by Jack Tay

There is little question that RFID is fast becoming a critical component in the new world of supply chain management, especially in fast growing Asian economies. This is especially so for Asian companies that do import and export business with large Western nations such as the United States and greater Europe. However, even as RFID is necessary, it is important to determine carefully just what needs to be done, and who can help make RFID a success within the company.

When the crucial steps of an RFID implementation project have been carefully integrated, the reliability of system performance can be guaranteed. A dynamic "feedback loop" approach is essential to any ability to provide such guarantees. RFID-services vendors with the requisite experience and expertise to take this approach will have no difficulty offering a performance guarantee with the systems they implement.

Automotive manufacturing and RFID

Increasingly, Asia Pacific is fast becoming the new automotive region, given that manufacturing and labor costs are far lower than the United States and Europe. For example, region-specific models of Chevrolet are manufactured in South Korea (such as the Optra), while Volkswagen and Skoda now has shared manufacturing in China, catering specifically to the mainland Chinese market with the popular VW Passat and Skoda Octavia (and now Superb) models. Even mainstream Japanese car manufacturers are relocating some of their manufacturing of region-specific models (such as Altis and Corolla) to lower-cost locations such as Thailand.

Some manufacturers have used RFID to keep track of the most critical (and sometimes most expensive) item of a car, the engine block. RFID tagging can help reduce misplaced engines (which must be scrapped due to the sensitivity of such products). It is possible that RFID tagging can become important in keeping track of major parts within a car, including the drivetrain assembly, in the near future.

Recommended approach to implementing RFID

Before implementing RFID, it is important to conduct a feasibility analysis of the supply chain environment. Setting out to do a conceptual model, with the right definitions, you should then analyze the process within your entire supply chain (all the way to your ultimate customer and include all stakeholders).

After creating a budget with an invitation to your vendor for demonstrations and any small scale tests, you need to conduct an analysis of your sites, and then have some of your personnels to gauge the usability of the RFID system.

You should attempt to launch your RFID installation in phases, with a test or pilot site, running for perhaps a reasonable length of time, to iron out any kinks in the system. Once you are assured that it will work enterprise-wide, then roll out the system to the entire site. It is also important to re-visit every step of this process of implementation, to ensure that you can improve or tweak the system as necessary.

Outsourcing to a partner

In an ideal scenario, or at least a very small implementation, it may be possible to roll out your RFID system entirely by your in-house team. However, there may be a wisdom to outsource the implementation to a professional services partner, to reduce possible problems during implementation, and also to create accountability and reduce your own exposure to risk. Why is it so?

Researchers have advised that unless you happen to be a data integration specialist, it is entirely possible that your information architecture will break, or affect the corporate ROI.

RF is also an esoteric science whereby specialized skills may be needed to diagnose the RF environment for a site, and to install readers and testing tag performance.

And since RFID expertise is usually not in-house, it may require an outside professional to ensure a solid hardware configuration that will provide better reliability and performance. Nothing beats real world deployment experience, and so for good professional services partners, they would bring to the table real experience that can solve deployment problems, even for pilot runs. Of course, it is important to ensure that your potential partner does indeed have such real world experience, and not simply a portfolio of clients who were "sold" the RFID hardware and other third-party software.

The writer is the Regional Marketing Manager of Intermec Asia Pacific.


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Labels: business, china, project, rfid, scm, tag, technology, tracking

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by Jack Tay

While RFID (radio frequency identification) technology is no longer a new or emerging technology, its adoption in Asia Pacific is sporadic, with pockets of accelerated adoption in certain economies, and certain industries. Against the backdrop of regulatory requirements and internal audit controls which put more stringent demands on operating enterprises, whereby more accountability and traceability must be accomplished, the RFID technology adoption situation would theoretically imply that RFID systems would become commonplace everywhere in Asia.

Some countries, such as China, South Korea and Japan, have successful and more widespread adoption of RFID than other countries in Asia Pacific. Many RFID adoptions come from established sites which have other forms of supply chain implementations, and therefore, are considered retrofitted RFID adoptions. While RFID implementations from scratch would be considered the easiest from a technological point of view, we must not discount that many sites would require a phased-in approach of RFID, starting perhaps with test sites to ensure compatibility with enterprise and back-end software.

What makes RFID great for the modern supply chain environment?

Unlike traditional barcode systems, RFID readers do not require a visual line of sight. This can be useful for proximity scanning of RFID tags on tagged items, rather than demanding personnel to be positioned visually within the logistics items to check their availability. Therefore, RFID systems can be extremely useful for supply chain environments that use optimized storage planning, where items can be stacked back to back. And because of proximity scanning rather than line of sight requirements, more data collection along the entire supply chain can be set up easily, without dramatic process changes.

With RFID tags, whether passive or especially active tags, more information can be stored on the tags, compared to traditional barcodes. For active RFID tags, data can be updated enroute (read/write capability), which provide even more flexibility for supply chain backend systems and their interaction.

Increasing adoption of RFID

RFID is also more practical than ever before, with clear business cases being demonstrated for asset management and supply chain operations alike. For example, TNT Logistics reduced its truck load verification time 24 percent by using RFID to automatically record goods loaded onto its trailers. Hundreds of other companies around the world are also implementing RFID-based shipping, receiving and inventory visibility applications.

A sub-trend behind RFID adoption for inventory, warehouse and distribution operations is the use of vehicle-mounted and other mobile RFID readers to enhance or replace stationary models. With a mobile infrastructure, companies don’t need to purchase, install and maintain a separate RFID reader for each dock door. Forklift-mounted and handheld readers can cover multiple docks, and be used in warehouse aisles and elsewhere throughout the facility, further reducing the required RFID investment. Plus, they put information directly in the user’s hands, so they can prevent errors, rather than just record them after they occur.

Container tracking and RFID

With the global struggle against terror or theft, it is imperative that any component of the entire supply chain must be secured, and authenticated, so that there is no breakdown in the process.

