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February 2005

Steve Halliday

From the editor's desk!

Welcome to the latest issue of the High Tech AIDCourier and welcome to another year.

This month we have seen some great steps forward in the RFID world. See the Standards section below to learn about the submission of EPCglobal™ Class 1 Generation 2 specification to ISO for standardization. We have also seen the issue of intellectual Property come to the fore yet again as EPCglobal declared the Gen 2 spec. to be Royalty Free even though there were claims made against it by Intermec. See below for Intermec’s evaluation of the EPCglobal statement and the results of that.

As always, providing this newsletter is just a part of what we have to offer here at High Tech Aid. When your problem needs have you overwhelmed, then you need to get help and that is why we are here. We specialize in education, but the spectrum of services is much greater than that. Call or email us for more information. Visit the web site www.hightechaid.com for more information on basic technology details as well as many other things.

E-mail me at news@hightechaid.com and tell us what you think. Don’t forget to send this issue to your friends so that they can sign up for their own issue of the free newsletter at www.hightechaid.com. If you have news to share or info you need, let me know at news@hightechaid.com.

Technology News Briefs

Radio Frequency Identification

RFID market to grow

Market Research company In-Stat released a report stating that RFID tag consumption will hit almost $3 billion in 2009. This puts RFID second to cell phones on the list of the most pervasive wireless technologies. http://www.instat.com/press.asp?Sku=IN0402440WT&ID=1205

ROI is MIA

ARC Advisory group reports that a study of 24 companies shows little in the way of an ROI for RFID systems. http://www.controldesign.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=52C59
2E78B41489FA74734FC040ED34C&nm=Site+Resources&
type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F51
6B4C10&tier=3&nid=ED2D7B7B59C642D28E5E86498716BD18

Metro embraces RFID …

In a recent interview the CIO of German retail giant Metro Group, stated that RFID will change the workplace and could render thousands of jobs superfluous. http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/55112

… and gets good results …

Tagging and scanning more than 50,000 pallets, the retail giant has announced that it is getting a 99% read rate. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050120/205090_1.html

… and plans expansion

Looking to increase the use of RFID Metro has stated that it will begin tagging cartons and cases later this year. http://www.piranet.com/pira/piranet.asp?page=/Pira/newsitem.htm&NewsItemId=6024&Group
=2&SubGroup=0

RFID manages hazardous material

A NASA initiative to better control and monitor the use of hazardous materials is using an RFID tag to track the chemicals. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=57300617&tid=5978

HP commits to RFID

Hewlett Packard announced that it will not only tag its own products but it also opened a test lab to highlight a “real” environment for tags. http://news.com.com/Hewlett-Packard+to+accelerate+ID+tagging/2100-1039_3-5537125.ht
ml?part=rss&tag=5537125&subj=news.1039.20
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1751866,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594

Verisign and RFID

CEO Stratton Sclavos was interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle and he revealed that Verisign doesn’t expect to see any revenue from RFID until 2007. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/01/09/BUG22AFFKP47.DTL

Animal ID gets noticed

A civil antitrust lawsuit was filed against Avid Identification Systems and Digital Angel for conspiring to keep the ISO standardized version of the animal ID tag out of the USA in favor of their own proprietary version. http://www.rfidnews.org/weblog/2005/01/11/crystal-import-corp-sues-avid-digital-angel/
http://www.rfidnews.org/library/2005/02/03/
companies-conspire-to-cage-pet-standards/
http://www.readallchips.com/en_US/data_root/readallchips/

University researches RFID

Looking to be able to better use the data from RFID tags in the manufacturing environment, researchers at the University of Missouri-Rolla are trying to get more from RFID. http://www.umr.edu/index.php?id=1586&backPID=50&tt_news=552

RFID driver’s license

Japan may be the first country to issue a contactless driver’s license with the first cards to be issued in 2006. http://www.cardtechnology.com/cgi-bin/readstory.pl?story=20050114CTDN805.xml

RFID food tracking

U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer is going to increase their use of RFID in their food distribution system. http://www.idworldonline.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=290

Airbus uses RFID

The largest passenger plane ever, the Airbus A380, will use more than 10,000 RFID tags on key components of the plane to enable better tracking for maintenance purposes. http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=57702262

