Frequently Asked Questions
Eventbuoy Inc. · May 2026
Product & Feasibility
Q: Do students need to download an app? No. NFC is built into every modern phone. They tap the portrait and a browser opens. No download, no account setup friction.
Q: What phones work with NFC? iPhone 7 and newer (iOS 14+). Most Android phones from 2015 onward. NFC must be enabled in settings (it usually is by default).
Q: What about students without NFC phones? Every profile is also accessible via QR code and direct URL. The NFC tag is the premium experience, but no one is locked out.
Q: Does this work through a phone case? Yes. Read range is 1–3 cm, which is enough to work through most cases. Very thick or ruggedized cases may need to be removed.
Q: Does the phone need to be unlocked? On iOS, the notification appears on the lock screen. The user taps it and may need Face ID/Touch ID to open the browser. On Android, behavior varies but generally works from the lock screen.
Pricing & Procurement
Q: What is the total cost for a typical high school? A graduating class of 100 with faculty works out to roughly $424–$548 total: $300 onboarding + $124–$248 for NFC tags. Software is free.
Q: What if we switch yearbook vendors next year? The platform is open-source. It's yours regardless of vendor. All you reorder are the NFC smart labels for the new printing.
Q: Do we pay per student per year? No. The software is open-source and free forever. There are no per-seat, subscription, or annual fees. The $300 onboarding is a one-time cost.
Q: Can we print the tags ourselves? No — NFC tags are manufactured with the chip embedded. You purchase pre-programmed tags from Eventbuoy (at cost) or order blank tags from a supplier and program them using the NFC Tools app.
Q: Is there a minimum order? No minimum. Pricing is listed per tag, volume-discounted. Even a classroom of 10 students works technically, though the per-member cost is higher.
Print Production
Q: Can we add NFC tags to an already-printed yearbook? Yes, but with caveats. Tags can be applied by hand to existing books — the adhesive backing works on standard cover stock. You lose the ability to hide the tag under laminate, so it will be visible as a thin sticker. Best practice is to apply during production.
Q: Will the tag be visible through the page? No. The tag is ~0.5mm thick and sits between two glued pages. It is imperceptible in a bound book.
Q: Does metallic foil or glitter affect NFC? Metallic foil blocks NFC signal entirely. Avoid foil stamping over tag placement zones. Glitter and metallic thread in fabric have no effect. Holographic foil (non-metallic) should be tested first.
Q: What if a tag gets damaged or falls out? NTAG215 tags are durable and rated for 10 years. If one fails, the profile is still accessible via QR code or direct URL (printed elsewhere in the yearbook or shared by the committee).
Privacy & Security
Q: Who can see the profiles? Only authenticated class members. The network is gated by a class code printed inside the yearbook. Even if someone discovers a tag URL, they cannot access content without the code.
Q: What data is stored? Each member's name, quote, next chapter, anthem song, guestbook messages, and time capsule entries. Contact information is opt-in. No tracking, no ads, no analytics.
Q: How long does the data persist? Indefinitely. The network is designed to last — hosting costs are near zero at yearbook scale. Time capsule messages are sealed until the reunion year and cannot be read by anyone until that date.
Q: Who owns the data? The class owns its data. Eventbuoy operates the infrastructure but has no rights to member content. The open-source platform can be self-hosted if the school prefers.
Longevity & Support
Q: How long does the class network stay active? As long as the class wants it. Ongoing cost is ~$10/year for the domain. The time capsule feature creates a natural reason to come back at 5, 10, and 20 year reunions.
Q: What happens if Eventbuoy shuts down? The platform is open-source. The school can self-host the class network on any standard web hosting (Vercel, Netlify, Railway). No vendor dependency.
Q: Can alumni still access the network after graduation? Yes. The network is designed to persist. Members keep their profiles, guestbooks remain readable, and time capsules remain sealed. Nothing changes after graduation day.
Q: Can we use this beyond yearbooks? Yes. The same NFC + identity substrate works for conferences (tap a badge → profile), festivals (tap a wristband → lineup), brand activations (tap merch → unlock content), and any bounded community producing a printed directory.