With RFID tagging, containers, and pallets, can all be adequately tracked and authenticated, along every step of the process from manufacturing to the ultimate client’s location, however remote the location may be. This is not merely a customer requirement (often to comply with internal controls and procedures), but also increasingly a governmental requirement in many locations (especially in the United States and Europe). With adequate tracking through RFID tags, shippers and manufacturers can account to governments and customers, but also build in a "shield" to protect their brands, given that brands these days can break easily due to some lapses in accountability.

The second part of this article will discuss the RFID adoption in automotive manufacturing and a recommended approach to implement RFID.

The writer is the Regional Marketing Manager of Intermec Asia Pacific.


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Labels: business, china, japan, mobile, reader, rfid, scm, tag, technology, tracking

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by Jack Tay

In Part 1, Jack Tay discussed some of the top 10 trends and technologies impacting supply chain operations. In the second part, he will further explain the rest of the trends spanning production, distribution, retail and remote service, such as 2D Bar Code, RFID, Remote Management and Security.

 

2D Bar Code

There are now auto-focus scan engines that can read linear and 2D bar codes alike from 50 feet away and as close as six inches. Complementary developments in illumination technology enable bar codes to be successfully read in dark environments where they couldn’t be read before. With a scanning infrastructure in place to process all types of codes at multiple distances, companies can start building advanced visibility and traceability features into their legacy production, inventory and distribution operations.

RFID

Hundreds of companies around the world are implementing RFID-based shipping, receiving and inventory visibility applications. A sub-trend behind RFID adoption for inventory, warehouse and distribution operations is the use of vehicle-mounted and other mobile RFID readers to enhance or replace stationary models. Forklift-mounted and handheld readers can cover multiple docks, and be used in warehouse aisles and elsewhere throughout the facility, further reducing the required RFID investment. Plus, they put information directly in the user’s hands, so they can prevent errors, rather than just record them after they occur.

RTLS

Real time location systems (RTLS) allow you to expand your wireless local area network into an asset tracking system. Any device connected to the wireless LAN can be tracked and located. One application is to track forklifts via their vehicle-mounted computer’s radio. The Wireless Location Appliance and supporting software can track the radio’s location in real time to support efficient dynamic storage, routing, monitor dwell time, and gather data for productivity and asset utilization analysis. Many other expensive products and assets can be equipped with an RTLS device for real-time monitoring.

Remote Management

Using wireless LANs to track warehouse and factory assets is an example of how a mainstream IT resource has been adapted to benefit industrial environments. Another example, powerful remote management systems have been developed specifically to configure, monitor and troubleshoot bar code readers and printers, RFID equipment, ruggedized computers and other industrial data collection and communications equipment. Such software is also extremely valuable during rollouts and upgrades, because system administrators can use it to set configurations and install software remotely and across groups of devices, instead of having to handle each device individually.

Security

Stronger security is another mainstream business trend and requirement that is supported in supply chain technology. Mobile computers can be locked down so customer information and other data can’t be accessed if the device is lost or stolen. Rugged wireless computers and data collection equipment also support many of the leading securities used to protect enterprise wireless networks, including 802.11i, 802.1x, WPA, WPA2, LEAP, FIPS-140, RADIUS servers, VPNs and more.

Conclusion

Business needs for security, real-time visibility, and up-to-date information don’t stop at the office door. These needs extend throughout supply chain operations, so reliable information systems must extend just as far. Developments in mobile computing, wireless communication, RFID, bar code and other data collection and communications technologies are helping businesses extend visibility and control over more areas of their operations.

The writer is the Regional Marketing Manager of Intermec Asia Pacific.


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by Jack Tay

It’s easy to name "mobility" and "wireless" as trends, but it's less clear exactly what direction these developments are taking and how they can be used to improve business. However, what do the trends mean in terms of transforming business and maximizing profitability and productivity?

Here are the top 10 trends and technologies impacting supply chain operations spanning production, distribution, retail and remote service.

1. Comprehensive connectivity – from 802.11 wireless LAN technologies, cellular networks, Bluetooth
2. Voice and GPS communication integrated into rugged computers
3. Speech recognition
4. Digital imaging
5. Portable printing
6. 2D & other bar coding advances
7. RFID
8. RTLS
9. Remote management
10. Wireless and device security

You're probably familiar with the technologies listed above, but perhaps not with the latest developments and trends. For example, did you know that practically any application can be easily modified to accept speech input because of the recent development of terminal emulation-based speech recognition technology? Did you know that Bluetooth, 802.11b/g, cellular and GPS communication are all available in a single handheld device? Did you know improved optics allow 2D bar codes on paper to be read at greater distances (over 50 feet) than 1D bar codes on retro-reflective labels?

Connectivity

The various forms of wireless connectivity – Bluetooth for personal area networking, 802.11 wireless local area networking, and cellular wide area wireless networks for voice and data communication – are all highly visible and provide compelling business cases for many specific operations.

Smart phones have strong appeal because they provide convenient voice and data access. However they are extremely limited for delivery, field service and other mobile supply chain operations because the computer screens and interfaces aren’t optimized for enterprise applications, and the devices themselves aren’t rugged enough for everyday use in these environments. For operations with intensive data collection or transaction volume, companies have traditionally used ruggedized handheld computers to gain the reliability and performance they need, but these devices lacked cell phone capability.

Advanced Wireless: Voice & GPS

Now leading cellular carriers have certified rugged handheld computers for voice communication, enabling data collection, data communication and cell phone functionality to be converged into one device. Converging data and voice onto an integrated piece of equipment can cut the number of devices system administrators need to support in half, which provides sustainable operating cost savings. Connectivity convergence continues with the integration of GPS communication into mobile computers. Together with the falling costs of wide area wireless coverage (including GPRS, GSM, CDMA and other technologies) and more generous data plans, computing innovations like these make it affordable and practical for many companies to implement real-time data access systems for their delivery drivers, sales and service staff, inspectors and other personnel.

Speech Recognition

Speech recognition helps productivity by reducing the need for users to look at a computer display. Speech synthesis/recognition capability can now be easily embedded into numerous legacy software packages, including warehouse management, picking and putaway, inventory, inspection, quality control and other applications. This simplified integration has been made possible by the recent development of terminal emulation (TE)-based speech recognition technology, which eliminates the need for a separate speech server and a proprietary interface between the speech system and the application software.

