Does WP8.1 Support Mifare Classic read?

Question

I have read Reading a Mifare tag using Windows Phone 8 NFC? before, saying Mifare Classic is not NDEF formatted.

When I read about the newest what's new in WP8.1, it says now supports "make your tags read-only, write to unformatted tags, and communicate with other contactless cards".

I wonder whether I can read it or not?

Answer 1

Windows Phone 8.1 has additional APIs to NDEF format previously unformatted tags, as well as to communicate with various smart cards through NFC through raw access instead of NDEF (e.g., ATM cards).

You can get some more information about how to integrate the new NFC functionality from the WP 8.1 Jumpstart series: http://channel9.msdn.com/series/Building-Apps-for-Windows-Phone-8-1/15#time=25m40s

In this session, Microsoft highlights that low level / raw access is possible for the following tag types through the WinRT SmartCard API:

• ISO 7816-4/APDU
• MiFare Ultralight
• MiFare Classic
• MiFare Desfire
• Felica

As the additional functionality requires the PN547 NFC chipset in the device, it only works on new Windows Phone hardware - e.g., the Nokia Lumia 830 (Lumia 930 is not supported). You can find more information about the WinRT SmartCard API here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/windows.devices.smartcards.aspx

So yes, reading MiFare Classic tags that are not NDEF formatted is possible with WP 8.1 on new hardware.

Answer 2

Raw MIFARE Classic/Ultralight/DESfire (as well as ISO7816-4 APDU/limited Felica/ISO15693/Jewel) is supported starting in Windows Phone 8.1 however it requires driver support that is currently only available for the NXP PN547 NFC chip that is only available in the Lumia 830 and 73x devices (Lumia 930 is NOT supported, but most future devices should support it going forward)

Assuming that hardware limitation isn't a deal-breaker for you, there's some sample code showing the use the of the APIs here: http://nfcsmartcardreader.codeplex.com