Vivo smartphone damaged ID card chip, users complain
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Some Vivo smartphone users have complained that the device damaged the chip on their ID cards after making near-field communications contact, an allegation the Chinese company is verifying.
A Vivo-focused social media group with 33,000 members has been getting dozens of posts about users’ ID card being damaged digitally after making NFC contact with their phones. The complaints mostly involve high-end Vivo phones such as the X100 Pro, X100 Ultra and X100S Pro, which are not sold in Vietnam and are bought overseas.
However, there are also some complaints about the X80 Pro, a model Vivo sells in the country.
Vu Duy Tan of HCMC said after using a Vivo phone to connect with his ID card, the latter no longer connected with other smartphones.
He got it replaced but found the same thing happening again.
Dang Tien Dung of Can Tho City also discovered a similar problem with his Vivo X100 Pro.
His ID card used to connect normally with an Oppo phone but stopped doing so after he once used the Vivo phone.
After finding the card could not connect with any other phone, he suspected its chip was damaged.
A Vivo Vietnam spokesperson said some users have reported the issue to the company. Vivo is now investigating the issue.
NFC is a technology found in phones, cards and payment machines. Tech analyst Le Cong Minh Khoi said a card chip could be damaged if a smartphone’s NFC signals are too strong.
A similar thing happens when people put their smartphones next to NFC cards such as hotel door keys for a long time, he added.
Questions & Answers
Q.Which specific Vivo phone models are most affected by these ID card chip issues?
Which specific Vivo phone models are most affected by these ID card chip issues?
The complaints primarily involve high-end Vivo phones like the X100 Pro, X100 Ultra, and X100S Pro. There are also reports concerning the X80 Pro model, which is sold in Vietnam.
Q.Has Vivo acknowledged these complaints, and what is their current response?
Has Vivo acknowledged these complaints, and what is their current response?
A Vivo Vietnam spokesperson confirmed that some users have reported the issue to the company. Vivo is currently investigating the problem to understand its cause and extent.
Q.What is the technical explanation for how a smartphone might damage an ID card chip?
What is the technical explanation for how a smartphone might damage an ID card chip?
Tech analyst Le Cong Minh Khoi suggested that a card chip could be damaged if a smartphone's NFC signals are excessively strong. This is similar to issues with NFC cards and hotel keys.
Q.Are the affected high-end Vivo models widely available in Vietnam?
Are the affected high-end Vivo models widely available in Vietnam?
No, the high-end Vivo models such as the X100 Pro, X100 Ultra, and X100S Pro are not sold in Vietnam. Users typically purchase these devices overseas.
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