Secure RFID through Partnership

SkyeTek and Atmel will partner to create secure HF reader and tag platforms for the RFID market. ...

... "The partnership between Atmel and SkyeTek will provide customers with an ultra-secure option for embedded RFID applications. Resulting solutions leverage CryptoRF's security features and the enterprise-class reliability and price-performance of the SkyeTek ReaderDNA and ReaderWare technology. This combination will provide customers with the ability to adapt RFID technology into existing applications and is well positioned to provide valuable solutions addressing ePedigree, patient safety, consumables authentication, item-level inventory management, and ticketing. SkyeTek's ReaderWare also provides the capability to upgrade the reader to support future tags, protocols, and cryptography via a firmware upgrade. " ...

Via SkyeTek: SkyeTek and Atmel Partner to Offer Industry Leading Secure RFID Technology ...

RFID InkJet Printable Tags

FujiFilm Dimatix work to advance its capabilities in printable RFID tags using ink-jet printers. It has demonstrated capabilities in various sizes and materials on multiple substrates. ...

... "FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc., a leading provider of commercial and industrial ink jet products, announced that it has repeatedly used its revolutionary ink jet technology to print silver fluid with features of less than 20 microns. With the proven capability to precision print 1 picoliter-sized drops of organic and inorganic materials on a large variety of substrates, the company is continuing to pave the way for an entirely new way of developing and manufacturing electronic books, printed polymer backplanes, printed sensors, complete RFID tags and other flexible electronics.

The Dimatix Materials Printer (DMP) is the world's first complete, low-cost system for high-precision jetting of all kinds of functional fluids on any type of surface, including plastic, glass, metal sheets, silicon, membranes, gels, thin films and paper. By directly printing on their own substrates, customers can rapidly develop prototypes and keep process technology in-house. The printer's small size and low price make it convenient, easy to use and cost-effective to own. Featuring single-use cartridges that customers can fill with their own fluid materials, the system minimizes waste of expensive materials. " ...

Via Dimatix: FUJIFILM Dimatix Enables Direct Printing of Silver Fluid with Features of Less than 20 Microns ...

FUJIFILM Dimatix Materials Deposition Division is evolving ink jetting technology into a production process that lowers the cost, time and environmental impact of producing electronic circuits and functions for RFID tags, flat panel displays, circuit boards and other electronic and bioscience applications.

RFID Price Sensitivity ...

RFID tags have reached the point of being price insensitive? ...

... "The cost of radio TAGS IS NO longer the inhibiting factor when it comes to adopting radio-frequency identification (RFID), says Laxman Bhatia, regional manager of vertical markets for Asia-Pacific at BEA. " ...

Via Computerworld: RFID: price no longer the limiting factor with tags

RFID Wireless Sensor Networks: System on Chip ...

New system-on-chip design support RFID sensor networks and other monitoring applications. ...

... "Coronis announces the launch of a single-chip solution for OEMs and integrators that provides ultra-low power consumption and long-range features for wireless sensor networks (WSN). The Wavenis SoC will be ready for production in late 2006 to ship in 2007. The new Wavenis wireless System-on-Chip (SoC) transceiver design delivers an optimal price-performance ratio for various types of battery-powered sensor devices, such as RFID tags, utility meter monitors, industrial temperature monitoring systems, and more. Coronis currently has over 650,000 Wavenis-enabled devices deployed, with orders for another 400,000 to ship before the end of 2006. For the past several years, Coronis has concentrated its efforts on perfecting its unique ultralow-power (ULP), long-range Wavenis wireless transceiver. Consistent with its long-term growth strategy, the company is now moving forward with an even more sophisticated and costeffective solution for OEMs. The new SoC incorporates an enhanced Wavenis wireless transceiver and a unique, ultra-low-power microcontroller. Combining Wavenis, which consumes miniscule amounts of energy, with a power-optimized microcontroller not only significantly reduces consumption in every device, but throughout the entire WSN. " ...

