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New NFC tag launched by Innovision Research & Technology to help drive non-payment applications
Fills gap between very low-memory and high-cost NFC tags
Tuesday 15th June, 2010
Cirencester, UK, 15th June 2010 – Innovision Research & Technology, a leading developer of Near Field Communication (NFC) and RFID solutions, has launched Topaz-512, the latest addition to its family of low-cost tags, to further open up opportunities for the development of non-payment applications of NFC.
With 512 bytes of memory – more than five times greater than the existing 96-byte Topaz tag – Topaz-512 will help bridge the gap between low-memory tags and high-cost products that typically target high-security payment applications such as contactless credit cards.
The new tag is designed to help accelerate the market for non-payment applications by making NFC an attractive option for additional mass-market opportunities, such as business cards, automatic SMS messaging and digital content delivery through smart posters.
So-called ‘tag in a box’ applications, where NFC tags are included as part of a mobile phone package with an NFC-enabled handset, are also a key market opportunity for the new tags. Innovision is already working with mobilkom austria, the first mobile operator in the world to commercially distribute an NFC phone with a set of pre-programmed Topaz NFC service tags. In this application, Topaz-512 supports the delivery of additional data to simplify service discovery and usage.
“Clearly, payment and ticketing will be an important part of NFC evolution,” says Stephen Graham, VP Marketing, Innovision Research & Technology, “but non-payment applications are emerging as a key driver for early NFC adoption. Innovision is committed to supporting new markets and opportunities, and Topaz-512 is evidence of this and our role at the forefront of NFC development.”
The additional memory in Topaz-512 means it can also provide low-cost security support, for example using digital signatures for data authentication.
Available in a number of form factors, from cards and stickers to key-fobs and waterproof laundry tags, Topaz-512 supports a variety of NFC applications.
As with all Topaz tags, Topaz-512 is mandated as a Type 1 tag by the NFC Forum – meaning it is compatible with any NFC-certified mobile phone or other device.
Topaz-512 tags are available to order direct from Innovision at www.buynfc.com (part number TPZ-505-016) with the option for customized artwork.
The buynfc.com website provides a one-stop shop for NFC application developers and consumers, and with a growing wealth of advice on NFC tag usage, application development, and which tags are best suited to different applications.
About Innovision Research & Technology plc
Innovision Research & Technology plc, is leading the next generation of NFC/RFID solutions. As the leading fabless developer of Short-Range Data Communication semiconductor and system solutions, with particular focus on NFC/RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and ultra low-cost Integrated Circuit (IC) and RF electronic design, IRT is pushing cost performance to enable clients to get maximum utility for minimum cost.
The company develops innovative semiconductor technologies, ICs, RF systems (HF/UHF) and complete end product applications for mass volume commercialisation and then licenses customers for its incorporation into their own products.
At the heart of the emerging Near Field Communication (NFC) market, Innovision R&T designs and develops NFC/RFID IC solutions for the global mobile handset and consumer device sectors.
Products include Topaz, mandated by the NFC Forum as the NFC number one tag type format, Jewel for mass transit ticketing applications, and io, the world's smallest standards compatible Near-Field RFID reader.
Headquartered in the UK, Innovision R&T was listed in 2001 on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange (ticker symbol:INN).