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| RFID Products & Services | | - SimplyRFID.com: Software tools for RFID (site) | | | Employment in RFID | | - Interview top RFID Talent Before Making a Decision (site) | | - RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting (site) | | | Upcoming RFID Events | | - RFID4U.com - RFID Training Classes (site) | | - RFID Networking Forum, 5 May 2005, London Heathrow, UK (site) | | - Chemical Week's RFID Pharmaceutical Focus, Mar 30-31, Phila, PA (site) | | - Pharma Supply Chain Summit, June 6-8, 2005, Philadelphia, PA (site) | | - RFID World Asia 2005, 27 - 29 April, Suntec Singapore (site) | | | RFID Research and Knowledge | | - RFID Knowledgebase - 10% Off for RFID Update Readers (site) | | - Have RFID questions? Ask the RFID Talk experts. (site) | |
Intermec Counter-Counter-Sues Symbol
The battle rages between archrivals Intermec and Symbol as Intermec sued Symbol last week in apparent retaliation for Symbol's suit against Intermec two weeks earlier. According to an announcement posted on Intermec's website, Symbol is unlawfully using Intermec intellectual property in "a substantial part of [its] data capture line." Specifically cited is the following IP:- a coherent, integrated wireless data capture system capable of distributing data over a network
- portable, battery-powered data processing devices capable of running a multi-tasking operating system
- handheld portable data capture devices with graphical user interfaces (GUI)
- the ability to accept handwritten information and the ability to process that information
Intermec and Symbol had signed a OEM agreement a number of years ago in which they agreed not to sue each other over questions of intellectual property. But Symbol's March 11th suit against Intermec breached that agreement, according to Intermec President Tom Miller, allowing Intermec to sue Symbol back. In Miller's words, Symbol's suit "frees us to defend ourselves against Symbol's claims and to prosecute our own patent infringement claims against Symbol."
Symbol not only sued, it also indefinitely halted supplying Intermec with its laser scan engines. The move seemed abrupt, and Miller has sought to assuage possible customer fears that without the Symbol laser scanning technology Intermec will not be able to continue manufacturing some of its key products: "Intermec had been anticipating [Symbol's supply contract cancellation] for some time. Symbol's decision will have no effect on Intermec business operations."
For background on the Intermec-Symbol saga, see our articles Symbol Sues Intermec and Symbol vs. Intermec, "Clash of the Titans".
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ABI Research: Two Big Problems with Retail RFID Adoption
Two disconcerting conclusions regarding retailer adoption of RFID were recently found by research firm ABI Research and published in the report "RFID in Retail: ABI Research Identifies a Frustrating Disconnection." The first is that RFID companies do not fully understand the business and challenges of retailing and, conversely, retailers don't fully understand RFID technology. With the exception of highly publicized initiatives by Wal-Mart, Target, and the like, this "frustrating disconnection" is hindering healthy and rapid adoption of RFID throughout the retail space.
The second conclusion has to do with retailers' solution to their RFID shortcomings: they outsource the work to technology consulting companies. Here the problem is that the big, top-name consulting companies that are usually tapped for the job are characteristically conservative with new technology. At this early stage in the game, RFID remains an early-adopter technology, and an innovative, experimental approach is preferred. Thus, the report argues that smaller, creative consulting firms are a better option, as they are more likely to offer the out-of-the-box thinking that successful RFID deployments require. Their obvious drawback is their small size; many such niche RFID outfits would be overwhelmed by the scope of reengineering a retailer's supply chain around RFID.
ABI's finding are all the more disconcerting given that it has been more than six months since the very same research company observed that the big consulting houses were moving aggressively into RFID, aiming to build expertise and capture supply chain business. The implication is that either these consulting giants have pulled back somewhat and decided to wait for the technology to mature further, or they have indeed moved ahead with their plans but are meeting the needs of retailers inadequately. Neither possibility bodes well for retail adoption of RFID.
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International Paper Debuts RFID Forklift
International Paper last week debuted an RFID reader-equipped forklift, banking on the idea that it can save companies thousands by preventing them from needing to install RFID readers at numerous portals and dock doors around the warehouse. Released under the Smart Packaging business unit, the forklift includes software which monitors the location and identification of goods with which it interacts and reports that data back to the central warehouse system. International Paper says the forklift can be integrated with a company's existing supply chain or RFID installation.
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Forrester Research: BI Providers Watch RFID From Sidelines
New research from Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Forrester Research reveals a surprising finding: business intelligence (BI) software providers are waiting on the sidelines of the RFID game. Much of the early focus in RFID was on obtaining and managing the new data, but now that that layer has a number of competitive players and offerings, there is increasing demand for that same data to be analyzed. This is historically the province of the very BI companies from whom Forrester doesn't expect to see near-term participation.