RFID Wireless Sensor Networks: System on Chip: Coronis launches ultra-low-power system-on-chip design: Provides both ultra low power consumption with long range wireless features for sensor networks and RFID systems ...

RFID Shelf Edge Management ...

Vue, Pricer, and IBM collaborate to deliver RFID technology that supports shelf edge management. ...

... "Vue Technology, the leading provider of item level RFID solutions, and Pricer AB, the leading supplier of electronic display and information systems, announced that they have collaborated with IBM to provide retailers with a breakthrough solution for RFID enabled shelf edge management. The new solution leverages real time item level data collected via RFID to expand the use of electronic shelf labels (ESLs) beyond static price and stock displays. The new innovation will be on display in IBM's booth at the Retail Systems 2006 Conference & Exposition, May 22-24. The shelf-edge management solution enables retailers to consistently deliver the right item level inventory information to their store associates and customers; and for suppliers it is an opportunity to ensure that their new products are not sitting in the store back room. Through the integration of Vue Technology's TrueVUE RFID Platform, Pricer's integrated ESL solution, and IBM's Store Integration Framework, retailers can now cost effectively deploy a seamless solution for item-level inventory tracking and shelf-level management. Displaying critical retail store information directly at the shelf edge enhances the overall customer experience while reducing out-of-stocks and increasing sales.

With critical item level retail information now available at the shelf edge, through the integration of RFID and ESL technology via IBM's Store Integration Framework, sales associates can quickly and efficiently identify exact inventory needs and expedite restocking while business operations staff can remotely monitor inventory levels across stores and generate critical inventory alerts. At the same time, the TrueVUE RFID Platform provides visibility for the IT operations staff to remotely monitor and maintain the RFID network. " ...

RFID Shelf Edge Management: Via Vue Technology: Vue Technology and Pricer AB Team with IBM to Deliver Breakthrough in Shelf Edge Management for Retail ...

RFID DOD DLA Contract: Passive Systems ODIN Tech ...

ODIN Tech awarded contract from DOD DLA for passive RFID systems ...

... "DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY: ODIN Technologies, Dulles, Va., is being awarded a maximum $7,000,000 combination firm fixed price, cost, and time and materials contract for passive radio frequency identification (RFID) portals, hardware, and installation for Defense Logistics Agency. Other location(s) of performance are Defense Distribution centers, CONUS and OCONUS. Proposals were Web-solicited and 11 responded. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is May 16, 2007. Contracting activity is Defense Distribution Center (DDC), New Cumberland, Pa. (SP3100-06-D-0003). " ...

RFID DOD DLA Contract: Passive Systems ODIN Tech: Via DoD: Contracts for May 17, 2006 ...

RFID Reader: Item-Level Retail POS ...

TagSys demonstrates new dual frequency, universal (UHF and HF) item-level RFID reader designed for the point-of-sale (POS) retail market. ...

... "The universal reader integrates HF and UHF reader modules and antennas into a single package. The slim-line, bench top device is optimized for POS applications and measures 460mm x 460mm x 25mm. The reader can read up to five HF and/or UHF tagged items at a time as they are passed directly over the reader. Building on TAGSYS' long standing expertise in delivering Reliable, Accurate and Secure (R.A.S.) systems, the unique approach contains the UHF field to eliminate any external interference, thereby reading only the items being purchased. The demonstration at RFID Journal Live will include multiple HF and UHF tagged products. As the items are read, the information is captured on a screen that notes the item, displays a graphic of the item along with its price and the radio frequency of the tag. " ...

RFID Reader: Item-Level Retail POS: Via TAGSYS RFID: TAGSYS demonstrates dual frequency UHF/HF item-level RFID point of sale reader at RFID Journal LIVE 2006 ...

Global RFID Market 26B ...

RFID market size predicted to reach $26B. ...

