The N-Mark indicates the spot where an NFC device can read an NFC tag to establish a connection. By holding an NFC-enabled device close to the N-Mark, consumers can „“pick up““ information stored on NFC tags embedded in everyday objects such as posters, bus stop signs, parking permits, street signs, medicines, magazine pages and food packaging. Applications for NFC tags span a wide range of industries, including public transit, retail and healthcare. Examples include: downloading transit schedules, maps, film trailers, retail coupons, and cooking recipes from smart posters; ordering taxi service or meals via embedded tags on signs and menus; signing up for SMS retail offers at store displays; obtaining detailed prescription information or verifying drug authenticity by reading tags on prescription bottles; and many more. Consumers can perform all of these actions simply by touching an NFC-enabled device, such as a mobile phone, to the N-Mark. „“The ability to read information stored on embedded tags is one of NFC’s essential capabilities, which also include enabling contactless payments and file transfers between devices,““ said Koichi Tagawa, chairman of the NFC Forum. „“Because it marks the opening of a new world of information to consumers, the launch of the NFC Forum N-Mark is a key milestone in the global commercialization and promotion of NFC technology.““ The NFC Forum N-Mark is available to anyone for download free of charge from the NFC Forum website via a simple click-through license. NFC Forum N-Mark Trademark Usage Guidelines are provided with the N-Mark, and users must follow the guidelines for implementation to ensure global consistency. All tags must be readable by NFC-enabled devices implementing NFC Forum Types 1-4 Tag Operation Specifications. All applications must be compliant with the NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) Technical Specification. To further support tag usage and deployment, the NFC Forum has created Record Type Definition (RTD) Technical Specifications for applications that include text, URI, and/or smart poster record types. These specifications are available for download free of charge from the NFC Forum website. Organizations may also create their own RTDs for other record types, as long as they conform to the RTD structure defined by the NFC RTD Technical Specification. The NFC Forum N-Mark is a trademark or service mark of NFC Forum, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. www.nfc-forum.org/N-Mark www.nfc-forum.org/specs