As the summer of 2004 concludes, the RFID industry finds itself in a struggle over intellectual property. China, itself responsible for a large portion of consumer good manufacturing, considers developing alternate RFID standards to step outside the fray while companies like Matrics, Symbol, Intermec and Nanopower are making bold moves to cement their position in the market. Meanwhile, nascent technologies give us a view of RFID’s full potential.

Standardization in China

While American companies lay out complex licensing schemes for use in the second generation EPC standard, China confronts its own supply chain problems. While Chinese consumer goods suffer from rampant counterfeiting and American companies with facilities in China rush to meet their own deadlines, manufacturers look to the government for solutions– and standards.

Read the full story

Phones Jingling at Checkout Counters

Japan’s NTT DoCoMo brings contactless payment to the masses by releasing four “mobile wallet” phones. While security and usability issues remain, the characteristic jingle may soon be heard in other parts of the world.

Read the full story

Real-Time Prisoner Tracking

Associate editor Andy Williams speaks to Alanco Technologies of Scottsdale, Arizona, about their real-time prison tracking system. Long in development, the company’s TSI PRISM product faces a receptive market and almost no competition. By generating detailed records of the guards’ and inmates’ whereabouts, pilot programs have demonstrated a 60% reduction in violence.

Read the full story

Symbol of Success

After weathering harsh allegations from the SEC and having its former executives tried for fraud, Symbol has emerged with strong financial results in 2004. New leadership has taken advantage of brisk sales, low taxes and streamlined operations to catapult the company into the black. The recovering portable computing giant announced in late June that it would acquire RFID upstart Matrics. The addition brings a wealth of expertise– and legal problems to Symbol.

Read the full story

IP Intermec

Founded in 1966, Intermec has remained a consistent innovator in enterprise wireless technology. With a generous IP portfolio, the company seems to be the only one not surprised by its announcement it would levy licensing fees on companies producing EPC products.

Read the full story