June 09, 2004
Printronix Announces RFID Smart Label Printer
Andy Chapman, the senior technology officer and senior vice president of Printronix, cites that the lack of integrated print-and-apply systems is a huge barrier to RFID adoption.
According to Yahoo! Finance:
"Printronix Inc. (Nasdaq: PTNX - News), the leading integrated supply-chain printing solutions manufacturer, today introduced the industry's first integrated Electronic Product Code (EPC(TM))-UHF print-and-apply system. The Smart Label Printer Applicator (SLPA(TM)) 7000e was co-developed by Printronix and FOX IV Technologies Inc., two experienced industrial printing solution providers creating first-of-its-kind radio-frequency identification (RFID) printing technologies. Built on Printronix's leading EPC RFID Smart(TM) encoding technology and combined with FOX IV's best-in-class Uniwall applicator system, the SLPA7000e is the first and only all-in-one system to meet companies' RFID compliance encoding as well as in-line encode and apply production requirements." Read more
June 9, 2004 in Hardware | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 07, 2004
InfoLogix Launches RFID Computer System
According to Food Production Daily:
"InfoLogix has launched one of the first available wireless, full-function, RFID computer. This intelligent device enables RFID automation throughout the supply chain, including optimisation of RFID read/write applications on forklifts, dock doors, conveyers, portals, outdoors environments, freezers and retail stores.
"This, says InfoLogix, provides a platform for true cost reduction and improved customer service." Read more
June 7, 2004 in Hardware | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 04, 2004
Cold Chain Validation Project Uses RFID to Track Temperature
According to Computerworld:
"Enterprises that deal will perishable goods distribution and handling can now use RFID to track assets and any change in temperature with the government-backed Cold Chain Validation project now in its trial stage.
"Lead by Carter Holt Harvey’s Global Licensing and Innovation (GLI) business, the Cold Chain Validation project’s participants include CSL, National Pharmacies, Independent Vet Supplies, and RG Medical. The Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts has provided seed funding of $176,000 for the project." Read more
June 4, 2004 in Hardware | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 02, 2004
RFID SmartTags Will Bring Security and Tracking to Freight Entering Ports
According to Yahoo! Finance:
"In the United States, nearly seven million cargo containers each year enter the nation's seaports onboard ships from numerous foreign ports and countries of origin. The containers are offloaded from the ships and transferred to trucks and trains to be delivered to their final destinations. But as security concerns move to the forefront, how can agencies in charge of security at our nation's ports be assured that containers have not been tampered with or had their security compromised along the way?" Read more
June 2, 2004 in Hardware, Security | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 28, 2004
US-Based Pretide Will Team with Lite-On and Tsann Kuen to Develop RFID Technology in Taiwan
According to DigiTimes:
"The technology is estimated to boost RFID production by more than NT$10 billion (about US$299 million) in three to five years, according to DoIT." Read more
May 28, 2004 in Hardware | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 27, 2004
EM Microelectronic's New Reader Reads at Greater Than 15m Distances
According to EDN:
"EM Microelectronic's new EM4223 UHF RFID IC fully complies with the international standard ISO18000-6A and EPC (Electronic Product Code) 64- and 96-bit code specifications. Air interface ISO18000-6A, which ISO finalized in 2003 and plans to publish in the coming months, also defines families of items to store in the AFI (application-family-identifier) segment of memory. Using AFI, the EM4223 supports a direct-selection mechanism, which enhances throughput by reducing the data flow through the network." Read more
See a photo (PDF) of the reader, courtesy Reed Electronics.
May 27, 2004 in Hardware | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 26, 2004
Innovision Research & Technology Creates RFID Reader Smaller Than a Dime
Innovision Research & Technology, a UK vendor based in Berkshire, has developed the world's smallest RFID reader that supports Near Field Communication (NFC) standards. The reader module, called 'io,' supports Near Field Communication (NFC) standards that allow electronic devices to communicate when they come into physical contact with each other.
io can read and write to 13.56 MHz RFID tags and smart labels and is optimized for a 2.8V battery operation. Innovision has added NFC support to prepare for a time when users may be able to download music to their MP3 players simply by tapping the player against a poster. Other applications include using an NFC phone to store electronic cash, thereby enabling users to purchase movie tickets by waving the phone at a movie poster.
ZDNet UK reports:
"This day is close, according to Innovision, which predicts that NFC applications could be deployed next year.
"'NFC has all the right building blocks for many applications,' said Marc Borrett, managing director of Innovision, who added that the first products could be deployed within 12 to 18 months, followed by 'a wave of applications.'
"The NFC standard is being backed by Nokia, Philips and Sony, who launched the NFC Forum at the CeBIT trade show earlier this year."
May 26, 2004 in Hardware | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 10, 2004
Airespace and Bluesoft form Partnership to Bring Ubiquitous RFID Technology
According to Business Wire:
"Airespace, Inc. and Bluesoft, Inc. announced today a strategic agreement that will enable enterprises to better track mobile devices for increased productivity and security. Under terms of the agreement, Airespace will integrate Bluesoft's AeroScout(R) active WLAN Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tag with the Airespace Wireless Enterprise Platform as part of the Airespace Wireless Location Services (AWLS) package. The addition of an active 802.11 RFID transceiver to the new Airespace platform enables a complete end-to-end location tracking system that provides new inventory management, auditing, and security capabilities to business environments."
May 10, 2004 in Corporate News, Hardware | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 26, 2004
NZ Startup Sandtracker Announces Low-Cost, Low-Silicon RFID Tag
According to COMPUTERWORLD:
"Start-up venture Sandtracker claims to have cracked the $US0.05-per-tag barrier for RFID with a radically different technology which 'doesn't need silicon in quite the same way other tags do,' according to one of Sandtracker's backers.
"Jan Hilder, of financial services software firm Tacit Group, says the breakthrough stems from a "laterally different" idea from other RFID implementations.
"'The competition has concentrated on getting better and better at pursuing the same path. We've taken a completely different path.'" Read more
April 26, 2004 in Hardware | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 21, 2004
Psion Teklogix and SIRIT Technologies Deliver RFID-Enabled Hand-Held Computer
TMCnet reports:
"Psion Teklogix Inc. (LSE: PON), a global provider of solutions for mobile computing and wireless data collection, today unveiled an integrated dual-mode RFID and barcode reader from SIRIT Technologies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SIRIT Inc. (TSX: SI), for its rugged 7535 hand-held computer. This new capability on the proven 7535 provides Psion Teklogix customers with additional data collection options. [...]
"'Wireless technology in the warehouse is constantly evolving and Psion Teklogix developed the new 7535 with RFID capabilities to meet the growing demand in the market' said Peter Morley, senior product manager, Psion Teklogix."
April 21, 2004 in Hardware | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack