Active RFID Reader tracks in-transit military supplies
"Providing real-time supply chain visibility, RFID reader system works with active RFID tags as well as various bar codes. With over 300 MB memory, it incorporates Intermec 700 Series color mobile computer with full alphanumeric keypad and support for batch 802.11-standard wireless LAN and GSM/GPRS wide-area wireless capabilities. It also includes Savi SmartChain® Mobile Manager software and dual-frequency Savi Mobile Reader SMR-650, which enables transmissions up to 200 ft." Source: thomasnet.com
Impinj Inks RFID Deal With Texas Instruments
"Newport Beach and Seattle-based fabless semiconductor firm Impinj and Texas Instruments said yesterday that the two companies have inked an agreement for Impinj to provide its RFID chips to TI's product line. TI will tap Impinj's Monza RFID Generation 2 chips for its RFID inlay and strap products. TI will use the chips for its manufacturing of RFID tags for use in consumer goods and supply chain applications. TI said that the agreement with Impinj will accelerate its customers transition to the next generation RFID standard. Impinj is developing RFID tag technology for licensing to semiconductor companies. Impinj is backed by ARCH Venture Partners, Madrona Venture Group, Mobius Venture Capital, Polaris Venture Partners and others." Source: socaltech.com
RFID rolls for bike rentals in France
"Cyclists can rent bicycles with a swipe of a contactless, pre-paid, RFID card at kiosks in Lyon, France. JCDecaux said Monday it will add 100 Cyclocity self-checkout kiosks for the city of Lyon, France and the surrounding suburbs where cyclists can rent bicycles with a swipe of a contactless, pre-paid card with radio frequency identification technology (RFID) inside. Albertini said the bicycle kiosks enable JCDecaux to keep track of between 12,000 and 14,000 rentals daily. They can monitor who rents the bicycles as well as the hours and the day. More than 2000 bicycles are rented on average between 10 and 12 times daily." Source: itnews.com.au
Omron's $20 Million Investment Signals Major RFID Growth
"Omron Corporation, a $5.5 billion Japanese manufacturer of automation and sensing products, will invest $20 million worldwide over 2005 and 2006 as a first step in seizing a larger share of the U.S. and global radio frequency identification (RFID) market. The company's aggressive entry into the U.S. marketplace focuses on its RFID label inlay and reader products. It aims to take advantage of Wal-Mart Stores' RFID shipping tag mandate to its top 100 suppliers while leveraging Omron's (www.omronrfid.com) 20 years of global RFID product development and application experience." Source: businesswire.com
RFID Network Set To Launch In 2006
"EPCglobal Inc. is looking for big changes to radio frequency identification technology adoption in 2006, and expects to launch its RFID network that will enable businesses to collaborate and share data electronically early next year. Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) will provide a central system of record for all enterprise electronic product code-related RFID data by aggregating events from multiple technology platforms. "The platform is loosely built on the Web Services model," said Mike Meranda, president at EPCglobal U.S., the non-profit organization spearheading RFID adoption. "The network is a collection of standards that companies will implement and access for Internet-based services."" Source: informationweek.com
Software offers open source RFID/sensory integration
"Java-based Singularity v1.0 enables integrators and users to rapidly deploy RFID technology. Middleware component captures and filters RFID data, while Information Services component provides EPC event information to enterprise and external business partners via EPCglobal Network(TM) or DoD's Wide Area Workflow. It enables global Track and Trace visibility with logical appearance of single EPC-IS repository." Source: thomasnet.com
Vendors Push RFID Responsibility
""The goal is to invite RFID companies, government entities, legislators, end users and vendors to raise awareness about RFID technology and to discuss ways to ensure the continued responsible use of RFID in the public sector," said Debra Spitler of Identification Technology Group." Source: cio-today.com
NTC lays down draft rules on RFID, telemetry
"RESPONDING to local and international requests for a regulatory framework covering radio frequency identification (RFID) and telemetry, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) recently released two draft memoranda on the two technologies. Under the draft memorandum circular for RFID, devices can operate in ranges 13.553 to 13.567 Megahertz; 918 to 920 MHz; and 2446 to 2454 MHz. The NTC noted however that the radio spectrum allocation and assignment was subject to review. The NTC memo added that the maximum effective power of RFID devices, including receivers and tags, is 0.5 Watts." Source: news.inq7.net
FCC Grants ODIN technologies Restricted RFID Testing
