Oct 10, 2013The following are news announcements made during the past week by the following organizations: Tyco Retail Solutions; Blue Bite; Creative Mobile Technologies; TAMOCO; Motion Computing; ThingMagic.
Tyco Retail Solutions Unveils New RFID Application for Retailers
Tyco Retail Solutions has announced a new RFID-enabled, packaged application designed to help retailers more easily and quickly count display items, and ensure that all models and styles in stock are represented on the sales floor. The TrueVUE Inventory Display Execution app, which can be used with EPC Gen 2 ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID tags and readers, was initially developed for Saks Fifth Avenue stores (see Saks' RFID Deployment Ensures Thousands of Shoes Are on Display). The upscale retailer is using the new application in the shoe departments of three of its 41 Saks Fifth Avenue locations, and, according to Tyco Retail Solutions, was able to reach nearly 100 percent display compliance. The solution employs Avery Dennison AD-380 EPC Gen 2 UHF RFID tags and Motorola Solutions MC3190-Z handheld readers. The collected read data is managed by Tyco's TrueVUE Store Performance software platform, which includes a new app to alert store associates regarding any samples that may be missing from the display shelves. According to Tyco Retail Solutions, the packaged application, initially developed for department stores and specialty footwear retailers, can also be utilized by the broader retail market, including high-end accessories and consumer electronics. The app is intended to help retailers increase display compliance, increase sales, reduce the amount of time required for display counting and restocking, decrease overstock conditions and markdowns, and lower labor costs associated with achieving inventory compliance. Using a handheld reader, associates can inventory shoes daily and generate an actionable report of all missing display shoes so they can be replenished. This process, Tyco Retail Solutions notes, traditionally can take several hours a day to complete, achieving only 65 percent compliance. With the TrueVUE Inventory Display Execution solution, the firm reports, counting display styles takes only 20 minutes for the entire sales floor and enables the store to maintain near-perfect display compliance, while allowing sales associates to focus on customer service.
Blue Bite, Creative Mobile Technologies Put RFID in Taxis
This fall, New York City taxis are featuring a Near Field Communication (NFC) interactive mobile campaign created by mobile-marketing solutions provider Blue Bite and Creative Mobile Technologies (CMT), a digital networks and payment-processing solutions provider for the taxicab market. The campaign, part of a national rollout available in taxicabs in several cities—including Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Anaheim—is featuring thousands of media screens in the cabs that are embedded with Blue Bite's mTAG (see The New 'It' Tool for Branding Products and Services). The mTAG utilizes Smartrac's Midas RFID tag, made with NXP Semiconductors' NTAG203 chip (see RFID News Roundup: Smartrac Announces High-Memory NFC Tag). The technology was initially piloted in New York City taxis during this past summer by Vogue, and will allow for interaction with local content and advertising campaigns this fall. The Vogue pilot, which commenced on August 20 and ran for three weeks, included a video clip of the Editor's Letter from the publication's September issue displayed on screens in taxis. Upon viewing the clip, users were directed to "tap" or "scan" the screen for additional exclusive content. Utilizing NFC and QR code technology, the two companies explain, users were instantly able to view exclusive mobile content, share Vogue's video with friends via social-media sites (Twitter and Facebook) and subscribe to the magazine's digital edition with a special offer. Of those who interacted, the firms report, more than 21 percent shared the campaign with friends via social media and e-mail. According to Jason Poliner, CMT's vice chairman and COO, Blue Bite's system will enhance CMT's menu of offerings for its clients, including CMT's geo-targeting capabilities, full-motion video and audio, and ABC network's exclusive taxi content and advertising. In 2011, Creative Mobile Technologies and its media subsidiary, Creative Mobile Media, signed an exclusive deal with American Broadcasting Companies Inc. and ABC National Television Sales to provide premium content and advertising. CMT and CMM claim to comprise the largest in-taxi mobile media network in the United States, with nearly 10,000 interactive media screens. Blue Bite and CMT say they anticipate a fall campaign for a luxury automobile brand that will promote a new 2014 model. Riders will be able to tap their NFC-enabled smartphones to instantly download rich user content, the companies indicate, including music, videos, mobile applications, promotional information, coupons, maps and tips, among other things. Consumers without an NFC-enabled phone will be able to scan the QR code to access the same content.
