NFC suffers identity crisis, becomes N-Mark, denies prior existence

Things just got strangely... interesting in the world of near-field communications. The NFC Forum, which just a few weeks ago issued a press release repeatedly using the term "NFC" and seemed quite fond of the logo to the left above, has apparently decided that "NFC" isn't particularly trademarkable. So, it will now be calling its suite of (ever dizzying) connectivity options "N-Mark," identified by the new, swoopier logo to the right. The latest addition to those head-spinning wireless standards? Sagem and Telenor are adding WiFi into the mix, creating a hybrid device to interact with the new SIMFi, allowing NFC (or whatever you want to call it) at rather greater than "near" ranges, running at 2.5GHz instead of the usual 13.56MHz. Confused? Just gaze at that new, blue logo and all will seem right as rain.

[chicqo Posted Feb 18th 2010 1:50PM]

it's so cool!
http://kotusozluk.com

[Samurai Jack Posted Feb 18th 2010 2:39PM]

Something tells me they failed to get the express written consent of the National Football League and were prohibited from using their prior name and logo.

[StevenBurnwaffle Posted Feb 18th 2010 2:40PM]

Errr.... that looks alot like the Nespresso logo...

[Andie Posted Feb 18th 2010 3:45PM]

Back when I used to live in Oulu, Finland, they had some NFC pilot going on with local buses littered with NFC tags you could touch with your NFC enabled phone (if only you would've had one). Those tags had that exact N-mark on them, so I guess it carries some tradition in the NFC field that I'm not privy to. Anyhow, I always thought that sharp-edged N was not a shape that particularly urged you to touch it, quite the opposite. It had no bullseye qualities, so to speak.

[Kensai Posted Feb 18th 2010 5:21PM]

Hey, NFC should keep its name now that Apple has submitted a patent. :p

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/02/apple-getting-serious-about-near-field-communication-on-the-iphone.html

[mpclark Posted Feb 18th 2010 6:38PM]

I don't think this is quite right. The 'N-mark' is simply the NFC Forum's recommended graphic to indicate an NFC target, somewhere users can touch to interact via NFC. It was announced back in June last year. Details are here:

http://www.nearfieldcommunicationsworld.com/2009/06/02/31255/nfc-forum-reveals-n-mark-symbol/