"The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted ODIN technologies broad ranging licenses to test RFID equipment in frequencies that are restricted in the United States. The FCC regulates the maximum power of unlicensed frequencies in the U.S. (such as the UHF ISM band used by most RFID systems) to one watt per cannel and does not allow operation in frequencies required for RFID use in Europe and Japan. However, ODIN technologies laboratory is no longer under these restrictions. With the new site licenses ODIN is permitted to test in frequencies ranging from 864 MHz up to 956 MHz spectrum utilizing up to 8 watts of power." Source: morerfid.com
Branding Alaskan Goods With RFID
"There is no doubt the Alaskan seafood brand sells, even when the product is counterfeit and not from Alaskan waters. Can RFID help fix this dilemma? Yes, it can. The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is researching ways of using RFID technology to give Alaskan businesses an economic edge over competition and make Alaskan products more competitive in the global marketplace. In one study, the UAA's logistics department placed small active (battery-powered) RFID tags into 50-pound wet-lock boxes—insulated shipping containers—filled with fresh salmon from such Alaskan locations as Sitka and Bristol Bay. These RFID tags monitored and recorded the interior temperature of the box every 30 minutes. They followed the supply chain from the point the fish were placed into the boxes, through movement and storage on trucks and in chill rooms, handling, air cargo holding areas, more trucks and chill rooms, and finally the hands of waiting retailers in Chicago or Seattle." Source: rfidjournal.com
RFID Tracks Military Families' Household Goods
"The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has long been using RFID to tag and track shipments of materiel used by troops. Now, a new project is employing the technology to track the personal belongings of soldiers being moved to new posts overseas. Having performed successfully during a trial in August, the RFID network is continuing its operation as a live application, with plans to expand the network to other shipping channels. The system tracks personal belongings between two U.S. military bases for the DOD's Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) arm, which manages household goods transportation programs for military service members. Symbol Technologies' UHF EPC Gen 1 tags are being attached to individual boxes, some items and the plywood shipping crates—known as lift vans—used to transport belongings between Fort Lewis, Wash., and Grafenwohr, Germany." Source: rfidjournal.com
TiVo Files Patent For RFID-Based Video Recorder
"TiVo Inc. has filed a patent application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office earlier this month that suggests company inventors believe radio frequency identification (RFID) technology will become inserted into clothing, jewelry, key chains, and even under the skin in the body. Whether TiVo actually decides to build in the feature, the patent is for a personal video recorder (PVR) that recognizes viewer preferences through an RFID chip embedded in clothing, jewelry or "inserted somewhere [in] the user's body." The multimedia mobile personalization system would have a remote control that recognizes the viewer's RFID tag closest to the PVR. The remote control identifies and notifies the multimedia device through the RFID chip in the person's clothing or body to tailor the media content to their preferences." Source: informationweek.com
Zebra Technologies Joins RFID Certification Committee
"The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) announced that Zebra Technologies Corp., an on-demand printing solutions provider with 10 years' experience in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, is lending its expertise to the development of a vendor-neutral professional certification of RFID skills. CompTIA RFID+ certification is a credential to validate the knowledge and skills of professionals that are needed to meet the expected high demand for RFID talent over the next several years. As a member of the certification cornerstone committee, Zebra Technologies will contribute technical content and subject-matter expertise." Source: sdcexec.com
RFID Vendors: It's About ROI, Not Price
"The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) industry’s latest fascination is the ongoing cost reductions associated with RFID infrastructure. First, we saw a flurry of news about reduced prices for inlays and tags. Next came the reader vendors cutting prices. Now, companies are offering free tags and tag placement services. The whole industry has been possessed by the spirit of electronics pitchman Crazy Eddie—their prices are “insane!” How do you make money when you give stuff away for free? Will they make it up in volume? This is not the viable long-term answer for jump-starting the market. The fact is that vendors are headed in the wrong direction, focused myopically on lowering the cost to get people to buy. This is a flawed direction. Only by demonstrating value will people invest. “Tell me why I should invest in RFID” is the question to which end users want an answer. Don’t get me wrong—cost is an important part of the overall answer to the question of what is holding back the growth in RFID. However, customers we speak with are largely unmoved by the price reductions. The questions we get from customers are rarely about who is offering the cheapest tags. 9 out of 10 are from companies asking if anyone has found successful use cases in their RFID deployment." Source: amrresearch.com