Digital Imaging

Like cellular voice, digital imaging is another technology consumers are familiar with that has now found a place in enterprise mobile computing equipment and applications. Transportation and distribution companies are using digital cameras integrated into the mobile computers so their drivers can capture proof of delivery, store stamped invoices, and detail conditions that prevent delivery. Technicians use the technology for proof of service. Other applications include capturing shelf displays and monitoring trade promotion compliance, collecting competitive information, documentation by inspectors, collecting evidence for accident reports, and recording damage and usage conditions for warranty claims.

Portable Printing

Rugged portable printers are routinely used for output when documentation is required. Common applications include providing signed delivery receipts, purchase orders, work orders and inspection reports. Using mobile printers and computers together lets sales, service and delivery personnel give customers the documentation they desire, while creating an electronic record that frees the enterprise from having to process paperwork. Mobile printers remain one of the fastest-growing segments of the entire printing industry. Traditional applications are in field service and distribution, but adoption is growing quickly in warehouses and factories for forklift-based printing for picking, putaway, shipment labeling and other activities. Mobile printing provides proven labor savings in industrial environments by saving workers from having to make an unproductive trip to a central location to pick up labels, pick tickets, manifests and other output.

The Part 2 of this article will detail 2D Bar Code, RFID, RTLS, Remote Management and Security Technology.

The writer is the Regional Marketing Manager of Intermec Asia Pacific.


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Labels: barcode, business, connectivity, mobile, rfid, rtls, scm, security, technology

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by Adi Tedjasaputra

RFID technology has been called and associated with many things: Barcode on Steroids, Next-generation Barcode Technology, The Internet of Things, Big Brother and even Spy Chips. No matter what people say, when RFID project proposals come to the hands of Chief Financial Officers or Finance Directors, RFID will just become the same thing: TECHNOLOGY, with a potential to bring benefits and also costs to organisations. Starting Small with RFID will help decision makers to justify the cost of RFID investment, while still providing an opportunity for organisations to see the real benefits of RFID.

Most organisations contemplating to embark on RFID initiatives will face a challenge to bring most benefits of the technology, while mitigating the costs and risks associated with it. Think Big, Start Smart and Scale Up with Agility is the key strategy for any successful RFID initiative. Using the strategy, decision makers can harness the potential benefit of RFID technology, justify the cost of investment, while still maintaining the flexibility for changes throughout their business process optimization, thus lowering the risks.

One of the key components in the Agile RFID strategy is Start Small. Here are a few tips to Start Small with RFID:

1. Focus on Existing Infrastructure
Reusing the existing infrastructure can deliver benefits at minimum cost in RFID implementation. However, this aspect is often neglected due to the lack of knowledge in the integration capability and capacity between the existing infrastructure and the new RFID infrastructure. By identifying one or more application areas where you can still use the existing infrastructure, you have reduced the time and cost for RFID infrastructure integration, which usually represents the largest cost component. For example, if you want to use RFID technology to enhance the convenience of access to a room or building, you may want to make sure that the new RFID infrastructure can easily be integrated with your existing access control and security systems. If you plan to print smart labels and currently have barcode printers, contact your barcode printer vendors and ask for upgrade options and plans, before buying some new RFID printers.

2. Focus on Scale
Large projects are prone to delay and failure. Whenever possible, break up a large RFID project initiative into some smaller RFID projects. Identify which small project will deliver the most impact for your organisation at the shortest time frame with the least investment. For example, automatic stock counting in a warehouse using RFID technology usually takes shorter time to implement than real-time asset location tracking, but the value delivered by the stock counting application is significant and less costly than the asset location tracking. By executing your plan properly and showing the benefits of RFID technology through your successful small project, it will be easier to convince your Chief Financial Officer or Finance Director about the value of RFID technology.

3. Focus on RFID Core Values
Understanding the power of RFID technology and its limitations is the key to stay focus on RFID core values. Unrealistic expectations from RFID technology are not only misleading, but also reducing the possibility of unleashing its vast potential. In addition, as any other technology, RFID also has its limitations. For example, the use of RFID technology for real-time asset tracking in asset management over continents will require an integration with other technology, such as Global Positioning Satellite (GPS). Focusing the use of RFID technology for real-time asset tracking in a limited area such as warehouse usually delivers more value than real-time tracking over a great distance.

The writer is the Founder of RFID Asia - The Prominent RFID Community in Asia.

Reference

Tedjasaputra, Adi (2005). RFID Phased Approach Needs Improvement. RFID Asia. Retrieved on September 3, 2007.


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Labels: business, project, rfid, security, technology, tracking

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by Adi Tedjasaputra

The variety of RFID tags available in the market often confuses the end-users in deploying RFID systems. Many end-users go from one RFID vendor to another and compare RFID tags based on specifications and prices. For the last couple of years alone, more than 90% of the RFID end-users contacting RFID Asia basically asked the same thing: Tell us about RFID products! When you are in the process of choosing the right RFID tags, the following excerpt from "RFID Asia Guidelines for Choosing RFID Tags" may be valuable for you.

While RFID Asia does not sell or manufacture RFID products, we do provide RFID professional services through Consulting, Research, Business Representation and Advertising. We help companies make the best investment decisions on RFID technology and products. We also plan to open a new RFID kiosk that will become one-stop RFID store to help companies across various industry verticals, government agencies, research organisations and universities in Asia Pacific to learn, select, try out and buy a range of RFID products and services from various RFID vendors. The kiosk will link up RFID vendors and consumers alike to conduct trading and training on RFID products and services.

If you are one of the end-users planning to embark on RFID system deployment, the following guidelines may ease the process of choosing RFID tag:

1. Define Your Goal and Requirements Clearly
Without a properly defined goal, you will be easily distracted by many tempting offers and marketing gimmicks. If you need RFID tags for pilot, define your pilot project goal clearly. Your pilot project goal may solve the attendance problem at your office, secure a certain area of your warehouse, or only to know how a wireless automatic identification technology works. After you clearly define your goal, the next thing to remember is to keep your requirements simple. For example, when your application only requires read-only (RO) RFID tags, do not be tempted to choose Read-and-Write (R/W) RFID tags only because they have more “features”, unless you already know that you will need them later.

