Near field communication device capable of operating in a powered or unpowered mode

A method, comprising:

• determining, by a transaction card, whether the transaction card is to perform a wireless transaction, with a transaction terminal, in a powered mode or an unpowered mode,
• the transaction card comprising:
• an internal power source,
• a secure element,
• a near field communication (NFC) antenna,
• an integrated circuit that includes the secure element and the NFC antenna, and
• a controller to receive power from the internal power source, the transaction card being one of:
• a credit card,
• a debit card,
• a smart card, or
• a transit card;
• and
• selectively performing, by the transaction card, the wireless transaction in the powered mode or the unpowered mode based on determining whether the transaction card is to perform the wireless transaction in the powered mode or the unpowered mode,
• when using transaction power from the internal power source, the wireless transaction to be performed in the powered mode;
• or
• when using transaction power other than from the internal power source, the wireless transaction to be performed, using only the transaction power other than from the internal power source, in the unpowered mode and without using information from the controller;
• and
• selectively loading, by the transaction card, one or more applications, associated with performing the wireless transaction, onto the secure element,
• the one or more applications being loaded onto the secure element when a current power level of the internal power source satisfies a threshold and not being loaded onto the secure element the current power level of the internal power source does not satisfy the threshold.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an internal power source;
• a controller configured to receive power from the internal power source;
• an integrated circuit that includes an antenna and a secure element capable of selectively performing a near field communication (NFC) data transmission in a powered mode or an unpowered mode,
• the NFC data transmission to be performed using power from the internal power source and using information received from the controller when the NFC data transmission is performed in the powered mode, or
• the NFC data transmission to be performed using only power other than from the internal power source when the NFC data transmission is performed in the unpowered mode and without using information from the controller,
• the apparatus being one of:
• a credit card,
• a debit card,
• a smart card, or
• a transit card;
• and
• the apparatus being configured to:
• selectively load one or more applications, associated with performing a wireless transaction, onto the secure element,
• the one or more applications being loaded onto the secure element when a current power level of the internal power source satisfies a threshold and not being loaded onto the secure element the current power level of the internal power source does not satisfy the threshold.