RFID Drives more Machines than Humans to Internet
"Referring to radio frequency identification, Negroponte said: "When we talk about an Internet of things, it's not just putting RFID tags on some dumb thing so we smart people know where that dumb thing is. It's about embedding intelligence so things become smarter and do more than they were proposed to do." In order to connect things, they need to be recognized on the network, through a technology like RFID. Then, sensor technology needs to be able to detect changes in their physical status, knowing features like temperature and recognizing location and direction. Finally, the combination of the two technologies and how human beings manipulate them through the Internet gives them intelligence." Source: iht.com
RFID Privacy and Security
"Privacy advocates decry the risks of RFID: silent physical tracking of consumers and inventorying of their possessions. For businesses too, RFID introduces new privacy and security risks -- and a whole new dimension to corporate espionage. RSA Security's authentication and access-management products can already help businesses authenticate RFID readers and secure backend access to their RFID infrastructure today. RSA Laboratories is now researching new techniques to help protect the privacy and security of businesses and consumers in RFID environments. We offer Professional Services engagements to protect today’s RFID deployments and prepare for tomorrow’s." Source: rsasecurity.com
Analysis of the Texas Instruments DST RFID
"The Texas Instruments DST tag is a cryptographically enabled RFID transponder used in several wide-scale systems including vehicle immobilizers and the ExxonMobil SpeedPass system. This page serves as an overview of our successful attacks on DST enabled systems. A preliminary version of the full academic paper describing our attacks in detail." Source: rfidanalysis.org
RFID, LTD. Announces Relationship with BlueStar, Inc.
"RFID LTD. announced today that it has signed a value added reseller agreement with BlueStar Incorporated. Last year, BlueStar Inc. celebrated their 75th anniversary in the electronics distribution business and is recognized as one of the top two distributors in the country for RFID, alongside their top competitor ScanSource, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement RFID, LTD will sell RFID-related products distributed through BlueStar to small to medium sized suppliers required to comply with Retail and Government sector mandates. "The relationship will provide customers the combination of our market and thought leadership position coupled with BlueStar's intrinsic ability to provide immediate insight and access to the newest and most capable RFID products coming to market." said Nicholas Chavez, President of RFID, LTD." Source: businesswire.com
Goodyear's 2006 NASCAR Tire Lease Program to Deploy RFID Technology
"Goodyear will start the 2006 racing season with a new tire leasing program for NASCAR's top three series and racing's first deployment of Radio Frequency Identification technology (RFID) in the form of an embedded computer chip in the tires to help manage the leased inventory. The RFID technology will assist in the implementation of NASCAR's new controlled testing procedures, which were developed by the sanctioning body to reduce private team testing next year in an effort to level the playing field for all teams. "With RFID we will have the ability to ensure that every tire that comes to the racetrack with us leaves the track with us," Stucker said. "While we will no longer sell tires to the teams for private testing, we will continue to supply Goodyear tires for NASCAR-scheduled testing in much the same way we do at race events."" Source: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company via Yahoo.com
First Scalable Item-Level RFID Solution
"Vue Technology, the leading provider of item-level RFID, today announced the general availability of its TrueVUE(TM) RFID Platform, the industry's first scalable, ROI-driven item- level solution, which enables manufacturers and retailers to streamline the tracking of individual items, cases and pallets throughout the supply chain. An integrated RF data networking hardware and EPC management software solution, the TrueVUE(TM) RFID Platform delivers significant and measurable ROI to customers by eliminating the prohibitive cost barriers previously associated with item-level RFID roll-outs. Already proven through successful implementations with several leading retailers and manufacturers, the TrueVUE(TM) RFID Platform employs networking technology to seamlessly network thousands of antennas to a single reader, removing the costly and cumbersome process of networking countless readers. This patent-pending approach provides customers with unprecedented visibility into inventory levels, location and authenticity in an efficient, cost effective manner." Source: prnewswire.com
40 New Case Studies of RFID in Food and Livestock Management Today
