RFID Gazette

The ActiveWave cardTag is used in access-control applications. Its shape and dimensions make it well-suited for use as an employee badge or for attaching to a flat surface of any equipment. The cardTag can be used to track both assets and individuals at the same time and this helps to validate ownership of materials, an asset being shifted in the absence of the assigned owner generates an alarm.

RFID solderable inlets and tags operable at frequencies of 13.56 MHz, 915 MHz, and 2.45 GHz are manufactured by Avante. The company also provides proprietary substrate for other manufacturers of tags and inlets.

The 7535 series of mobile computing devices from Psion Teklogix include scanners, radios, displays, keyboards, etc. The product range is based on industry standards and can fulfill the mobile data collection requirement in a supply chain.

The ALR-2850 is a battery-assisted passive interrogator by Alien Technology. It finds use in long-range supply chain application. It uses a DSP-based processor and provides a scalable anti-collision algorithm, greater range and sensitivity, improved data handling, ease of upgrade and other such features.

C.label paper packaging and silver printed antennas developed by ASK are cheap and flexible alternative for use in applications that need millions of antennas. It can be attached to surfaces that bend and are flexible and is used on cartons, books, paper materials, etc.

Handheld Contactless Card Readers from ASK are specifically designed as portable reading devices for use with contactless smart cards. They are available as the HCR series which employs a dual CPU architecture in which dedicated processors are provided for application and contactless coupler functions.

Canada-based Advanced ID Corporation has stated that the applications study conducted along with the Colorado Department of Agriculture has yielded encouraging results. The study traced herds of elk using the UHF animal livestock identification system by Advanced ID. Scott Leach, Chronic Wasting Disease Field Investigator, Colorado Department of Agriculture mentions that in the study 130 captive elk were tagged with the Advanced ID UHF tag. USDA has granted funds to the State of Colorado for animal identification pilot studies.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture intends to conduct pilots that conform to the NAIS and institute a disease traceback system that will help ranchers to minimize losses which they would otherwise incur if Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) spreads through the herd. morerfid.com reports:

At the beginning, they conducted pilot tests on elk with several different Low Frequency (LF) identification methods (i.e. ear tags, implants, and rumen boluses).

Read More: Advanced ID Reports Positive Results on Colorado Elk Program

Symbol Technologies Inc, which has several RFID initiatives lined up for 2006, hopes to have a good year. The company is working on new form factors for readers, handheld readers that comply with the EPC Gen 2 standards, multiplex reader capabilities, etc. Phil Lazo, G.M RFID Infrastructure, Symbol, feels that RFID mandates in the public and private sector will lead to greater RFID implementation.

The company is conducting pilots that could result in the development of a new vertically-oriented supply chain tracking technology. Symbol is also a member of global program to test interoperability of baggage tracking systems in the airline industry. eweek.com reports:

In a report released earlier this month, Gartner predicted RFID spending will accelerate in 2006 and 2007 as "true benefits" are documented.

Read More: Symbol Anticipates a Breakout Year for RFID

The EU has asked for tenders to be submitted in connection with RFID work that will include the preparation and implementation of issues that will be raised in five workshops. The EU has also invited consulting groups to help to help in participation management and follow up on issues such as web hosting etc.

EM Microelectronic has launched EM4094 which is an analog front-end IC for 13.56 MHz RFID readers. A wide range of microcontrollers and multiple communication protocols can be supported by the IC.

The EM4094 13.56MHz RFID demonstration reader which is a reference design and development tool kit has also been launched. The product needs a supply voltage between 3V-5V and has an output power of up to 200mW. cxotoday.com reports:

EM4094 RFID reader is compliant with the ISO14443 type A and B, Sony FelicaTM and the ISO15693 standards supporting all mandatory commands.

Read More: EM Microelectronic's New RFID Reader IC

The second phase of deploying TraX by TNT and Xterprise will see the deployment of a new improved TraX Release 2.0 application that has multi-stakeholder enterprise system integration. The solution will facilitate the streamlining of the sorting process at TNT distribution centers in Europe.

TNT’s partners in the supply chain will benefit from real-time shipment visibility. Track and trace features present in the solution promise better inventory management and more accurate shipping of goods. eyefortransport.com reports:

The TraX solution is providing real-time item level visibility, tracking of goods moving rapidly through the China-to-Europe traffic lane for TNT, its customers and other supply chain stakeholders.

Read More: TNT Express deploys Xterprise TraX solution for China-Europe supply chain

The livestock tracking and traceback system developed by ScoringAg enables livestock raising farms to monitor livestock movement and activities in real-time throughout the lifecycle of the animal. The solution uses PIDC which is a unique code for premises all over the world where livestock is raised. morerfid.com reports:

This gives an additional means of animal ID when RFID ear tags are lost or stolen and only the animal's unique identifying characteristics can give positive ID.

Read More: NAIS Cattle ID Pilot Projects Not Needed

NEC Solutions Asia Pacific Pte Ltd has released an RFID-enabled customer card which will allow customers to do more with the NECare Customer Card. Records of purchase, warranty, and service records will be stored in the card. morerfid.com reports:

NECare Customer Card also doubles up as a product warranty card and Privilege Customer Card.

Read More: NEC Introduces RFID-enabled Customer Card

Katherine Albrecht, the founder of CASPIAN, guards her personal life quite zealously. She does not use credit cards preferring to pay by cash. She did her Master’s in Instructional Technology from Harvard and her Bachelor’s in international marketing. alternet.org reports:

So, it wasn't a reach when, a couple of years later, Albrecht heard about "smart" shopping carts that use RFID to track shoppers throughout a store.

Read More: Are You Being Tracked?