April 05, 2012 WAKEFIELD, Mass.—The NFC Forum a non-profit industry association that advances the use of Near Field Communication (NFC), today announced that a growing number of companies are displaying the N-Mark, the universal symbol and touchpoint for NFC, on smart posters, tags and media, promotional materials, and websites.
In response to this increasing popularity, industry demand, and accompanying NFC market growth, the NFC Forum is broadening the availability of the N-Mark. Previously provided for tags and media, the N-Mark is now offered for software and devices. Interested parties may obtain the N-Mark today, free of charge, through a simple click-through license, accessible via download. To educate N-Mark licensees and encourage proper N-Mark usage, the NFC Forum has developed an N-Mark Brand Guide that provides detailed usage guidelines and examples, and outlines the value of the N-Mark brand.
“To promote the development of NFC, it is fundamental to have a standards-based symbol that is globally interoperable and recognizable,” said Don Tait, Senior Market Analyst from IMS Research. “The N-Mark fits these criteria, and this will help the NFC market to gain traction and acceptance over the coming years.”
According to Deloitte’s latest Technology, Media and Telecommunications Predictions report, almost 200 million NFC-equipped devices will be shipped in 2012. Currently, more than 1,000 companies throughout the world have signed the N-Mark Trademark License Agreement and downloaded the N-Mark. In addition, dozens of companies to date have publicly stated their commitment to using the N-Mark with their products and services. These supporters include NFC Forum Sponsor members NEC Corporation, NXP Semiconductors, Sony Corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sony Mobile Communications, and Principal members CSR and BlackBerry® maker Research In Motion (RIM).
“It is gratifying to see that so many companies appreciate the N-Mark, both as the universal symbol for NFC and as a touchpoint for initiating NFC services,” said Koichi Tagawa, chairman of the NFC Forum. “Their support, along with the broader availability of the N-Mark, will help drive consumer recognition of the N-Mark and all it represents – greater convenience, ease, and interoperability.”
When companies display the N-Mark on their products and materials, it makes it easy for people to identify NFC-enabled devices and services, providing nearly effortless access to the full power, ease, and convenience of NFC solutions. Use of the N-Mark also helps to promote the adoption of NFC Forum specifications and consumer awareness and use of NFC technology. The N-Mark may also be displayed alongside proprietary marks, thereby helping to identify provider-specific solutions that complement NFC Forum specifications. Widespread adoption of NFC is essential to the NFC Forum’s goal of ensuring global interoperability of NFC solutions.
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