2. Source Carefully
There are thousands of RFID vendors in the market. Some are good, some are bad. Some are reliable, some are not. It is good if you can get a vendor referral from a source you can trust. If you cannot get any referral and unfamiliar with a vendor, ask relevant questions to the vendor upfront. Make sure details such as pricing, delivery, payment, dead tags, return policy, tag life time, etc. are not left out. The more you know in advance, less surprises you will experience.

3. Standard is The King
As an evolving technology, the change of RFID standards is inevitable. As standards evolve, RFID tags and related hardware could become perishable. Upgrade option is always the best solution. Look for vendors who offer tag upgrade for reusable RFID tags. The good news is that almost everyone in the RFID community agrees that the harmonization of global RFID protocol and spectrum allocation is as important as regional harmonization. When you deploy an RFID system, make sure that your system conforms to the regional regulation and interoperable with other systems that interact with your RFID system. Whatever standard you use, make sure it is ISO-compliant.

4. Price is Not Everything
The lure of low RFID tag price often results in a disappointment at the end. Many will find out sooner or later that 5-cent RFID tags do not exist in the market. If your RFID application is based on the 5-cent price assumption, it is better to postpone your project indefinitely or find another business case that can justify your RFID application on different price level.

5. Try and Evaluate
Before your RFID tags arrive, you need to prepare a try-out system in place to evaluate your RFID tag performance. It is the best if you can set up a test environment in the actual site where the RFID tags will be used. Depending on the sophistication of your application, budget and time, you can simply set up a simple read and write test or set up a sophisticated test environment using a real-time spectrum analyzer.

The writer is the Founder of RFID Asia - The Prominent RFID Community in Asia.


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by Eunice Sari

While contactless credit card is still a hot issue in the island-country of Singapore, several vendors in the region have started to buzz the concept of contactless mobile payment during a seminar last week.
The keyword is: NFC. The question is: Will it be a killer technology?

Near-Field Communication or NFC is a short-range 13.56 MHz wireless technology that can transfer data up to 424 kbits/s. Using standardized protocols developed by industry-sponsored NFC Forum, inter-device NFC communication is expected to establish two-way link and exchange data among different consumer products, such as mobile phones, televisions, personal computers and digital cameras. Touching and waving are the most common interaction styles that promise convenience as any other contactless technology. Nevertheless, the current usage of NFC technology is still limited to contactless card payment, contactless mobile payment and interactive smart poster.

Thian Yee Chua, the CEO of CASSIS, during a seminar in Singapore last week, emphasized the need to build an NFC ecosystem, an environment for consumer-service, for a wide adoption of NFC technology. Lim Boon Heong, the Marketing and Business Development Director in NFC business of INSIDE Contactless further detailed the importance of NFC handset availability, win-win business models and an open standard.

Contactless mobile payment is one of the applications highlighted during the seminar. Several pilots planned and initiated have involved major credit card companies, banks, merchants, mobile service providers, mobile network operators, such as: VISA, JCB, MasterCard, CCV Holland B.V, KPN, Nokia, PaySquare, Philips and ViVOtech, SK Telecom, Orange, France Telecom, China Fujian Mobile Communications Co. Ltd., Xiamen Branch and Xiamen E-Tong Card Company Ltd, 2-Eleven, Gemplus, CASSIS.

Yet, Bank of America that has conducted an NFC trial in collaboration with Venyon Oy and its 5000 employees at one of its corporate campus in Delaware reported in May 2007 that the NFC portion of the trial has flopped due to variety reasons, including undesirable mobile phone model and problems in downloading payment application to the handsets.

In addition, a security issue in the form of protocol vulnerabilities may become worse if NFC-enabled mobile phones can act as cards or terminals, can be programmed by their users and can communicate with each other (Anderson, Ross. RFID and the Middleman. Retrieved on 06-08-2007).

The writer is an ICT Consultant and Researcher with various affiliations to academic and industry organizations. Her current research interest includes ICT4D, m-Learning, e-Learning, Web 2.0, healthcare, wireless and mobile technology.


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Your Comments

The current NFC solution, being highly dependent on mobile handset (as far as mobile solution is concerned), is seen as the limitation. Such limitation can be overcame by a solution which will not depend on mobile handset.
- Eric Tan, Watchdata, Singapore, Sunday, August 12, 2007 -

Labels: 2.0, business, card, china, mobile, nfc, payment, rfid, security, singapore, technology, trial

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by Adi Tedjasaputra

The steadily growing demand for RFID solutions in the Asia Pacific region is inevitable, particularly in the supply chain markets. However, a threat is looming that the current growth will not be sustainable. A fair cost-sharing mechanism, rational motives and justified returns from RFID technology investments are the key ingredients to achieve long-term and sustainable RFID technology adoption.

With the number of contactless smart card unit shipments in the Asia Pacific region at approximately 230 million cards and the Asia Pacific RFID supply chain market that earned $170.3 million in 2006 (Frost & Sullivan 7 Jun 2007, RFID versus Contactless Smart Card and Frost & Sullivan 30 Jun 2007, Asia Pacific RFID Supply Chain Markets), it is hard to ignore the steady growing demand for RFID solutions in the region.

Heating up the emerging markets, METRO Group – the world's fourth largest retailer located in Germany has launched an initiative called Advanced Logistics Asia program since last year. The aim of the program is simply to improve the flow of goods along the supply chain between China (Hong Kong) and Germany with the use of RFID technology.

Speaking to FoodProductionDaily.com, Christian Maas - a METRO Group spokesperson, recently gave a comment on the pressure on its suppliers for adopting RFID and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) technology: "Suppliers doing without the innovative technology (RFID and EDI – ed.) will bear the higher process costs resulting from a lower efficiency. Suppliers participating in the RFID roll-out will benefit from a preferred treatment."