"Research and Markets has announced the addition of RFID Food and Livestock Case Studies to their offering This major new report provides, for the first time, no less than forty detailed case studies of RFID in action in food and livestock. "At last readers can see what is really going on - where mistakes have been made and successes achieved." says Dr Peter Harrop, team leader on the project. There are 33 studies of RFID on food for tracking, tracing, monitoring condition and even on supermarket shelves and for payment in restaurants. The tags appear on item level packaging, pallets, trays, cases, trolleys, beer kegs, intermodal containers, air Unit Load Devices (ULDs), heavy logistics devices, trucks, trailers, and for hopper access and site access in these studies. Seven case studies cover RFID on or in livestock including cattle, ostriches, sheep, reindeer, fish and pigs. The report also gives a grounding in the new forms of RFID, relevant needs in the food industry and future trends." Source: Research and Markets via businesswire.com
US Army RFID troop monitors
"The US Army is using a civilian RFID company to monitor troops for Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training. Ultra-wideband RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) sensors from Denver's Ubisense, "track soldiers engaged in a mock village comprised of a number of multi-floor, cinderblock buildings," says the RFID Journal, going on: "Platoons of soldiers engage in combat training throughout the MOUT site, running drills of various operations, such as seizing buildings. As the soldiers move into and out of structures, they wear 900 MHz radios with GPS units, used to track their outdoor movements." Source: p2pnet.net
Ten biggest RFID myths debunked
"Associate director of RFID solutions and strategy for Manhattan Associates Greg Gilbert takes an honest look at the untold truths behind the promise of RFID technology.It’s time to set the record straight and offer executives some candid-talk about the reality of RFID. For all practical purposes, it is a ‘moving target’ – quite literally. Debunking the myths, misconceptions and mysteries surrounding RFID will help put it in proper perspective and save wasted hours and dollars searching for misguided answers. Myth #1: There are no set standards for RFID today. " More... Source: ferret.com.au
RFID-Enabled Phone Geared To Jails
"AGM Telecom plans to offer correctional facilities a radio frequency identification technology application for pre-paid or direct bill telephone service geared toward inmates in Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas, the carrier said Wednesday. AirGATE Technologies Inc. has been working to integrate an RFID application into AGM phones that would automatically identify and bill the caller when a call is placed from a coin-less AGM phone inside the jail. "We have a couple of hundred phones in three states that are used for collect calling," said Brian Dieter, director of partner relations at AGM Telecom, which provides telephone systems for jails. "We're trying to determine the feasibility and how much interest there is at correctional facilities." A ninety-day test is pending at an undisclosed facility. AirGATE would provide RFID-enabled wristbands to inmates. The tags inside bands, similar to plastic hospital wristbands, operate on the 13.5 megahertz frequency. Each waterproof band is assigned to an inmate. " Source: informationweek.com
Consumer Awareness of RFID Technology Now Stands at 42.4%
"The latest wave of RFID Buzz Research, the first study to track consumer awareness and understanding of RFID technology, shows consumers are much savvier about RFID now than they were a year ago, but that awareness may have peaked for the time being. In September 2005, more than two out of every five adults claim to have heard of a new technology called "RFID." Awareness grew most dramatically late in 2004 and early in 2005, with awareness levels peaking in June." Source: marketwire.com
U.S. Navy Selects Zebra Technologies for Passive RFID Professional Services
"Zebra Technologies, a global leader in delivering on-demand printing solutions for business improvement, has been selected to provide radio frequency identification (RFID) professional services and engineering support, as well as RFID smart label printer/encoders, software and media, to the Department of the Navy (DoN) Automatic Identification Technology (AIT) Program Office. Zebra was included as a subcontractor in a five-year contract the Navy awarded to CACI International Inc, a member of Zebra's PartnersFirst government reseller program. The AIT Program Office is responsible for the implementation plan to promote the use of RFID technology for supply chain, logistics, maintenance, materials management, warehouse management and other operations on ships and ashore. The contract establishes Zebra as a Navy subcontractor charged with helping the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps implement passive RFID programs by providing program and project management, technical services, and product and media recommendation." Source: Zebra Technologies Corporation via Yahoo.com
RFID Badges
"When an industry collectively advocates the use of radio frequency ID chips - for plenty of good reasons, we may point out - it had better start leading by example. Following Nokia's example last month, CA this week is fitting attendees at a big annual conference with badges that feature RFID. The idea is that delegates will be matched to certain places or maybe even people if they are in close proximity to them. Now, record all that data, throw it into a database - an Ingres database? - add some clever analytics and you could end up with interesting findings. The idea most certainly isn't that those with the badges scupper the whole thing, for reasons of privacy (does that even exist in such an environment?) or simply to be difficult. We expect more of the same and wait to see whether it means anything more than a more convenient version of the old bar-coded badges." Source: silicon.com