TI to produce chips for Mastercard

ISO/IEC 14443 compliant chips are used by Mastercard in its PayPass cards and tokens. TI will submit product for certification in the second half of 2005. http://www.ti.com/rfid/docs/news/news_releases/2005/
rel01-17-05a.shtml

RFID in China

Although China is very interested in RFID it has yet to choose a frequency for deployment of UHF technology. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/27/content_2512944.htm

RFID in Europe to grow

U.K. market research firm, Juniper Research, states that the western European RFID market will reach $1.1 billion by 2007. http://www.juniperresearch.com/reports/20_rfid/
press_release.htm

Tesco targeted …

A campaign to boycott Tesco because of their involvement with RFID was announced by CASPIAN leader Katherine Albrecht on BBC TV. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/0,39020330,39185481,00.htm

… but they push on

Tesco is committed to RFID and they are moving forward with an even larger deployment. http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/33220120905684487.html

RFID and sensors

Combining the benefits of RFID and sensors will lead to “super RFID” says AMR Research. http://networks.silicon.com/lans/
0,39024663,39127336,00.htm

RFID in construction

It sounds a great idea to cut theft but is the cost of RFID too high in construction? http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/travel/airlines_airports/
2005/01/31/sacramento_focus5.html?f=et184

Johns Hopkins cracks RFID

RFID tags used in auto immobilizers and ExxonMobil Speedpasses were cracked and duplicated by the team from Johns Hopkins. http://www.rfidanalysis.org/

Document tracking

Georgia's DeKalb County Juvenile Court estimates they spend at least 10 hours a week looking for files. An RFID enable system should give an ROI of less than two years. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=59100383&tid=5978

USPS to use RFID

The contract to provide a wireless vehicle management system was awarded to I.D. Systems Inc. http://www.id-systems.com/news/PR_USPS_011805_final.pdf who then contracted with Unisys to help. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050207/75188_1.html

Gen 2 IP issues

After EPCglobal™ issued a statement that the Gen 2 specification is “Royalty Free”, Intermec clarified its position with regard to the IP it holds. http://www.simplyrfid.com/resources/intermecIP.pdf and then withdraws its RAND statement. http://www.rfidupdate.com/articles/index.php?id=763
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=59301364

Share the information

At a conference in London, U.K. AMR Research asked users to share the wealth of information about their RFID implementation to help accelerate the use. http://www.computerweekly.com/Article136436.htm

P&G-Gillette vs. Wal-Mart?

Can the new merged P&G and Gillette change the way Wal-Mart is thinking about RFID? http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1758152,00.asp

RFID and chips?

Casinos are looking for better ways to keep track of your gambling. http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5568288.html?tag=zdnn.alert
http://news.com.com/Chips+for+cheaters/2009-7355_3-5568411.html?tag=st.prev

Slap and ship

It is not the way to get the ROI you need. http://www.sun.com/br/0205_ezine/ret_cbeyond.html

R2R becomes eNFC

Inside Contactless’s Reader to Reader technology is being renamed to enhanced NFC to better position it against the competition. http://www.contactlessnews.com/news/2005/02/11/
insides-r2r-name-enhanced-to-enfc/

School tracks students …

When Brittan Elementary School of Sutter, California implemented an RFID tracking system for students they did not realize the problems they would have. http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,66554,00.html

… no it doesn’t!

The push back was so forceful the RFID supplier pulled out. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/surveillance/
2005-02-16-no-student-surveillance_x.htm

U.S. approves ID card

And it will likely include RFID capabilities. http://news.com.com/From+high-tech+drivers+licenses+to+national+ID+cards/2100-1028_3-5573414.html

Libraries use RFID

The Berkeley Public Library of Berkeley, California, has purchased an RFID enable system to help control the flow of books in the library. http://www.insidebayarea.com/timesstar/ci_2558852

Siemens pushes RFID

With a Gen 2 reader and tags (already in beta) and a solid look at polymer tags, Siemens is positioning itself to be a leader in RFID. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1764007,00.asp

The trash man cometh!

