such as a QR code on your phone or the ability to text your link.

Will QR codes still be used in a few years?

QR codes are built into phone cameras and widely used for payments, menus and tickets. A card that opens from a QR code or a plain link is likely to keep working as sharing methods change.