Sun Offers Item-Level RFID for Pharmaceuticals
"Sun Microsystems Inc. on Monday will roll out its second RFID solution in as many weeks, targeting the latest offering at item-level use for fighting counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical field. Along with partners Raining Data Corp. and SupplyScape, Sun will demo the new RFID Solution for Drug Authentication at this week's HIAS (Healthcare Industry Adoption Summit) show, said Vivek Khandelwal, senior product manager for Sun's RFID Business Unit, during a briefing. Ultimately, the combined solution is tailored to a set of recommendations issued by the federal Food and Drug Administration last May that call upon the pharmaceutical industry to establish "electronic pedigrees" for end-to-end drug tracking in the supply chain." Source: eweek.com
Allixon Signs OEM Deal for RFID Middleware With Sun
"Allixon International has signed an OEM Technology Agreement with Sun Microsystems to build-out its RFID Middleware Solution, more specifically with a focus in SCM (Supply Chain Management). The term of the contract is for one year with an option to renew. Under the general terms of the contract Allixon may purchase Product and Service from Sun or from a Sun authorized reseller. Allixon will utilize the various products and services that Sun has to offer to develop its RFID Middleware SCM (Supply Chain Management) solution and related RFID technologies to be launched in the second quarter of 2006. The combinations of RFID technologies and SCM have the potential to exponentially boost SCM performance in many business sectors such as the Pharmaceutical sector. Allixon is researching the potential applications an RFID-based pharmaceutical SCM Business Model could offer the industry." Source: ecnasiamag.com
RFID deadline hits defense industry
"The U.S. military is taking a step forward in its adoption of radio frequency identification, or RFID, technology to track supplies, and new regulations kick in for suppliers on Monday. Starting on that day, certain suppliers to the U.S. Defense Department must include in new contracts an agreement to attach RFID tags to shipments of goods to two major military distribution centers. The order, which the agency announced in September, applies specifically to packaged rations, clothing, personal-care items and weapon system repair parts shipped to supply depots in Susquehanna, Pa., and San Joaquin, Calif. The deadline is the Defense Department's latest move in its push to use RFID to streamline the delivery of supplies to military forces abroad. A previous deadline called for certain suppliers to attach RFID tags to shipping cases and palettes starting last January. This latest rule calls for case-level tagging as well as electronic advance shipment notices that correspond with data on tags." Source: cnet.com
U.S. Bill Includes RFID Provision for Pets
"Legislation approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 28 and the U.S. Senate on Nov. 3, and now awaiting President Bush's signature, could make it easier for pet hospitals and shelters to use radio frequency identification to reunite pet owners with their lost animals. Million of pets in the United States have RFID tags embedded under their skin, but the tags (which animal hospitals and shelters call microchips) do not all operate at the same frequency, nor are they readable by all RFID interrogators (readers) used by vets and shelters. The provision is included in House Report 109-255, accompanying the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Bill (HR 2744). If President Bush signs it, the legislation would require the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)—the branch of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture charged with protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health and safeguarding the wellbeing of domestic animals—"to develop the appropriate regulations that allow for universal reading ability and best serve the interests of pet owners." This would ensure that any lost pet could have its implanted tag read and be linked to its owner through a national database." Source: rfidjournal.com
RFID pitched for bird-flu containment
"A California company is marketing its RFID monitoring and surveillance technology as a way to potentially limit the spread of bird flu in Asia. Smart-tek Solutions announced a plan Thursday to leverage its expertise and technology in attempts to containavian influenza. The company said poultry farmers and bird keepers in Asia have doctored records out of fear that they'll suffer financially if their birds are culled and its RFID tagging technology can help enforce proper record-keeping. Smart-tek technology allows for tagging, counting and documenting birds with end-user defined programs. The company points out that its system can be tailored to government needs for tracking poultry movement, providing owner information, identifying species and logging inspection dates." Source: commsdesign.com