... "The value of this sector by 2016 is slated to be about $26.2 billion. Investments are expected to skyrocket to $1.3 billion by 2008, an increase from $91.5 million in 2003. The reduction in the price of tags and readers will further push up the sales. " ...

Global RFID Market 26B: Via Wireless Design & Development: Global RFID Market Slated To Reach $26.2 Billion By 2016 ...

Low-Cost RFID Gen2 Labels ...

SATO making progress on reducing the cost of Generation 2 RFID labels. ...

... "Part of the international SATO Corporation, SATO UK now offers 4 x 6 (100x150 mm) EPC Class 1 RFID labels, in both Gen1 and Gen2 specifications at the extremely competitive price of 19 eurocent each on orders of a million or more, further reducing the cost of implementing and running RFID systems. New production line equipment, commissioned in December 2005, automatically inserts RFID inlays into self adhesive labels. An in-line process tests each individual label to verify that the labels are fully functional. It means that every part of the print and production process for RFID tags is now in-house. " ...

Low-Cost RFID Gen2 Labels: Via SATO America: GEN2 RFID Labels Price Cut to 19 Eurocent by SATO ...

Intelligent RFID Readers: Next Generation Through Partnership ...

iAnywhere and Applied Wireless will partner to deliver next-generation intelligent RFID readers ...

... "iAnywhere, a subsidiary of Sybase, Inc. (NYSE: SY) and Applied Wireless Identifications, Inc. announced a partnership to jointly develop next generation intelligent RFID readers that take advantage of the features of the iAnywhere RFID Anywhere Appliance Edition. As part of this new relationship, Applied Wireless Identifications (AWID) will embed the iAnywhere RFID Anywhere Appliance Edition into a new line of low-cost readers that include essential security features, multi-protocol communication support, and enhanced remote management and upgrade capabilities. Additionally, the two companies plan to jointly market iAnywhere RFID Anywhere 2.0 to purchasers of the new AWID RFID devices. RFID Anywhere 2.0 enables administrators to easily manage and upgrade a network of RFID readers, including data filtering and aggregation, as well as the execution of business logic. As a result, enterprises deploying RFID networks can reduce their associated administrative overhead through highly efficient management of remote readers. Reader configurations that have been lost or corrupted, for example, can be immediately and automatically restored. Further, logic at the reader level enables local data filtering and smoothing, reducing overall data volumes across the network and making transmitted data more immediately actionable. " ...

Intelligent RFID Readers: Next Generation Through Partnership: Via iAnywhere: iAnywhere And AWID Partner To Deliver Breakthrough Price And Performance In The RFID Intelligent Reader Marketplace ...

RFID Savings Program: Discounted Rates ...

... "The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) announced a new program designed to help member companies implement Radio Frequency Identification technology (RFID) and save money at the same time. AAFA has signed an agreement with Avery Dennison – Retail Information Services, a leading supplier of labels, tickets, and tags to the Apparel & Footwear industry, to provide sharply discounted rates for RFID labels to AAFA member companies. These rates are available exclusively to AAFA members who are producers and providers of apparel and footwear products. Under the agreement, Avery Dennison will provide Gen 1 RFID labels as well as the new Gen 2 AD-220 label. AAFA members that need to meet RFID requirements can use these labels for shipments to customers such as WalMart, Target, and the Department of Defense. Minimum orders can be as low as 5,000 labels. " ...

RFID Savings Program: Discounted Rates: Via American Apparel and Footwear Association: AAFA and Avery Dennison Launch New RFID Savings Program (RSP) for AAFA Members ...

Avery Dennison - Retail Information Services provides a global offering of information management, brand identification and solution-enabling products. Brand identification products include woven and printed fabric labels, heat transfers, graphic tags, integrated bar code tags, leather patches, sock bands, size stickers . . . and more. Among the company's Information management products are RFID and bar code price tickets, and carton and pallet labels; webenabled order entry systems; and the InfoChain Express supply chain management solution. Solution enabling products include RFID printers and print/apply systems, bar-code printers, heat-transfer bonders, molded plastic fastening and application devices, anti-counterfeiting and diversion tools. The organization operates ticketing centers and service bureaus in 35 countries and maintains mature, highly reliable global distribution processes throughout Asia, North and South America, Europe and Africa. Avery Dennison Corporation is a Fortune 500 company and member of EPCglobal.

