When activating a desired communication mode of an ID communication partner device (2) from a group of possible communication modes, which group comprises at least a TTF mode and an RTF mode, the ID communication partner device (2) and at least one other ID communication partner device (4) are brought into a communication connection, wherein a carrier signal (CS) is output by the at least one other ID communication partner device (4), which carrier signal (CS) is received by the ID communication partner device (2), and wherein the carrier signal (CS) is repeatedly designated by at least one mode activation signal (AS) by means of the at least one other ID communication partner device (4), and wherein the presence of the mode activation signal (AS) is recognized by the ID communication partner device (2), giving a recognition result signal (RRS), and wherein, as a function of the recognition result signal (RRS), the desired communication mode of the ID communication partner device (2) is activated.