Residents of Croydon, London U.K. have been told that the RFID tags inserted into their wheely rubbish bins may be used to determine who is producing too much waste. http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/
0,3605,1410921,00.html

The floodgates are open

Are you ready for the on-rush? Here are four questions to determine if you are ready. http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/story/
0,10801,99665,00.html

RFID in Asia

Accenture has some answers. http://www.bettermanagement.com/library/library.aspx?libraryid=11442

RFID does work (just not always in demos)

Several retail CIOs demonstrated their RFID systems at the NRF show. Some worked, others did not. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1751912,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594

RFID in clothes

After many rumors last year, US clothing manufacturer Abercrombie & Fitch has stated that they are looking at RFID. http://networks.silicon.com/lans/
0,39024663,39127337,00.htm

China and UHF

Where most countries around the world have now set frequencies for UHF RFID, China is still trying to find some space. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/27/content_2512944.htm

Korea baggage trials

Bags at Korean airports will be tagged with a UHF tag to help solve some of the security issues at the airports. http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200502/
kt2005020317273711810.htm

No money in chips

Even with the massive volumes being quoted, there is likely no real money in chip production. http://www.eetimes.com/semi/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=59302398

DoD update

Need the latest info? http://www.line56.com/articles/default.asp?ArticleID=6339

EPCglobal™

What is Gen 2?

Here’s a simplified version, though some of the facts are a little dated, this is what has everyone’s attention. http://www.industryweek.com/Columns/Asp/columns.asp?ColumnId=1070

Chip alliance

Two suppliers of RFID tags and systems, TI and Impinj, have agreed to partner to produce Gen 2 compliant products. http://www.impinj.com/page.cfm?ID=releaseDetails&releaseId=94&releaseType=2

RFID Standards

RFID standards took a big step forward in the last few months. At the end of last year all of the ISO 18000 standards were published and then early in 2005 the EPCglobal™ Class 1 Generation 2 specification was completed and approved. Several things (errata) have been fixed in the published document and a new version has been made available. In an effort to reach agreement with the ISO RFID standards, the original specification was amended to allow the optional use of an Application Family Identifier (AFI). This paved the way to EPCglobal™ releasing the specification for inclusion in the ISO 18000-6 standard. Work has started on this effort and the initial draft of the document is currently out for ballot among the ISO members. If everything goes well, the new ISO 18000-6 with type C should be available early in 2006.

In other work, EPCglobal™ is moving ahead with the other parts of the EPC system and revising as needed to allow the use of the new Gen 2 specification.

On the ISO front, new work items are being balloted to allow the incorporation of batteries and sensors in to the specifications for RFID tags.

If you want more information on ISO standardization or on any issue of RFID standardization, then email steve@hightechaid.com

Biometrics

The legal side

Biometrics are beginning to see acceptance in many applications but there are still some legal issues to be resolved. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/09/
biometric_legal_issues/

Biometric examples

Systems for access are being rolled out everywhere, here are a few examples. http://news.com.com/Photos+Biometric+systems+
stand+guard/2009-1029_3-5566696.html?tag=
nefd.ac&tag=nl.e540-1

No-one under 21?

A new idea for determining the age of a person using bone biometrics. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/biotech/2005-02-10-bio-bone_x.htm

Biometric passports…

In Hong Kong biometric passports will be available in 2007. http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/lawandorder/050118/
html/050118en08002.htm

…but there are still issues elsewhere

Japan, U.K. and France have said they cannot meet the U.S. deadline for biometric passports. http://www.servihoo.com/channels/kinews/
v3news_details.php?id=67076&CategoryID=46

Australia will implement

A Senate bill has been passed that will require Australians to have biometric passports. http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/
0,2000061744,39180464,00.htm

Fingerprinting

The largest side of biometrics is fingerprinting with many companies getting on board. http://www.technewsworld.com/story/
70222420550384487.html

U.K. biometric ID?

The U.K.’s House of Commons passed a bill to require an ID card that includes biometric features. http://www.thestandard.com/internetnews/000956.php

Bar Code

Bar code woes

Only 60% of bar codes are being scanned properly at a pilot at the Baton Rouge, LA hospital, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, said Nancy Luttrell, R.N., director of nursing informatics. http://www.mobilehealthdata.com/article.cfm?articleid=1277

Inaccurate bar code scanners

Another of those stories that thinks the scanner is inaccurate. http://sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/
CTVNews/1105988355572_101397555?hub=TopStories

ID Cards

ID cards for U.S.

The House passed a bill requiring a new electronic ID card for all U.S. citizens. http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-5571898.html?tag=zdnn.alert
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-5573414.html?tag=zdnn.alert

Healthcare

Need to improve the efficiency of the operating room?

