220-1201 Mobile Devices Practice Question
A user wants to use their smartphone to make contactless payments at retail stores. The phone supports NFC. Which of the following must be configured on the phone to enable this functionality?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that enabling NFC alone is sufficient, but a payment service with a linked card must also be configured.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A mobile payment service with a linked credit card.
NFC contactless payments require a mobile payment service, such as Google Wallet or Apple Pay, with a linked payment card. The service handles tokenization and communicates with the terminal via NFC. Bluetooth pairing, USB OTG, or QR scanner apps are not involved in this process. Thus, configuring a payment service is the essential step.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Install a QR code scanner app.
Why it's wrong here
QR code scanner apps are used for scanning QR codes, which some payment systems use, but NFC payments do not require a QR code scanner. The phone's NFC hardware and a payment service are sufficient. Installing a QR scanner does not enable NFC payment functionality and is unnecessary for the described scenario.
- ✓
A mobile payment service with a linked credit card.
Why this is correct
To make contactless payments, the user must set up a mobile payment service such as Google Wallet or Apple Pay and link a credit or debit card. The service stores a tokenized version of the card and uses NFC to transmit payment data securely. Without a configured payment service, the phone cannot act as a payment method even if NFC is enabled.
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Bluetooth pairing with the payment terminal.
Why it's wrong here
Contactless payments use NFC, not Bluetooth, to communicate with the payment terminal. Bluetooth is used for other purposes, such as connecting to peripherals or transferring files. Pairing with the terminal via Bluetooth is not required and is not how NFC payment systems operate. The user does not need to pair with each terminal.
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Enable USB OTG on the phone.
Why it's wrong here
USB OTG (On-The-Go) allows the phone to act as a USB host for peripherals like keyboards or flash drives. It is unrelated to NFC payments, which rely on radio frequency communication. Enabling USB OTG does not affect the phone's ability to make contactless payments and is not a requirement.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.