Apr 17, 2008This article was originally published by RFID Update.
April 17, 2008—The ongoing RFID Journal LIVE! 2008 conference in Las Vegas has generated a number of new product, partnership, and pilot news. Relevant announcements are listed below in the first part of our two-day coverage of the event.
- Retailer American Apparel is rolling out an item-level RFID inventory tracking system in its 17 New York stores over the next three months. The company is using technology from Motorola, Vue Technology, and Avery Dennison for cycle counting and tracking stock movement. For our previous coverage, see American Apparel Going to Item-Level RFID in Stores.
- Zebra Technologies is acquiring Multispectral Solutions (MSSI), a Maryland-based provider of ultra-wideband (UWB) real-time location systems (RTLS). MSSI will become part of the Zebra Enterprise Solutions Group business unit. Zebra also introduced the Zebra RZ400 and RZ600 UHF RFID Gen2 midrange printer/encoders, which are designed for lower duty cycle compliance and closed-loop applications. The first announcement is here, and the second here.
- Mojix unveiled the details of a customer field trial program involving more than a dozen companies utilizing its EPCglobal Gen2- and FCC-compliant STAR reader system, which can read passive RFID tags from distances up to 600 feet. The Mojix system was used in a variety of RFID applications at multiple locations, including Procter & Gamble and Kraft Foods distribution centers. For more information, see the release here. For our previous coverage, see Startup Touts 600-foot Read Range for Passive RFID.
- Avery Dennison RFID has introduced four new EPC Gen2 RFID inlays. The AD-224, AD-824, and AD-840 inlays include extended memory options by utilizing the UCODE G2X chip set from NXP Semiconductors. The AD-631 inlay is orientation insensitive, and can be read in any direction. Read the announcement.
- Sensitech, a subsidiary of Carrier Corp, has made a minority investment in RFID consulting firm Rush Tracking Systems. Sensitech hopes to combine Rush Tracking's RFID expertise with its own temperature monitoring solutions for cold chain applications. See the release here.
- Sybase iAnywhere has released Sybase RFID Anywhere 3.5, an update of its middleware product that integrates RFID and sensor technologies with business logic to manage distributed intelligent sensor networks. Enhancements include increased device support, new and updated development templates, and enhanced mobility features with increased support for occasionally-connected devices. More information here.
- NCR and RF Code are teaming up to help customers manage their IT assets. A new joint product offering, NCR Transition Works for Data Center Visibility, combines active RFID tags and readers from RF Code with NCR Transition Works software and services. The system can track the movement of computer equipment in real time, and alert staff of lease expiration and maintenance events. See the release here.
- Alien Technology now offers a three-day workshop called RFID Comply! that provides instruction on retail industry RFID compliance, with product certification through Alien's EPCglobal Accredited Performance Test Center at the RFID Solution Center in Dayton, Ohio. More details here.
- Identec Solutions and Mark-It Services, which provides protective services for container shipping companies, have developed the Reefer Tag to help shippers monitor the temperature and status of refrigerated containers. The tag is a self-powered device that can attach to the existing data port connection on a refrigerated container, and allows two-way communications from the tag to the monitoring system through the reefer. More information here.
- TAGSYS has released the UHF TRAK tag family for item-level track-and-trace applications: RapidTRAK, SureTRAK, RxTRAK, and DocTRAK. The new tags were designed to reduce the RFID "shadowing" and detuning that occurs when tags in close proximity to each other block the signal from the reader antenna. Read the release here.
- PowerID has announced a new battery-assisted, passive (BAP) RFID label that utilizes the EPCglobal Gen2 air protocol. The new labels allow customers to leverage their existing RFID reader infrastructure, while taking advantage of BAP's increased read range and signal strength. Read the announcement.
- Intermec's IF61 Smart Reader has been validated as a remote platform to host IBM data capture applications with WebSphere Premises Server 6.1, allowing IBM customers to develop, deploy, and maintain RFID business logic on an intelligent reader platform. By hosting distributed applications, the readers eliminate the need to use stand-alone middleware PCs or controller devices for each RFID reader or physical location. OATSystems' OATedge software platform can also run directly on the IF61. Read the release here.