Companies to promote Dallas area as 'RFID Hub'
"Over the last few years, the Dallas area has earned an unofficial reputation as a national center for the development of the wireless technology known as RFID. Dozens of radio frequency identification companies will gather in Richardson to formally unveil their slogan for the region: Dallas The RFID Hub. "Dallas has the opportunity to be a major world player in RFID," said Allan Griebenow, president and chief executive officer at Carrollton-based Axcess Inc. There are 121 Dallas-Fort Worth area companies working with RFID, according to the University of North Texas." Source: dallasnews.com
Item Level RFID
"This report details the business benefits of the "tag everything" scenario and explains the imminent transformation of postal, military, healthcare and other operations. Many individual items are already RFID tagged and adoption is far more rapid than is commonly realised. Item level RFID will save millions of lives, reduce sickness and accidents and enrich the retailing and Information Technology (IT) industries and others. It will revolutionise the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and healthcare industries by making them far more efficient but also capable of new things. However, there will be winners and losers: it will greatly alter the balance of power within value chains. Item level RFID will transform the postal industry and sharply improve the capabilities of military forces." Source: packagingessentials.com
New plan for deactivating RFID tags may ease privacy concerns
"Researchers at IBM may have come up with a possible solution to the huge privacy concerns surrounding the implementation and use of RFID technology. Speaking at a privacy meeting hosted by the Association of Computing Machinery on Monday, IBM researchers Paul Moskowitz and Guenter Karjoth unveiled a new strategy for "killing" RFID tags. Specifically, the researchers have devised an alternative to the current kill commands specified by EPCglobal in its Generation 2 protocol, which, from a consumer's perspective, offer no visible indication that a tag has actually been killed. IBM's new research suggests two trouble-free ways for consumers to visibly deactivate an RFID tag after making a purchase. Better yet, they say it can be easily manufactured into current specs for RFID tags at no extra cost." Source: dcvelocity.com
Sun Hopes for Bright Future with RFID
"Hoping to spur the market for physical-asset tracking, Sun Microsystems Latest News about Sun Microsystems released a collection of RFID-based products designed to make tracking easier to integrate. Sun's tracking system is a combination of hardware and software that includes the Solaris 10 operating system, the Sun Java Latest News about Java Enterprise System, and the Sun Java System RFID software. The package comes with third-party components, including the RFID-enabled mobile asset-management system from Applied Logistics Solutions, and is capable of working with many of the commonly available RFID tags and readers." Source: newsfactor.com
RFID tracker tags for visitors to US
"Planning to visit the US? An electronic tag will keep track of you during your stay there. On an experiment, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is deploying radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to track immigrants entering and exiting the country. The RFID is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. From July 31 the experiment applies to people without green cards entering the US with a visa to work, study or tour. Over the next year, people in these categories will be issued new "I-94" visa cards embedded with an RFID tag at five border crossings of Nogales East and Nogales West in Arizona, Alexandria Bay in New York, and the Pacific Highway and Peace Arch in Washington. The DHS requires that the I-94 cards be carried at all times, says information available in its Web site." Source: thehindubusinessline.com
TradeWind Introduces Plug & Play for RFID
"TradeWind Technologies LLC recently released ContactlessONE — a combination of hardware, software, and documentation to make HF (13.56 MHz) RFID development and deployment plug and play for peripheral, mobile phone, PDA, laptop, PC and dedicated device hardware makers as well as RFID application developers. "TradeWind has led the way in providing advanced RFID technology and was the first to introduce an HF RFID reader in the SD form factor," stated Doug Yeager, CEO of TradeWind. "Taking the technology we bundled into this unique reader and making it available to hardware makers and application developers is the next logical step in helping to create interoperability within RFID applications. ContactlessONE enables Plug & Play RFID."" Source: wirelessdesignasia.com
New Study Illustrates Business Benefits for RFID Baggage Handling Systems in Airline Industry