The remark implies that METRO Group believes in 3 things:

1. The technology used by METRO Group, including RFID, is innovative.


2. RFID will help suppliers achieving lower process costs as a result of higher process efficiency.


3. A preferred treatment is an incentive for suppliers to participate in the RFID roll-out.

Whether these beliefs are based on facts or assumptions, all suppliers to METRO Group will have to eventually go along with RFID deployment plan. First, the suppliers will have to participate in EDI framework integrating NVE (Shipping Unit Number). This participation requires suppliers to provide NVEs for complete pallets and each individual package. After the EDI System integration, the next step will be the use of RFID tags at the pallet level. Suppliers will have to attach RFID tags to all pallets before delivery.

Faced with the requirement for RFID technology compliance, suppliers should ask the following question: Is there any rational motive that can justify the adoption of RFID technology further into internal business processes? The answer to the question is crucial for any supplier to take a strategic decision whether to implement RFID technology only for the sake of compliance or integrate the RFID technology further into internal business processes.

The answer from the 26 METRO Group's industry partners from Asia (not 30 suppliers or partners as published previously in various media) participating in "Tag it easy" pilot project has already been decided: compliance.

As a part of the Advanced Logistics Asia program, the "Tag it easy" pilot project was launched in late May 2007. The project aims to enable consumer good industry partners in Hong Kong to apply RFID labels on the shipments to Unna, Germany.

Basically, there are only 3 things that the Asian suppliers participating in the project need to perform:

1. Use Metro Link portal to order pre-printed RFID labels for packages exported to Unna, Germany.


2. Manually attached the RFID labels to the export packages.


3. Manually read the data on the RFID labels affixed to the outgoing goods using a handheld reader.

The recent press release from METRO Group reported that 40 companies have adapted their processes to use RFID technology. From the press release, it is unclear whether the 40 companies include the 26 suppliers from Asia or not. However, based on the facts that the Asian suppliers solely perform peripheral activities with regard to RFID implementation, and not further adoption into internal business processes, it is fair to assume that the press release excludes the 26 suppliers from Asia.

Judging from the manual labour-intensive processes that are still heavily involved in the project, it will be difficult for suppliers to justify that RFID is an innovative technology that can help them to achieve lower process costs and higher process efficiency. The suppliers involved in the project may get a preferred treatment from the METRO Group and detailed proof of good delivery, nevertheless, it is still questionable whether the preferred treatment and detailed proof of good delivery can actually justify the additional operational costs and process waste.

On the other hand, METRO Group can benefit tremendously from data quality improvement, process efficiency improvements along the supply chain, and real-time asset visibility & control, while the third-party RFID vendor - Checkpoint Systems, Inc. can profit from the use of their Check-Net® products and services.

The situation confirms the results of our previous study on RFID adoption in Supply Chain Logistics and Retail Logistics, in which a fair cost-sharing mechanism between retailer (METRO Group) and consumer good suppliers is essential for a sustainable RFID adoption to take place. In addition, it is also necessary for consumer good suppliers to be able to justify their investments in RFID technology with rational motives and justified returns. A specific business case for each unique consumer goods supplier and a customised solution to RFID system integration challenges are no longer nice-to-have. It has already become a fundamental requirement for a sustainable RFID adoption and sustainable growth of RFID supply chain markets.


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Labels: business, card, china, project, reader, rfid, scm, tag, technology

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RFID Asia has tapped the power of WidSets and QR Code to provide mobile services for the RFID community.

(RFID ASIA LLP, Singapore, June 15, 2007) – RFID Asia, the prominent RFID community in Asia, has released a couple of new mobile services for the RFID community. These new mobile services enable the access to the RFID Asia website content through mobile devices.

After a 9-month successful trial with WidSets, a mobile service that keeps you up-to-date with the latest news, RFID Asia now provides a direct access from the RFID Asia website to the RFID Asia widget available from the WidSets' Widget Library. By adding the widget, you can keep an eye on RFID Asia Journal Entry directly from your mobile devices.

Beside the RFID Asia widget, you can also access the Mobile version of RFID Asia Journal Entry from your mobile devices using the QR Code provided on the RFID Asia website. The QR Code allows you to fetch and display the latest RFID Asia Journal entry on your mobile devices.

As a two-dimensional symbol developed by Denso Wave, QR Code contains information in both the vertical and horizontal directions, whereas a bar code contains data in one direction only. In addition, the symbol also holds a considerably greater volume of information than a bar code.


About RFID ASIA LLP
RFID ASIA LLP is a Singapore-registered body corporate providing RFID Technology Consulting Services. With a base in Singapore, RFID ASIA LLP manages and disseminates knowledge of RFID technology, standards, innovation and business. Providing services for profit-oriented organisations, RFID ASIA LLP also develops RFID Knowledge Products and Services.

Contact
Eunice Sari
RFID ASIA LLP
9 Temasek Blvd
#31-02 Suntec Tower Two
Singapore 038989


About PT. RFID Centre Asia
PT. RFID Centre Asia is the organization that coordinates RFID Asia – the prominent RFID Community in Asia. As a global organization with more than a thousand members in Asia Pacific, RFID Asia aims to be the Independent Knowledge Centre in Asia by facilitating RFID community forum and RFID partnership platform in Asia, build, disseminate and nurture knowledge around RFID technology and promote RFID standards, innovation and business.

Contact
Adi Tedjasaputra
PT. RFID Centre Asia
Singapore Representative Office
9 Temasek Blvd
#31-02 Suntec Tower Two
Singapore 038989
E-mail. adi.tedjasaputra@rfidAsia.org
Web. http://www.rfidAsia.org

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Like any information technology (IT), radio frequency identification (RFID) presents security and privacy risks that must be carefully mitigated through management, operational, and technical controls in order to realize the numerous benefits the technology has to offer.

When practitioners adhere to sound security engineering principles, RFID technology can help a wide range of organizations and individuals realize substantial productivity gains and efficiencies. These organizations and individuals include hospitals and patients, retailers and customers, and manufacturers and distributors throughout the supply chain.