RFID Stock: SymbolTech Bullish ...

Stock upgrade given on SymbolTech due to RFID projections. ...

... "Symbol Technologies target raised at Bear: Bear said it is raising its target price on SBL to $16 due to modestly higher revenue projections for RFID. " ...

RFID Stock: SymbolTech Bullish: Via StreetNotes: A Daily Roundup of Street Research

Printed RFID Ink Viscosity ...

NanoMarkets explores the market for inks and materials that are used to enable printable electronics, such as printed RFID. ...

... "Some of the highest potential applications for printable electronics have very demanding requirements for materials. For example, flexible displays obviously require flexible substrates, but they also need inks that do not easily crack when dry. Printed RFIDs will be created on high-speed printing machinery which places strict requirements on ink viscosity. NanoMarkets believes that such needs will help drive both the demand and R&D dollars in the novel inks sector. " ...

Via NanoMarkets: Materials for Printable Electronics to Reach $1.9 Billion Says New Report from NanoMarkets ...

Printed RFID electronic ink references:

Via Organic Matter: RFID, OLED, Organic Semiconductors and Electronic Ink: "Because of the new and exciting developments in organic semiconductor technology called Electronic Ink. Imagine if you will an extremely precise inkjet printer that instead of regular ink could print using an organic semiconducting polymer. In theory one could print out a RFID or any other number of electronics directly onto paper. Besides RFID tags there are a whole host of other consumer electronics that are currently being developed such as Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs)."

Via Flint Ink: Flint Ink Launches PRECISIA, LLC: New Company to spearhead RFID and other printed electronics technology: "Conductive inks, which contain particles of conductive silver and/or carbon, can serve as channels for the wireless flow of electronic signals. The most well-known application for conductive inks is in antennas for RFID, a next-generation coding technology. Conductive inks are also used in 'smart' labeling and packaging applications. "

Via Dimatix: Dimatix Revolutionizes Materials Deposition with Industry’s First Low-Cost, Cartridge-Based Ink Jet Printing System: Direct Deposition of New Fluid Materials Offers Easier, Faster and Less Expensive Product Development for Electronics, Flat Panel Displays, Life Sciences and Other Industries: "The patented DMP-2800 series - a bench-top precision digital materials deposition system with versatile capabilities - enables users to jet complex patterns to create desired shapes, layers or even products by printing their own fluids onto any substrate up to five centimeters in thickness. By directly printing on their substrates, customers can rapidly develop prototypes and keep process technology in-house. The printer's small size and low price make it convenient and easy to use and own. The user-friendly cartridge system allows customers to perform print and deposition functions without having to become fluid jet experts."

Speed RFID Adoption: Compliance Software

Speed RFID Adoption: Compliance Software: Via IDVelocity: IDVelocity Makes Dramatic Move to Speed RFID Adoption: Company Licensing RFID Compliancy Software Effectively Free ...

... "IDVelocity, in a bold move to lower the costs of complying with RFID mandates from Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, and the Department of Defense, is offering its ComplianceNow software effectively free. For the same cost as IDVelocity originally charged for one year of maintenance and support, companies can license the software and receive their first year of maintenance and support to meet their mandates. The price is $5,500 per instance of software with no limit to the number of devices or users attached to the instance of software. In addition, the software is double byte enabled allowing the ComplianceNow software to be deployed in any single byte or double byte language, a tremendous advantage as organizations begin to push the tagging requirements to the point of manufacture. " ...