"BearingPoint, Inc., a leading global management and technology consulting firm, announced today that it has completed a feasibility study to help airlines and airports quantify the potential business benefits and return on investment for Radio Frequency Identification-based (RFID) baggage handling systems. The study, conducted this summer in conjunction with the German airline Hapagfly, and the Hannover Airport in Germany, was the first to benefit from a new BearingPoint-developed methodology and tool set that provides analysis of quantitative cost issues as well as considering qualitative service issues that airlines and airports should take into account when evaluating RFID-based systems. Though many successful RFID technology pilot programs have been conducted for the aviation industry, the focus of most programs has been on the ability of the technology to perform at an acceptable level and to measure reliability of equipment. BearingPoint's new methodology goes a step further, providing analysis of the business and financial impacts of implementing an RFID-enabled baggage handling solution." Source: prnewswire.com
Free RFID Tags From Avery
"Avery Dennison's RFID business division on Monday launched a partnership program for qualified companies that are facing 2006 mandates to affix radio frequency identification technology tags on cases or pallets before shipping goods from their distribution center to customers. In the program, Avery is opening a company location in Atlanta to help accelerate the adoption of RFID across the retail and Department of Defense supply chains. "We expect a great deal of interest in this program and recognize that RFID tags are a crucial component of a working RFID system," said Antony Sloan, manager of marketing services at Avery Dennison RFID. "The more than 300 companies under current and 2006 mandates that must implement RFID at their own expense are mostly likely going to be taking a close look at the advantages of the Avery Dennison Partnership Program." Through the program, the company will assist in tag evaluation at its Atlanta Technical Center, where participants in the program receive up to 10,000 free Gen 1 or Gen 2 tags to either test or ship cases and pallets to customers." Source: informationweek.com
IBM Develops Scratch-Off RFID Tags
"IBM researchers have developed a method to ensure consumer privacy while using RFID tags that emulate scratch-off lottery tickets or perforated clothing labels. While the RFID device would remain on the shirt, can, or package itself, IBM's idea is attach a partially-destructible RFID antenna so that the consumer can remove it after purchase. IBM researchers introduced the concept in a paper presented Monday. Destroying part of the antenna would degrade the antenna range from a few meters down to a few inches, helping to alleviate concerns that hidden RFID scanners could "read" the contents of a consumer's shopping cart, identifying what they purchased." Source: extremetech.com
RFID Exec Responds To 'Spychips' Book
"Nicholas Chavez, president of radio frequency identification company RFID Ltd., has published a response to a book called “Spychips”, written by Katherine Albrecht and Liz McIntyre and offered to engage with the two authors for benefit of consumers. In a statement announcing the publishing of the response Chavez asked Albrecht and McIntyre to participate on an RFID advisory board and offered to help them become "certified" in RFID technology. In a 24-page document Chavez has attempted to refute arguments made by Albrecht and McIntyre in their book that RFID chip deployment is an invasion of privacy. The publication of the book has sparked off a debate over whether the use of RFID chips by large corporations is part of a conspiracy between big business and government that will ultimately see RFID tags used everywhere." Source: informationweek.com
RFID tag printer meets European standards
"Printronix has launched new printer and applicator systems to enable firms to produce radio frequency identification (RFID) wireless tags that comply with new industry standards. The company said its SmartLine 5000r MP2 and SLPA7000r MP2 print systems are the first to achieve standards body EPCglobal's Gen2 certification. "It's a platform rather than a printer and this announcement is more significant for companies operating in Europe, because it encodes EPCglobal Class 0, 0+, 1, Gen 2, and Philips UCode 1.19 RFID tags," said Brad Jarvis, Printronix director of product marketing. The MP2 range also uses Printronix XML (PXML), an XML-based printer schema that allows XML commands to the printer and vice versa. "This enables software developers to create XML applications that can be used to manage a company's RFID printers and other devices," said Jarvis." Source: itweek.co.uk
RFID For Amusement Parks
"Precision Dynamics Corporation, a vendor of automatic wristband identification, is announcing its newest products, Smart Kiosk and Smart Reader, which use radio frequency identification for cashless payment at amusement parks. PDC's RFID Point-of-Sale Cashless Payment System consists of Smart Kiosk, Smart Band RFID Wristbands, and Smart Readers, all located throughout a venue for purchases. Smart Kiosk is a free-standing booth with touch-screen that allows patrons to load money using cash, credit or debit cards onto Smart Band RFID Wristbands which are typically provided to patrons at admissions. Smart Reader is a free-standing combination POS system and reader that replaces the need for stand-alone POS systems and readers." Source: tmcnet.com
Retailers Using RFID for Better Holiday Customer Service