It is hard to agree with the Forrester findings. In our own talks with BI companies, it is clear that there are substantial executive-level resources focused on RFID. And no wonder. The demand is already there, and of all the layers in the RFID ecosystem, data analytics is the sweet spot. RFID provides vast amounts of new data about the supply chain, and the goal is to use that information wisely in order to achieve new efficiencies. Rest assured, when the time is right and the budgets are prepared, BI will leap from the sidelines in a hurry.
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RFID Implant Pictures Posted by Hobbyist
A set of digital photos chronicling the insertion of an RFID tag into the photographer's own left hand has been posted online. The ten pictures follow the various stages of the process from pre-insertion to the fully-healed hand. The caption under the last photo reads, "I can't feel the implant no matter what I do with my left hand... but I can feel it under the skin when I poke at it with my finger."
Why did the (unidentified) user do it? He doesn't offer much explanation on the rudimentary FAQ page. Based on what he plans to do now that he is chipped (equip his car, computer, and house with RFID readers to automate mundane tasks), it seems the process is an exercise in cutting-edge technology experimentation, nothing more.
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| RFID Products & Services | SimplyRFID.com: Software tools for RFID
SimplyRFID.com creates software tools to accelerate RFID integration. Our software, TotalControl, sorts RFID tag reads from one or hundreds of RFID readers and stores the results in any database you wish. SimplyRFID.com: RFID that works. | | | Employment in RFID | Interview top RFID Talent Before Making a Decision
Before entrusting your RFID market entry decision to anyone, meet with the industry's most talented leaders who are discreetly reviewing career options. Confusing standards, limited time, and a competitive market mean taking action now. Get the best ROI by ensuring you choose wisely. Contact: RFID Careers - Jack Bourque 860-738-5035 ex:23 or jjb@wirelesscareers.com | RFID Recruiters - 100% Focused on RFID Recruiting
Whether your company is looking for the best RFID talent or you have the best RFID talent and are looking for the best RFID employer, RFID Recruiters offers the most focused approach to your objective. To learn how the RFID industry and the RFID job market are evolving, click here! | | | Upcoming RFID Events | RFID4U.com - RFID Training Classes
RFID4U offers training all over world - both e-Learning and instructor-led courses. The next one day course - RFID Made Easy - is May 3rd in Sunnyvale, CA and May 12th in Buffalo, NY. Over 350 individuals already trained. Open registration and 10% discount for RFID Update readers. See more, Click Here! | RFID Networking Forum, 5 May 2005, London Heathrow, UK
Europe's leading RFID event brings executives together to gain knowledge, share RFID experience, gain competitive advantage and deliver ROI. Includes interactive roundtables, superb peer-to-peer networking and hundreds of movers and shakers in RFID. RFID Update exclusive discount -- Register now! | Chemical Week's RFID Pharmaceutical Focus, Mar 30-31, Phila, PA
RFID Pharmaceutical Focus is your opportunity to learn from and network with peers. Gain knowledge on incorporating RFID into your drug distribution with minimum cost, maximum increase in efficiency, and cost savings throughout your supply chain. For more information or to register, visit www.chemconference.com or call 212-621-4978. Mention code: PME1 | Pharma Supply Chain Summit, June 6-8, 2005, Philadelphia, PA
The Only Supply Chain Event to Focus on Integrity, Efficiency & Security Progressing from Theory to Implementation. Increase the efficiency of your inventory management, avoid redundancy and maximize material velocity to increase productivity. Learn from retail pharmacy chains, RFID case studies, 65 industry experts and networking opportunities. Email register@iirusa.com, call 888.670.8200, or visit: www.traxsummit.com | RFID World Asia 2005, 27 - 29 April, Suntec Singapore
Terrapinn's 2nd annual RFID World Asia 2005, taking place 27-29 April in Singapore, is established as THE event in the region to feature case studies from leading end users who are implementing RFID. If you want to know how RFID will impact your bottom line, Register Now! | | | RFID Research and Knowledge | RFID Knowledgebase - 10% Off for RFID Update Readers
Don't do anything until you have consulted the world's largest database of RFID in action. More than 1250 case studies covering over 1400 companies. Save time and money, improve forecasts, convince doubters, help you raise investment. To receive a 10% discount off your annual subscription, sign up using the promo code: rfidupdate | Have RFID questions? Ask the RFID Talk experts.
A proud partner of RFID Update, RFID Talk is the industry's leading discussion forum. Join thousands of users at RFID Talk and stay on the forefront of technology, deployment, standards, specifications and more. Free, quick registration - Sign Up Now! |
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About RFID Update - Launched in early 2004 to provide timely analysis of RFID industry news, RFID Update publishes editorial briefings every Monday and Thursday for the growing ranks of top level executives involved in the deployment of RFID projects. Each issue distills the impact of global RFID developments by providing an analytical summary of the news and issues most pertinent to successful RFID implementations.
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