Sub10Cent RFID Inlays

RFID tag and inlay manufacturer, UPM Rafsec, will ship UHF Gen 1 and Gen 2 inlays at sub-10 U.S. cent pricing in minimum order quantities of 50,000 pieces. Sub 10cent RFID inlays lay the foundation for the cheap and ubiquitous use of RFID technology ....

Sub10Cent RFID Inlays: UPM RAFSEC KNOCKING DOWN UHF RFID ADOPTION BARRIERS WITH SUB-10 CENT INLAYS ...

... "This UPM Rafsec offer includes dry and wet delivery formats of the OneTenna™ short dipole which are compatible with existing converting technology for the insertion of inlays into smart labels and other substrates. UPM Rafsec UHF products have already been tested, approved and used by a large number of leading RFID adopters. The inlays are manufactured at UPM Rafsec's production facility in Fletcher, North Carolina (USA), with innovative technology for the volume production of EPC (Electronic Product Code) -compliant UHF tags and inlays. The unparalleled yields of this new, high volume production technology give UPM Rafsec competitive advantages and provide customers significantly lower applied tag costs. The patent pending process is cost-efficient, scalable and enables UPM Rafsec to rapidly increase its capacity according to market demand. " ...

References on inexpensive RFID inlays:

... "Via SATO: RFID Thermal Labels: SATO RFID labels can be made with any type of RFID inlay. Some examples of the other inlay types available include Ucode, UHF 868-928MHz ISO 18000, and Class 0 and 0+. RFID labels can be pre-printed, flood coated or laminated and can be converted in most popular finishing styles. " ...

... "Via Avery Dennison: INNOVATIVE AVERY DENNISON MANUFACTURING PROCESS BOOSTS RFID TAG PRODUCTION CAPACITY: Inlay is the term used for the electronic core of an RFID label. It typically consists of a metal pattern on a sheet of plastic film that functions as an antenna, onto which an integrated circuit (semiconductor chip) is attached. The inlay is then sandwiched between a paper facestock and an adhesive layer to form a self-stick RFID label. " ...

... "Via SmartCode: SmartCode Corp. beats any price for EPC Gen 2 Inlays for orders of 1 million - SmartCode prices EPC Gen 2 Inlays at 7.5 cents for quantities of 1 million and 7.2 cents for orders exceeding 10 million: The EPC Gen 2 Quickstart™ Program aims to accelerate the mass adoption of EPC Gen 2 solutions. Under the EPC Gen 2 Quickstart™ Program, SmartCode Corp. will offer the lowest cost EPC Gen 2 inlays at a price of 7.5 cents in orders of 1 million inlays or more and 7.2 cents in orders of 10 million or more. SmartCode Corp. EPC Gen 2 Quickstart™ Program is available for orders received until the 1st of January 2006. The delivery schedule can span throughout 2006. " ...

Low Price RFID Reader: Research Driving

RFID tag prices are dropping. Reader pricing is expected to follow. Kelly Mills explores recent research on cost trends in RFID technology, such as tags and readers.

Low Price RFID Reader: Research Driving: Via Australian IT: Research to lower price of RFID tag ...

... "Over the next three to five years prices for UHF tags and readers are likely to come down 60-70 per cent, with the price of an RFID reader at less then 100 euro, the 2005 LogicaCMG RFID Hardware Survey says. " ...

Competitive market for RFID readers is showing lower price trends:

... "Applied Wireless Identifications (AWID) is dropping reader prices by about 70% to transform the market landscape. For the first time, a Generation 2 RFID reader, including four antennas, has fallen under the $1,000 price barrier. RFID technology depends on tags being read automatically by receptors known as readers, which are typically sold separately from the antennas they need in order to function. AWID is revolutionizing the marketplace by offering the MPR-3014 reader as production units for $1,000 each, and including four circular polarized antennas at no extra cost. MPR-3014 reader development kits go for $1,600; and the MPR-1510 reader module production units sell for under $400 each, with development kits at $700. " ...