RFID is a form of automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology that uses electric or magnetic fields at radio frequencies to transmit information. An RFID system can be used to identify many types of objects, such as manufactured goods, animals, and people. Each object that needs to be identified has a small object known as an RFID tag affixed to it or embedded within it. The tag has a unique identifier and may optionally hold additional information about the object. Devices known as RFID readers wirelessly communicate with the tags to identify the item connected to each tag and possibly read or update additional information stored on the tag. This communication can occur without optical line of sight and over greater distances than other AIDC technologies. RFID technologies support a wide range of applications—everything from asset management and tracking to access control and automated payment.

Every RFID system includes a radio frequency (RF) subsystem, which is composed of tags and readers. In many RFID systems, the RF subsystem is supported by an enterprise subsystem that is composed of middleware, analytic systems, and networking services. RFID systems that share information across organizational boundaries, such as supply chain applications, also have an inter-enterprise subsystem. Each RFID system has different components and customizations so that it can support a particular business process for an organization; as a result, the security risks for RFID systems and the controls available to address them are highly varied. The enterprise and inter-enterprise subsystems involve common IT components such as servers, databases, and networks and therefore can benefit from typical IT security controls for those components.

Source: Karygiannis, T., Eydt, B., et al. (2007). Guidelines for Securing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems. Recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Special Publication 800-98.


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Labels: business, payment, privacy, rfid, scm, security, tag, technology, tracking

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Edited Press Release.

To address the current lack of NFC Phones, Tracient and Narian Technologies have developed a revolutionary new NFC enabler that could make 100’s of millions of current phones fully NFC capable today. This technology will aid in driving forward NFC to its eventual standard embedding in mobile phones.

Christchurch/New Zealand-Florida/USA, April 17, 2007 — NFC (Near Field
Communication) has been a buzz word for many years and has hit a climax at the recent CTIA conference. There are literally 1000's of applications for this technology, but NFC Capable Phones have not been widely available to make it a reality. Over the past year, Narian and Tracient have worked to solve the problems of form factor and integration that have plagued other companies. Capitalizing on Patented and Patent Pending NFC Technologies both companies announced today that Narian will be bringing a range of applications to market on hardware designed by Tracient. Both companies believe this will be the tool to enable the NFC Revolution to begin.

Einar Rosenberg, CTO Narian Technologies, "NFC has the potential value to consumers Equal to the Internet, and we can prove it". "The unit is designed to NFC Enable phones today, and a variety of other appliances as well" says Grant Pugh CEO of Tracient, "This also makes it very attractive in mobile workforce applications for small to medium enterprises."

The hardware will be produced in packaged and module forms, one of which measures a mere 25mm x 25mm (1" x 1"). The unit can be placed ergonomically to 100's of millions of current phones today and make them fully NFC Capable. With a device slightly larger than a Postage Stamp, consumers can now be offered the full capabilities of NFC such as Virtual Card, Machine to Machine Communication, RFID Read/Write, and much more.

Both companies see the day in which every phone and handheld computer will have embedded NFC standard, but to drive issues such as current lack of phones and even replacement rates when phones are available, Tracient and Narian introduce the Sliver. In volume orders the price point is dramatically affordable at around $36 per unit.

For additional information, Contact:
Einar Rosenberg – Narian Technologies – 954-570-8959 – einar@nariantechnologies.com
Grant Pugh – Tracient Technologies Ltd.– +64-3-9777-050 – grant.pugh@tracient.com

Tracient Technologies
Tracient Technologies provides identification and data capture tools that are easy to use and integrate into a wide variety of phones, handheld computers and desktop workstations. Intuitive, Interactive and Innovative - our solutions go beyond traditional organization boundaries by leveraging mobile enterprise software, wireless communications and enabling identification technologies such as RFID for identification and Near Field Communications for interactive and transaction based systems. Tracient has a long history of innovative product offerings in the RFID/NFC Space.

Narian Technologies
Narian Technologies was founded nearly 5 years ago to focus on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology development. Narian has multiple patents and patents pending for hardware, software and network technologies based on NFC. To date, Narian has over 200 defined NFC applications in 15 markets ranging from payments to access control, medical, and more. At Narian, we believe the time for NFC Technology has arrived. Narian Technologies' goal is to develop NFC-based applications and components of larger solutions to help their customers realize the value of this potentially transformational technology. Narian offers both licensing and NFC technical/business consulting services.


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Labels: business, card, mobile, nfc, payment, rfid, technology

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Edited Press Release.

Nokia, Finland - March 26, 2007 – Confidex, a company with expertise in RFID design, manufacturing and engineering, and the Sun Microsystems APT/RFID Test Lab in Longmont, Colorado, today announced that the Confidex Ironside passive UHR RFID Tag has passed the testing requirements for the Aerospace Standard AS5678 specification.

This patent pending tag solution by Confidex, currently in use supporting a number of industrial on-metal applications around the globe, is now available for use in the Aerospace industry.

"The Confidex Ironside Tags have passed all the tests for environmental extremes such as temperature, shock, vibration, pressure, altitude and others as outlined in the AS5678 specification." Said Brian McGrane, Business Development Manager for the Sun Microsystems APT/RFID test lab.

"We are pleased to work with Confidex as they deliver unique tagging solutions that have proven to survive the rigorous aerospace testing requirements we put them through in our lab." "The RFID market has several products offered for on-metal use. With Ironside we want to put a benchmark to the market for an industrial tag that is truly designed for heavy industrial use. The compact IP 68 housing combined with uncompromised read distance of 15 feet helps to find a higher return on RFID investment for on-metal applications", comments Jarkko Miettinen, VP Business Development at Confidex.

In the aerospace industry, passive UHF RFID brings an attractive technology to securely identify metal parts or transit items in an industry known for its extreme environmental conditions and mechanical durability requirements. In addition to Aerospace applications, Ironside's size and performance has received high interest in industrial tracking applications such as transportation and logistics. The product has also been successfully used to identify rail carts, trucks and reusable transit items in motion from arctic to subtropical regions.

For More Information contact:
Jarkko Miettinen
Confidex
+358 3 341 5927
Jarkko.Miettinen@confidex.fi


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The Asia Pacific region comprises a market for RFID products and services predicted to reach at least $2 billion by 2010. RFID Asia to help RFID vendors tapping the market through its new RFID kiosk in Indonesia.