"American retailers are turning to radio frequency identification technology -- RFID tags -- to ensure that in-demand items are in stock this holiday season, hoping to bolster end-of-year revenues, experts tell CRM Buyer. According to the consultancy Deloitte & Touche's 20th Anniversary Holiday Mood Survey, retailers have returned to a focus on customer service "basics," such as ensuring in-stock merchandise, easy return policies and extra sales help and available cash registers. These were cited among the areas shoppers have missed in recent years. Holiday revenue can account for 25 to 40 percent of a company's annual revenue, and retailers are embracing RFID to improve customer service." Source: technewsworld.com
Norway, Sweden line up for RFID train
"Ticketing on public transport in Norway and Sweden is being revolutionized by the introduction of a new payment system using RFID smart cards. The scheme, planned to go live in 2006, is a further endorsement for contactless payment which is growing in popularity, especially in public transport. There will still be human interaction with train conductors, who are being equipped with 1,000 pocket PCs with card readers for collecting payment and validating e-tickets." Source: zdnet.com
Vending Machines Accept RFID Cards
"USA Technologies is installing RFID-enabled versions of its cashless payment terminals, e-Port, in 500 vending machines across New York City and Atlanta. Based in Malvern, Pa., the company provides wireless, cashless, micro-transaction and networking services to the vending machine, hospitality and laundry industries. The e-Port terminals have a magnetic-stripe reader for conventional credit card transactions. To ready them for RFID-based payments, USA Technologies embedded an RFID reader into the units, provided by ViVOtech, an RFID payment technology provider in Santa Clara, Calif. The RFID-enabled e-Port terminals accept contactless payments from any credit or debit card carrying the MasterCard PayPass, American Express ExpressPay, Chase blink or Visa Contactless logo. Encrypted account data is passed between the e-Port RFID-enabled terminal and the payment card, using the ISO 14443 air-interface protocol. Last week, Chase began issuing blink MasterCard and Visa cards to more than 2 million customers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut." Source: rfidjournal.com
RFID Firm Turns To Google For Image Campaign
"RFID Ltd., a pro-RFID industry firm that is paying Google an undisclosed sum to publish several papers on the search engine that paint an upbeat picture of all-things having to do with RFID technology. More specifically, the papers are intended to refute allegations detailed in a recently released book called "Spychips," which paints a less than friendly view of how radio frequency identification technology is affecting consumer privacy. The authors -- Katherine Albrecht, founder of the privacy advocacy group Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN), and consumer privacy advocate Liz McIntyre -- co-authored the book released on Oct. 4. "This is terrifying stuff. Companies have laid out some outlandish plans for RFID technology and no one knows about them, so when you're sitting on information you feel a responsibility to tell people," Albrecht said." Source: informationweek.com
Danish Snack Maker Puts RFID on Hold
"More than a year after winding up a successful trial using RFID in its supply chain, KiMs, Denmark's largest snack food producer, says it still won’t be using RFID in its operations. Instead, the company is waiting for its logistics supplier and retailer customers to catch up with the technology. The company notes that the RFID system improved both visibility and its ongoing operations. However, with no sign of a retailer mandate in sight, and with its logistics provider unwilling to invest in the technology, the company decided not to extend its RFID trial. Rather, it has opted to take what it learned from six months of tracking pallets to improve its existing bar code system." Source: rfidjournal.com
To RFID Or Not?
"Is RFID a cure-all or false security for your out-of-stock losses? What is the real return on RFID investment? After Wal Mart Stores' recent mandate requiring RFID tagging by 100 of its suppliers down to the level of cases and pallets, it has now presented new information in a study that may be a challenge to their suppliers and to a larger world. The trial results were positive, but it turns out that not everyone's sold on the results and on RFID's ability to generate real bottom-line profits." Source: forbes.com
RFID Classes Hit Business Schools
"University of California Irvine Extension said on Monday it has opened enrollment for it's first certificate program in radio frequency identification technology, joining a handful of business schools across the country taking an academic interest in RFID. Classes at UCI begin in January. Five courses totaling 150 hours are required to complete the program. The first two classes are being offered in the winter quarter and the remaining three in the spring. "The classes are based on business processes, rather than the technology," said Stefano Stephan, assistant director for the Business Management Legal and IT program. Solving Business Problems with Radio Frequency Identification Technology Devices is the first class being offered next year. The class provides a technology overview and how it can fit into the business environment. RFID Technology: Principals and Practices, also is being offered in the winter." Source: techweb.com