RFID EPC: Atmel Has Joined EPCglobal to Design Worldwide RFID...

From PRNewswire (press release)  ... Atmel Germany GmbH has joined the EPCglobal(TM) Hardware Action Group (HAG), which is developing the standard for the next-generation UHF RFID specification. ...

AtmelGermany GmbH has joined the EPCglobal(TM) Hardware Action Group (HAG), whichis developing the standard for the next-generation UHF RFID specification.Especially the supply chain management market will benefit from this standard,as it will drastically improve the tracking visibility of goods. Founded in October 2003, EPCglobal is a non-profit joint venture of thestandard organizations EAN International(TM) and the Uniform Code Council(UCC(TM)). The worldwide acting group, successor of AutoID/MIT, has more than180 members, including among others such as Wal-Mat(R), Unilever(R), Coca-Cola(R), the US Department of Defense (DOD), Benetton(R) and many majorRFID solution providers. The UHF RFID standard to be developed will include EPC code numbers storedin a tag. The standard specifies that code numbers will be sent via Internetto an ONS (Object Name Service) database that produces an address. The ONSthen can match the EPC to a server providing comprehensive information aboutthe object. This means for supply chain management systems that users will have permanently available, up-to-date tracking information of their goodsmoving through the retail supply chain. Atmel, a pioneer in the RFID area, provided the industry's first read-onlyRFID ICs in the late 1980's. Since 1995, Atmel has also been offering theworld's most flexible read/write RFID ICs. Today, Atmel is a key player forlow-frequency-based 125 kHz RFID ICs for access control systems. The portfolioalso includes ICs addressing the 13.56 MHz, UHF and Microwave frequency range.Atmel has outstanding expertise in UHF RFID link concepts, design knowledgeand ultra low power technology, and will bring this expertise to the EPCglobalgroup to achieve a worldwide accepted, interoperable EPC standard forultra-high frequency RFID technology.