(PT. RFID Centre Asia, Jakarta, March 12, 2007) – PT. RFID Centre Asia, the organization that coordinates RFID Asia – the prominent RFID Community in Asia, is opening the first RFID kiosk in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The new RFID kiosk will be one-stop RFID store to help companies across various industry verticals, government agencies, research organisations and universities in the region to select, try out and buy a range of RFID products and services from various RFID vendors. The kiosk will link up RFID vendors and consumers alike to conduct trading and training on RFID products and services.

"This RFID kiosk is a win-win solution for both RFID vendors and consumers", said Adi Tedjasaputra, Founder of RFID Asia. "The new store will provide a good opportunity for RFID vendors to show and sell their RFID products and services in the centre of South-East Asia's biggest economy and RFID end-users will have one-stop access to select, try out and buy the best RFID products and services for their needs."

Anticipating the rapid growth of RFID technology adoption in the Asia Pacific region, the store will play a dominant role in promoting RFID standards, innovation and business in the region. RFID vendors interested to show and sell their RFID products and services in the kiosk shall contact RFID Asia for further information.

About PT. RFID Centre Asia
PT. RFID Centre Asia is the organization that coordinates RFID Asia – the prominent RFID Community in Asia. As a global organization with more than a thousand members in Asia Pacific, RFID Asia aims to be the Independent Knowledge Centre in Asia by facilitating RFID community forum and RFID partnership platform in Asia, build, disseminate and nurture knowledge around RFID technology and promote RFID standards, innovation and business.

Contact
Adi Tedjasaputra
PT. RFID Centre Asia
Singapore Representative Office
9 Temasek Blvd
#31-02 Suntec Tower Two
Singapore 038989
E-mail. adi.tedjasaputra@rfidAsia.org
Web. http://www.rfidAsia.org


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Labels: business, indonesia, partnership, rfid, singapore, technology

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by Adi Tedjasaputra

This is the time of the year when we start reading and listening to RFID technology yearly forecasts and slogans such as 1.71 billion tags will be sold, the total RFID market will be $4.96 billion, RFID will change everyday life, RFID is here to stay, 5-cent RFID tag has arrived, etc. The similar things we heard last year, or probably for the past several years, from those who try to sell reports and events in a quiet month.

Don't get me wrong – I applaud the work of credible people and organisations to disseminate knowledge around RFID technology and promote RFID business - but we need to understand that any change or transformation in the real world is evolutionary. There is no such thing as RFID revolution or RFID magic.

Forecasts are probably good to give a sense of direction and motivation, but the real change or transformation lies in wise actions. RFID players who are not aware of this reality have tasted some loss or about to find out the harsh reality of the RFID industry. VeriChip has had a slow sales and its stock has been struggling since its initial public offering. U.S. Homeland Security is abandoning the plans for using RFID tags. EPCglobal Gen 2 UHF tag has failed to meet its 5-cent tag vision. Wal-Mart is yet to succeed in reducing labour and inventory costs using RFID technology.

RFID technology is now at the Slope of Enlightenment in the sense of Gartner's Hype Cycle. RFID community has just started the process of understanding the benefits of practical RFID applications. There is a huge need to bridge RFID knowledge gap and find the right partners for the right RFID projects and applications, particularly in Asia. The emerging markets in Asia, such as Indonesia, have started to show some active signs and enthusiasms.

In the beginning of the new year, I would like to use the opportunity to thank all the RFID Asia Community Members for your continuous support and active participation.

Have a Wireless and Prosperous Lunar New Year.


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Labels: business, epcglobal, indonesia, rfid, security, tag, technology

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Oracle Corp. launched a new Oracle Asia Research & Development Center in Korea yesterday, in addition to established Asian centers in Japan, China, India and Singapore.

The research and development center located in Yeoeuido, Seoul, will help Korea to introduce its products to the global market and enable Korean government and businesses to take advantage of information and skills acquired by Oracle Research and Cevelopment Centers in other countries.

The center staffed only by Korean engineers will focus on embedded software, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and ubiquitous city project.

Source: The Korea Herald


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Labels: business, china, india, japan, project, rfid, singapore, technology

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Edited Press Release.

SK Telecom announced that it had established a strategic partnership on the 24th with Symbol Technologies for cooperation in the areas of RFID and mobile computing.

With the partnership, the two companies plan to work together in development of technology for building of corporate mobility solutions, such as RFID and M2M solutions. As a result, SK Telecom is now able to propose or sell Symbol's diverse RFID related solutions in the domestic market, and when Symbol builds the corporate mobility solutions in Korea, which requires use of WAN such as CDMA, it will first use SK Telecom's wireless telecom network.

The two companies also plan to conduct joint marketing activities in order to actively target the corporate mobility solutions market, and have also decided to work together to enable SK Telecom's wireless solutions to advance abroad through Symbol's overseas distribution network.

Through partnership with Symbol, SK Telecom is expected to discover new business opportunities in diverse business areas, including the industrial RFID market. A synergy effect created from the integration of the two companies' technology, knowledge and business expertise will allow the consolidation of a leading position in the domestic corporate mobility solutions market.

Managing Director Lim Gyu Gwan, head of SK Telecom's Solution Business Division, remarked, "Through partnership with Symbol, the number one company in industrial RFID worldwide, the new corporate mobility solutions will allow us to accelerate targeting of the domestic and overseas markets."

Kim Gyung Suk, branch manager of Symbol Technologies Korea, remarked, "Through an alliance with SK Telecom, Korea's largest mobile telecom operator, Symbol has acquired a basis to strengthen and expand its business in Korea. We plan to work closely with SK Telecom to provide strengthened mobility services optimized for the consumer."


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Labels: business, korea, mobile, partnership, rfid, technology

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The European Commission has just concluded the final conference on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) as the last part of the series of consultation initiatives in Europe. The conference took place in Brussels today was also broadcasted live through Web Streaming. With an emphasis on the policy issues rather than the technical ones, the conference was mostly attended by European Commission officials and the members of the European Parliament.