Mobile Aspects are supplying their RFID enabled tracking system to hospitals around the country. http://www.bsminfo.com/Articles/2005_03/050303.htm
http://www.hpnonline.com/inside/February05/0502Products-Services.html

ROI for healthcare

It's there. Just adopt RFID and see. http://www.sun.com/br/0205_ezine/hc_rfid.html

Patient care

The Orthopedic Hospital of Oklahoma is using RFID to better the experience of its patients. http://www.sun.com/solutions/documents/articles/
hc_rfid_video_aa.xml?null

Drugs send SMS

SIMPill have developed a solution to monitoring drug usage. The drug bottle sends an SMS message to a central server when the bottle is used. http://www.wirelesshealthcare.co.uk/wh/news/
wk05-0001.htm

Asset tracking

Agility Healthcare Solutions has been selected to provide an RFID enabled equipment management solution for the Legacy Health System in Portland OR. http://www.scs-mag.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=379&Itemid=76

RFID tags are passé

While RFID is very popular at the moment, the use of Wi-Fi tags may make them obsolete. http://www.mobilehealthdata.com/article.cfm?articleid=1289

Tag you’re it

The CIO of Harvard Medical School has an RFID tag in his arm. http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/
technology/story/0,10801,99710,00.html

Stolen any body parts recently?

Well maybe that won’t be so easy in the future as the University of California is considering RFID to tag cadavers. http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,66519,00.html
http://go.theregister.com/news/2005/02/07/
rdfi_barcode_cadaver/

U.K. hospital tags patients

Using Wi-Fi tags to record a patient's progress in the hospital. http://www.pcmag.co.uk/news/1160961

Wireless Computing

FCC chairman quits

After a stormy term as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Michael K. Powell has announced his resignation. http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3462631

Mergers are us!

First it was Cingular and AT&T Wireless, next it is SBC and AT&T ($16 billion) and now it is Verizon buying MCI for $6.7 billion. http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3466071
http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/02/14/
HNneweraoftelecomgiants_1.html

What is WiMax?

And why is it important. Here are some basic facts. http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/
technology/story/0,10801,99680,00.html?source=
NLT_AM_B&nid=99680

First WiMax deployment?

T-Mobile has announced that U.K. trains will use a WiMax backbone to provide Wi-Fi service effective immediately. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/15/t-mobile_wifi_expansion/

WiMax certification

Some delays have crept in to the plan and the first “plug fest” to test the compatibility of systems has been delayed. http://www.americasnetwork.com/americasnetwork/
article/articleDetail.jsp?id=143345

U.K. to OK UWB?

Proposed legislation changes could allow the use of UltraWide Band in the U.K. http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3465151

EU cars with UWB

UWB based in car radar is to be allowed in Europe from the middle of the year. http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/68179/new-cars-in-europe-to-feature-ultrawideband-radar.html

Car virus

We know that viruses can attack our wireless equipment. But can your phone give your Lexus a virus? http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000760029037/

Need to detect Wi-Fi?

Then maybe this is the project for you. http://neil.moon-beam.com/users/kris/index.htm

Homeland Security

US-VISIT to use RFID

A new travel document with an embedded RFID tag will be used to help monitor border crossings at select borders starting in the next few months. http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-5552120.html
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/data/
2005-01-25-border-crossing-rfid_x.htm
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4307
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4308

Privacy

EU and RFID privacy

The European Union has published a working document to discuss the use of RFID for the generation of consumer data. http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=59301363
http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/privacy/
docs/wpdocs/
2005/wp105_en.pdf

Europeans concerned

A survey by consulting company Capgemini revealed that Europeans are concerned about retail use of RFID. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4247275.stm

U.K. concerned

A survey in the U.K. reports that more than 50% of shoppers are concerned about the use of RFID and their privacy says the BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4247275.stm

ID Sniper

And we are worried about having RFID tags on the things we buy at the store? http://www.backfire.dk/EMPIRENORTH/newsite/
products_en001.htm

General Technology

TI reports earnings

And beats predictions with a net profit of $490 million on revenue of $3.15 billion. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/earnings/2005-01-25-texas-instruments_x.htm

RFID and Biometrics to grow in Europe

New report shows 40 times growth for biometrics and also growth in RFID. http://www.dbresearch.com/PROD/DBR_INTERNET_EN-PROD/PROD0000000000181292.pdf

