A portable electronic device (110) with a NFC (near field communication) unit (114) is switchable between an active mode and a passive mode. A motion sensor unit (112) records a motion of the portable electronic device (110), and outputs a motion signal descriptive for the recorded motion. A processing unit (111) analysis the motion signal to detect a first predefined motion pattern including an acceleration and a deceleration phase. The NFC unit (114) is switched into the active mode upon detection of a first predefined motion pattern descriptive for an NFC touch gesture.