... "Via Internet Week: RFID Readers: Read Right: Most UHF readers cost from $1,000 to $3,000, depending on the features in the device. Companies may also have to buy each antenna separately, along with cables. Antennas are about $250 and up. The price of readers is expected to fall as companies purchase them in large volumes. " ...

... "Via ZDNet: Static over RFID: We're seeing a downward trend in prices, and that's one of things driving adoption, said Jeff Richards, president and chief executive of R4 Global Solutions ... " ...

RFID AWID LowCost Gen2 Reader

RFID AWID LowCost Gen2 Reader: Via AWID: RFID Finally Becomes Affordable with the First Generation 2 Reader under $1,000 from AWID; 70% Price Drop Likely to Shake up Market ...

AWID challenges market with low-cost Gen2 RFID reader ...

... "RFID technology depends on tags being read automatically by receptors known as readers, which are typically sold separately from the antennas they need in order to function. AWID is revolutionizing the marketplace by offering the MPR-3014 reader as production units for $1,000 each, and including four circular polarized antennas at no extra cost. MPR-3014 reader development kits go for $1,600; and the MPR-1510 reader module production units sell for under $400 each, with development kits at $700. " ...

Founded in 1997, Applied Wireless Identification Group (AWID) is a profitable, world-class RFID reader and sub-system manufacturer. AWID supplies the highest performance - lowest cost EPC Certified Generation 2 readers and reader modules in the world, including a new family of fully extremely durable, water resistant, multi-port EPC readers for industrial applications. AWID supplied approximately 70% of all the UHF reader modules sold worldwide in 2004.

RFID Intelligent Networking Foundation ...

RFID Intelligent Networking Foundation: Via Cisco: Cisco Delivers an Intelligent Networking Foundation for RFID Solutions to Help Enterprises Optimize Business Application Performance

Cisco launches the RFID Intelligent Networking Foundation ...

... "Cisco announced an Intelligent Foundation for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to help enterprises introduce RF technologies into the supply chain to increase visibility into product information and optimize business flow for lower operating costs. The most agile, scalable and highly secure RFID solution portfolio offered in the industry, the Cisco RFID Solution delivers integrated RFID capabilities and the support that enterprises need to optimize available network capacity and simplify RFID infrastructure deployment. " ...

The Cisco AON for RFID Solution has a U.S. list price of $16,250 and is scheduled to ship in October 2005 in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Africa and in the second half of FY06 in Asia, Japan and emerging markets. Cisco services for RFID are available now worldwide. Cisco Wireless LAN Location Solution Planning and Design Services are currently available in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Cisco 2700 Wireless Location Appliance has a U.S. list price of $14,995 and has been shipping worldwide since June 2005.

1Million RFIDLabels 12.9Cents Each: SALE!

1Million RFIDLabels 12.9Cents Each: SALE!: Via Alien Technology: Alien Technology Corporation Achieves Another Step Toward Pervasive, Economic RFID with Announcement of 12.9 cent RFID Labels ...

RFID labels reach the 12.9cent level in quantities of 1million, courtesy of Alien Tech ...

... "Alien Technology Corporation today achieved another RFID industry milestone with the announcement of EPC Class 1 RFID labels priced at 12.9 cents. This represents a 44% decrease in the price of 96-bit RFID labels from Alien in the past 12 months reflecting significant progress towards the goal of widely available, economic RFID labels. The Alien Technology ALL-9338-02, a fully converted EPC Class 1 tag, can be purchased today for 12.9 cents in order quantities of 1 million or more. " ...

Alien Technology Corporation is a leading provider of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) products for global customers in government, retail, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, transportation, and other industries. The 12.9 cent RFID label offered by Alien is made possible by the company's patented manufacturing process, Fluidic Self Assembly (FSA®) and Alien's new cost efficient High Speed Strap Attach Machine (HiSAM) assembly technology. These manufacturing technologies allow for low-cost packaging of very small semiconductors in very high volumes that in turn are packaged as low-cost RFID tags.