Press Releases

A regular feature of HighTechAIDCourier will be a review of interesting press releases from around the world. Please send your press releases to news@hightechaid.com, but do not forget to include a URL to the full release on your web site. Here are this month’s selections:

University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital Selects Mobile Aspects

Innovative RFID solutions enable new congenital cardiac care center to deliver a higher quality of patient care, safety, and operational efficiency
CHICAGO, IL and PITTSBURGH, PA – February 9, 2005 – The University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, a new state-of-the-art children’s hospital, and Mobile Aspects, Inc., a leading provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking solutions for the healthcare industry, today announced the purchase of Mobile Aspects’ iRIS™ (Intelligent Radio-Frequency Inventory System) inventory management system and RFID-enabled, modular inventory management cabinets (iRISupply™) for its congenital heart disease catheterization and electrophysiology labs. http://www.mobileaspects.com/news
/pressrelease/press_release_02.0
9.2005_University_of_Chicago.pdf

SafeTzone® Installs SAMSys RFID Readers at Fun Parks To Perform Key Functions for Family Locator System

TORONTO, ON - February 4, 2005 SAMSys Technologies Inc. (SMY: TSX) today announced an agreement to supply passive radio frequency identification (RFID) readers used with SafeTzone Technologies’ family locator system, now installed at high-profile venues such as Steamboat Ski and Resort in Colorado, Wannado City in Florida, Paramount’s Great America in California and Dollywood’s Splash Country in Tennessee. http://www.samsys.com/default.p
hp?alpha=company&beta=news&
action=read&section=pr&release=
1107535411

The Pharmaceutical Industry Turns To RFID As One Cure for Many Problems, Says ABI Research

OYSTER BAY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2005--Drug counterfeiting may cost the worldwide pharmaceutical industry more than US$30 billion annually. Radio frequency identification - RFID - seen as one way to lower that cost, has its own defining characteristics. Issues of drug counterfeiting and patient safety differentiate it from RFID in retail markets. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050131/
315720_1.html

Radianse announces first single-use active-RFID tag for fast, accurate patient location from admission to discharge

Indoor positioning solution assures patients of one more way to keep them safe
LAWRENCE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2005--Patient safety will drive the use of the next generation of active-RFID (radio frequency identification) location tags from Radianse, Inc., an innovator of indoor positioning solutions (IPS) used to locate and associate equipment and people in hospitals. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050209/
95554_1.html

SAMSys Selected To Supply Readers and OEM Modules for WS Packaging Group's RFID Business

Modules Will Provide Inspection and Encoding for Firm's EPC Tag/Label Applicators
TORONTO, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - SAMSys Technologies Inc. (SMY: TSX) today announced a reseller agreement for its fixed and embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) readers with WS Packaging Group – Automated Systems, a division of WS Packaging Group Inc.'s $270 million printing and label converting business. WS Packaging selected SAMSys equipment primarily because of a patented open architecture that can read and write to multiple RFID tag protocols, enabling consumer packaged goods companies and other RFID adopters to use the tags of their choice. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/
stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/
story/02-01-2005/0002941811&
EDATE=

Alien Technology Announces RFID Ready Kit to Enable Compliance with Department of Defense RFID Rollout

MORGAN HILL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 2005--Alien Technology® today announced the Alien® RFID Ready Kit, a comprehensive package to assist suppliers in preparing to meet Department of Defense (DOD) mandates for RFID. The package includes Alien EPC RFID Readers, Antennas, and Tags, as well as the training, services and information needed for successful planning and deployment of RFID with DOD. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050208/
85320_1.html

RFID Named One of Top 25 Innovative Technologies of the Last 25 Years

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 2005--According to researchers at the Lemelsen Center at MIT, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is the tenth most innovative technology of the past 25 years. CNN television recently aired The Top 25 Innovations of the Last 25 Years in which the internet, cell phones, personal computers, fiber optics, email and digital cameras were also named as the most innovative technologies that have changed our lives. Known as the Father of RFID technology, OATSystems Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Sanjay Sarma, was featured on the program. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050208/
85509_1.html

Symbol Technologies to Demonstrate RFID Technology at Annual Congressional Technology Fair