London University Tracks Smart Poster Campaign With TAMOCO NFC Analytics
London startup TAMOCO has announced that Queen Mary, University of London is using its Near Field Communication (NFC) radio frequency identification solutions that feature business analytics to launch an NFC marketing campaign to help students and staff members learn more about the research and public-engagement activities taking place at the school. TAMOCO's solution is designed help organizations analyze where and when consumers tap the tags with their NFC-enabled smartphones, and to track data regarding behavior related to NFC reads. Every time an NFC tag is tapped, the TAMOCO software records that event and produces relevant trending data for its clients (see TAMOCO Provides Analytics About NFC Use). Queen Mary, University of London, is employing RFID tags made with NXP Semiconductors' NTAG203 RFID chips and provided by RapidNFC, which it will place on posters, initially at various locations within its Mile End campus—such as the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science and the Centre for Public Engagement. Throughout the coming weeks, the school plans to roll out the posters to other campuses as well, according to TAMOCO. The initial pilot, slated to last for 12 weeks, will feature 100 NFC-enabled "touch points," according to Sam Amrani, TAMOCO's executive chairman and founder. By the start of next year, he says, there will be 500 touch points in place, and the university will use TAMOCO's platform to manage and update events. "The university will be able to log into their own account on our tag-manager platform," Amrani states, "where they will be able to measure the success of their campaign, and will be able to update the URLs to new and current content over the cloud." In addition, the school will be able to access reports regarding the campaign, and receive alerts indicating how well that campaign is doing.
Motion Computing Adds RFID to Rugged Tablet
Motion Computing, a provider of rugged mobile technology, has announced additions to its mobile technology platform, including an asset- and inventory-management ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID reader, as well as new image-sharing and documentation software, workflow-enabling accessories and the latest generation of the Motion F5 and C5-series of rugged tablets. The EasyConnect RFID Long Range Reader features an UHF RFID reader module from SkyeTek that attaches to the bottom of the tablet. This enables users to obtain and process critical asset data from a distance, making it suitable for an oil-rig, rail-transportation or warehouse environment, according to the company. Motion Computing's new software, known as Snapworks by Motion, is a touch-based camera application that provides mobile workers with an easy way to capture, annotate and share images. The multi-bay battery charger accessory can accommodate up to five batteries simultaneously, Motion Computing reports, making it suitable for a multi-user work group that facilitates a team-based, pooled work environment. In addition to the software, RFID reader and charger, the latest generations of the F5 and C5-series rugged tablets have improved power, security and manageability. Running Microsoft Windows, the tablets feature touch navigation, pen input and displays made with Corning Gorilla Glass. The new additions are available now; however, the EasyConnect RFID Long Range Reader is expected to be made available later this quarter.
ThingMagic Cuts Prices on UHF RFID Development Kits, Support Services
ThingMagic, a division of Trimble, has announced reduced pricing for its ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID development kits and support services. ThingMagic's development kits provide everything required to begin using and testing its UHF RFID modules and finished readers, such as the ThingMagic Mercury 6e (M6e) RFID reader module and Mercury6 (M6) finished RFID reader (see RFID News Roundup: Trimble Expands Functionality of ThingMagic RFID Readers), and the new Micro-LTE module (see RFID News Roundup: Trimble Intros Micro-LTE UHF RFID Module). Effective Oct. 8, prices for all ThingMagic Finished RFID Reader development kits and Embedded RFID Module development kits were reduced; for specific pricing information, contact sales@thingmagic.com or a ThingMagic reseller. Each new development kit purchase will include 60 days' worth of developer support, and one-year support agreements will be available for new and renewing customers at the price of $395 (reduced from $995).
