October 19, 2006
Big Blue Postpones RFID Demo
IBM called off an RFID demonstration in Australia recently, at the Australian Tennis Open. They stopped due to the interference they were causing to a nearby Vodafone mobile phone tower, because of frequency overlap. The irony is that IBM was demonstrating the accuracy and reliability of RFID. [Australian IT via Storefront Backtalk]
As the Australian IT article indicates, this interference with a cellular tower is not a normal occurrence. Apparently the non-IBM RFID reader did not conform to standards set by GS1 (Australian branch of a standards body). However, differences in operating frequency ranges for RF equipment in different countries has occasionally been a hindrance to projects where RFID tags are used in different countries. Adoption of a single band for RF activity in all countries is difficult due to legacy use of various frequencies in each country. IBM has been looking to standardize RFID and is also involved in a new US-UK RFID research consortium, which they are leading.
--
Did you enjoy this post?
« Unusual RFID Use: Escargot Express | Main | Tracking Consumer Response To RFID »