Company Will Showcase RFID-Empowered Baggage Tracking System that Increases Airport Security and Efficiency
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: SBL), The Enterprise Mobility Company(TM), today announced that it will participate in the Congressional Internet Caucus' Eighth Annual "Kickoff Reception and Technology Fair" on Wednesday, February 9. During the fair, Symbol will demonstrate its Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) solution for improving baggage tracking, which will increase security and efficiency at national and international airports. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/
stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/
story/02-08-2005/
0002987392&EDATE=

Zebra 4Q Profit Up 31 Percent

Zebra Technologies Fourth-Quarter Profit Up 31 Percent on Higher Sales
VERNON HILLS, Ill. (AP) Wednesday February 9, -- Zebra Technologies Corp., a maker of bar code and plastic card printers and printing materials, said Wednesday that earnings grew 31 percent in the fourth quarter on higher sales across its product lines and all geographic regions. http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050209/
earns_zebra_technologies_1.html

Announcing the SAMSys "Tru Blue, Gen 2" RFID Reader Assurance Program

- Customer assurance of interoperability compliance with EPC and ISO compliant UHF RFID tags
- SAMSys UHF readers to be upgradable to EPC Gen 2 at no additional cost
TORONTO, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - SAMSys Technologies Inc. (SMY: TSX), an international provider of Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) hardware solutions and consulting services is announcing that: 1) purchasers of its UHF RFID readers can be assured of full interoperability compliance with EPC and ISO compliant UHF RFID tags, as well as other tag protocols currently supported by SAMSys readers; and 2) that customers will be able to upgrade their readers to the newly approved EPC Generation Two (Gen 2) standard. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/
050211/to107_1.html

Smart Card Alliance Publishes Paper Contrasting RFID Tags and Contactless Smart Cards for ePassport, Payment Applications

PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Radio frequency is no longer just about large battery-powered radio-based gadgets like garage door openers and highway payment systems. Now ePassports and credit cards are going to come with RF capabilities. But is that a good idea? Is it safe? The answer to both questions is "yes," and to help people understand why, the Smart Card Alliance published "RFID Tags and Contactless Smart Card Technology: Comparing and Contrasting Applications and Technologies." http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/
stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/
story/02-15-2005/0003022449&EDATE=

ZigBee Alliance Celebrates a Successful Year - 2004 Highlighted by Tripled Membership and Worldwide Specification Ratified

SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 25, 2005--The ZigBee(TM) Alliance, an association of companies working together to enable wirelessly networked monitoring and control products based on an open global standard, today announced it has tripled its membership from a year ago, adding 19 new member companies and bringing its total membership to 124 companies. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050125/
255705_1.html

The CattleSale Company Forms Wireless Interface Company and Purchases IDComm RFID Process Patent

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2005--The CattleSale Company (OTCBB:CTLE - News) announced today that it has created a wholly owned RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) subsidiary, Wireless Interface Systems, Inc, ("WIS") and has signed a purchase agreement with IDCOMM, Inc. to purchase the company's proprietary ISO Memory tag technology and database management system. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050118/
185271_1.html

Bosch Pioneers RFID Tool Tracking with SAFE & SOUND Service Offering

Visit Bosch Builder Show Booth # W821 or World of Concrete Booth # O21521 for Demos
Mount Prospect, Ill. January 12, 2005 - Today, Bosch Power Tools and Accessories and Bosch Digital Power Tools, divisions of the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, announced the launch of SAFE & SOUND™, the first service to provide the construction industry with the cutting edge RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology necessary to gain the operational and cost savings that next generation tool management, tracking and anti-theft applications offer. http://news.thomasnet.com/
fullstory/459443/rss

NDSU Announces Signing of Alien Technology® Building Lease Agreement, Facility Construction to Begin at NDSU Tech Park in Spring ’05

Fargo, N. D., Jan. 18 — Alien Technology has signed the Phase 1 building lease at the North Dakota State University Research and Technology Park. Alien Technology expects to begin construction this spring for what will be the world’s highest capacity Radio Frequency Identification Tag (RFID) manufacturing facility, as well as a research center. RFID tags, which use tiny silicon chips to store information, are expected to replace the widely used bar codes for tracking inventory and other uses. The Department of Defense, Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy are among the first to adopt this emerging technology. http://www.alientechnology.com/
news/press_detail.php?pressid=68

Savi Technology Unveils DoD Supply Chain RFID Solution Featuring Industry-Leading Components from Symbol and Zebra

