Since its founding in 2004, the NFC Forum has drawn market-leading organizations from around the world to its membership roster as momentum builds for the adoption and implementation of Near Field Communication technology. Sponsor membership is the highest level of membership in the NFC Forum, with each Sponsor member occupying a seat on the organization’s Board of Directors and gaining the right to designate individuals to run for office. The NFC Forum’s nine new members, from across the NFC ecosystem, represent mobile handset manufacturers, mobile service providers, payment services providers, chip makers, solution developers, municipalities and academic institutions. New Associate members include ASMedia Technology, Inc., Bundesdruckerei GmbH, PayPal, SAXA, Inc., 7Layers AG, USC Corporation and VeriFone, Inc. Also joining recently are Non-Profit members Forum des Services Mobiles Sans Contact and Oulu Innovation, Ltd. In a related announcement, the NFC Forum Board appointed Paula Berger as Executive Director. Previously Director of the NFC Forum, Ms. Berger has managed the organization since February 2005 and works with the Board of Directors, members, group chairs, staff and other association leaders to advance the mission of the NFC Forum. Before joining the Forum, she was Director of Corporate Communications at Virtual, Inc. and earlier was a Principal at SOLUTIONS, Inc. Ms. Berger studied Planetary Physics at MIT and is a Fellow and International Past President of the Society for Technical Communication. „“Leadership and diversity constitute the lifeblood of our organization, ensuring that the work of the NFC Forum benefits from both strong direction and a breadth of perspectives,““ said Koichi Tagawa, chairman of the NFC Forum. „“Innovision and STMicroelectronics bring unique insight and innovative thinking to our Board of Directors, and we are grateful for their support, as well as that of our new Principal, Associate and Non-Profit members. The NFC Forum’s growing global membership is just one way to measure the successful management tenure of Paula Berger, whom we are pleased to name as Executive Director.““ rcassidy@virtualmgmt.com www.nfc-forum.org