‘N’ marks the spot for sharing data wirelessly

The NFC Forum (NFC is an acronym for Near Field Communication, a short-range RFID protocol) has released a logo, called N-Mark, that will signal the presence of an RFID tag embedded in a movie poster or print ad, or a wireless payment device.

By waving an NFC phone near an N-Mark tag, or tapping it with the phone, you might be able to download a movie trailer, a song, or a coupon. You could also tap the NFC tag to pay for a ticket, or to get into a ballgame without a paper ticket.

You will also be able to swap data wirelessly with other NFC phones.

Some of the more privacy-and-security conscious among us will probably turn off their phones when they see the N-Mark logo. You never know: RFID hackers might also be drawn to places where they know people are making wireless transactions.

Only a handful of NFC phones are currently available. But that’s likely to change, and quickly. A Sony Ericsson executive told a trade audience last month that all new mobile phones (not just Sony Ericsson’s) will include NFC modules by summer 2010. And with American Express, Visa, and PayPal all backing NFC, I expect the N-Mark symbol will begin dotting the cityscape around the same time.

NFC Forum members, meanwhile, are dreaming up ways to draw consumers into using the technology.

In one trial, by Telefónica O2 UK Ltd., British National Health Service workers tap NFC phones against special tags in their patients’ homes to record the times and durations of their visits. (Telefónica is an NFC member.)

A patient in the O2 Homecare trial can also touch his own NFC phone to the tag in his house, to display the time of his next scheduled visit from the health service.

Boston.com readers have also suggested new NFC applications. Reader “joeshuron’’ wrote in April to say that NFC phones would make ideal MBTA payment devices, citing tests of the technology in other cities.

But some games, such as top-down shooters and simulators, simply work better with a traditional controller.

The GameBone Pro (www.22moo.com.au/gamebonepro.html), an iPhone OS 3.0-compatible controller that works with Bluetooth or a cable connector, should make some mobile games easier to play. The GameBone Pro prototype, which uses a Lithium-ion battery, has a direction pad on one side, and menu buttons on the other. It also has speakers, a microphone, and a headphone jack.

The controller, from the Aussie firm 22moo International Pty Ltd., will clip onto your iPhone (or iPod Touch) for game play. 22moo is still trying out several finishes for the game controller. One, which has a "grey rubber feel," according to 22moo, is a leading candidate.

22moo says the GameBone Pro could be ready for sale as early as September.