Experienced Industry Leaders Combine Expertise for Cost-Effective Compliance Solution That's Simple, Quick and Easy to Implement in the Supply Chain
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2005-- Savi Technology, a leading provider of RFID-based supply chain solutions for defense and commercial organizations, today unveiled a new "tag and ship" offering enhanced with components from Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL - News), The Enterprise Mobility Company(TM), and Zebra Technologies (Nasdaq:ZBRA - News), which enables suppliers to quickly and cost-effectively meet new EPC-compliant, passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) shipment requirements from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050209/
95584_1.html

AIM Global Release Draft Standard: “RFID for Food Animal Identification”
Groundbreaking document provides guidance for additional tag data

Warrendale, PA (February 14, 2005) – AIM Global, the trade association recognized as the worldwide authority on automatic identification and mobility, today announced the development of a Draft Standard for "RFID Identification for Food Animals." http://www.aimglobal.org/members/
news/templates/aimpress.asp?
articleid=293&zoneid=1

Worley and Intermec Launch Pilot to Study RFID ROI

Leading consumer goods logistics company to use RFID to test ability to improve supply chain performance
EVERETT, Washington., and CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Feb. 15, 2005 - Intermec Technologies Corp. and Worley, one of the United States' leading third-party logistics(3PL) companies, have launched a pilot program to develop and test the implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology within Worley's own facilities. Worley, which has provided logistics services to Fortune 500 companies for more than 25 years, will integrate Intermec RFID warehousing systems into its warehouse management system, Warepak/400, to establish performance benchmarks in a working warehouse environment. http://www.intermec.com/eprise/
main/Intermec/Content/About/
NewsPages/pressRelease?&
pressID=620

Passive RFID IC with extended reading range is ideal for animal identification

Read/write RFID IC EM4569 features bumped enlarged pads for direct antenna connection to save space and mounting costs;
MARIN, Switzerland – February 15, 2005 – EM Microelectronic, an electronic systems company of the Swatch Group, announces the EM4569, a 125kHz, 512-bit contactless identification CMOS RFID IC intended for use in electronic read/write RF transponders. The EM4569 offers versatility and security with several data rate and data encoding options available at a decreased level of power consumption. This high-performance passive RFID IC saves cost and increases reading distance, making it extremely useful for animal identification (ISO 11784/ ISO 11785). http://www.emmicroelectronic.com/
DetailNews.asp?IdNews=85

AIM Global Launches On-Line Store and Document Library

Association upgrades access to Auto ID, RFID standards and documentation
Pittsburgh, PA (1 February 2005) — AIM Global - The Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility, today announced the launch of a comprehensive online store and document library for critical Automatic Identification and Mobility international standards, implementation guidelines, presentations, and white papers. http://www.aimglobal.org/members/
news/templates/aimpress.asp?
articleid=287&zoneid=1

'Smart Box' RFID Technology Urged By U.S. Customs For Security Also Provides Economic Value For Global Shippers - A.T. Kearney

New Research Finds Major Importers and Exporters Recognize Substantial Operational Savings Via Networked RFID Going Beyond Simple Tamper Alerts
SUNNYVALE, CA - Jan. 31, 2005 - 'Smart Box' container technology recently promoted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for special "green lane" clearance under the C-TPAT program also can deliver sizable investment returns for shippers when linked to a proven global asset management and security network, according to new research by A.T. Kearney, one of the world's largest management consulting firms. http://www.savi.com/news/2005/
2005.01.30.shtml

The Final Comment

We always try to find something to keep away those boring evenings while you wait to get back to work. This month is no exception, try these:

Launch a spacecraft to Mars, explore volcanos, canyons and more!
http://www.marsquestonline.org/

What do your dreams mean? (turn down the volume first!) http://www.lionart.com/
dreams.htm

Does your Windows behave like this? You need help! http://www.rio.com.br/animation/
iconstory.htm

Beware of ATM Tampering
http://www.utexas.edu/admin/
utpd/atm.html

Are you a sasquatch fan? Check this out. http://www.bfro.net/GDB/

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111011010000010000001
010100011001010110001
101101000001000000100
000101101001011001000
010000001110111011001
010110110001100011011
011110110110101100101
011100110010000001111
001011011110111010100
100001 http://nickciske.com/tools/
binary.php

Do you follow the Mars exploration, then try a test drive on Mars http://www.driveonmars.com/

The Fine Print

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newsletter/aidcourier_archive.htm

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