From Asia, Professor Ryo Imura, the only Asian speaker presenting at the conference, talked about a few RFID applications in the Japanese Ubiquitous Information Society, such as RFID projects that involve children and RFID item-level tagging applications. The conclusions of his presentation include the importance of establishing business cases, the need for cost-sharing mechanism in RFID supply chain implementation and building the awareness of public and consumers of RFID.

The European Commission expects to deliver the results of the Europe-wide public consultation by December 2006.


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by Adi Tedjasaputra

MyKad or Government Multipurpose Card (GMPC) is a multi-purpose card envisioned by the Malaysian government to enable Malaysians accessing public and private services. The possible data stored in MyKad could include personal identification, driving records, passport information, medical data and monetary transaction. The maximum data storage is currently limited to its 64K memory capacity due to the limitation of the smart card technology being used.

The recent concern regarding the use of MyKad during the media briefing for the upcoming CardEx Asia 2006 Conference in Kuala Lumpur published in Bernama is an honest expression of frustration.

Quoting from the article: "In terms of adoption, we are fast but when we see the end-users, there is still a lack of awareness and knowledge in terms of full usage of the smart cards," Frost & Sullivans' Program Manager, Smart Cards & Auto ID Jafizwaty Ishahak said.

Blaming the end-users' lack of awareness and knowledge, she also said that only ten percent of MyKad holders use the other applications that come with the identity card.

She further said that there should be more educating going on in the use of smart cards and in terms of their application so that more people will be appreciative and receptive towards the technology.

Technology Appreciation+Acceptance = Success of Usage?

Technology appreciation and acceptance could naturally be part of a new product and service adoption. Business cases, however, show that technology appreciation and acceptance are often insignificant for the success of product and service usage.

Take Google as an example. When Google's search service was initially launched, only a fraction of people in the world could appreciate its PageRank™ technology.

After the search service almost constantly provided its users with relevant and useful search results, more people started to use its search service more often. Google has now become so popular that Merriam-Webster dictionary recently added the definition of the word google.

Despite Google's popularity, there are still many people who still do not know or care about the PageRank™ technology behind the search service, not even within the Search Engine Community.

Learning from business cases such as Google, it is noticeable that the success of product and service usage is often the result of usability, which correlates strongly with relevancy and usefulness, not technology appreciation and acceptance.

Education or User Research?

Several years have passed since MyKad was officially launched in 2001. It is, however, still difficult to draw any conclusive analysis to improve the usage of MyKad. The claim that only ten percent of MyKad holders use the other applications that come with the identity card should actually become a wake-up call for the MyKad stakeholders, including the Government of Malaysia.

While education could help in the success of new product and service usage, it is difficult to agree that the lack of education could be the main deterrence for technology appreciation and acceptance, particularly in the case of MyKad. The premise that education could result in technology appreciation and acceptance, and eventually successful usage by end-users, is basically unfounded.

In the MyKad case, User Research is actually more suitable than education or training. Some insights from MyKad stakeholders, including MyKad users, could be essential to take some decisions needed to improve the usage of MyKad.

Malaysians could benefit from a usable MyKad, not a technology-centred one.

Update: This article is also featured in the e-Government magazine.

This article is also available in pdf format.



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Labels: business, gmpc, malaysia, MyKad, rfid, smartcard, technology

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Edited Press Release.

HP today announced that its researchers have developed a miniature wireless data chip that could provide broad access to digital content in the physical world.

The tiny chip could be stuck on or embedded in almost any object and make available information and content now found mostly on electronic devices or the Internet.

Some of the potential applications include storing medical records on a hospital patient’s wristband; providing audio-visual supplements to postcards and photos; helping fight counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry; adding security to identity cards and passports; and supplying additional information for printed documents.

The experimental chip, developed by the Memory Spot research team at HP Labs, is a memory device based on CMOS (a widely used, low-power integrated circuit design) and about the size of a grain of rice or smaller (2 mm to 4 mm square), with a built-in antenna. The chips could be embedded in a sheet of paper or stuck to any surface, and could eventually be available in a booklet as self-adhesive dots.

"The Memory Spot chip frees digital content from the electronic world of the PC and the Internet and arranges it all around us in our physical world," said Ed McDonnell, Memory Spot project manager, HP Labs.

The chip has a 10 megabits-per-second data transfer rate – 10 times faster than Bluetooth™ wireless technology and comparable to Wi-Fi speeds – effectively giving users instant retrieval of information in audio, video, photo or document form. With a storage capacity ranging from 256 kilobits to 4 megabits in working prototypes, it could store a very short video clip, several images or dozens of pages of text. Future versions could have larger capacities.

Information can be accessed by a read-write device that could be incorporated into a cell phone, PDA, camera, printer or other implement. To access information, the read-write device is positioned closely over the chip, which is then powered so that the stored data is transferred instantly to the display of the phone, camera or PDA or printed out by the printer. Users could also add information to the chip using the various devices.

“We are actively exploring a range of exciting new applications for Memory Spot chips and believe the technology could have a significant impact on our consumer businesses, from printing to imaging, as well as providing solutions in a number of vertical markets,” said Howard Taub, HP vice president and associate director, HP Labs.

The chip incorporates a built-in antenna and is completely self-contained, with no need for a battery or external electronics. It receives power through inductive coupling from a special read-write device, which can then extract content from the memory on the chip. Inductive coupling is the transfer of energy from one circuit component to another through a shared electromagnetic field. A change in current flow through one device induces current flow in the other device.

Memory Spot chips have numerous possible consumer and business-based applications.

Some examples are:

* Medical records: Embed a Memory Spot chip into a hospital patient’s wrist band and full medical and drug records can be kept securely available.
* Audio photo: Attach a chip to the prints of photographs and add music, commentary or ambient sound to enhance the enjoyment of viewing photos.
* Digital postcards: Send a traditional holiday postcard to family and friends with a chip containing digital pictures of a vacation, plus sounds and even video clips.
* Document notes: A Memory Spot chip attached to a paper document can include a history of all the corrections and additions made to the text, as well as voice notes and graphical images.
* Perfect photocopies: A Memory Spot chip attached to a cover sheet eliminates the need to copy the original document. Just read the perfect digital version into the photocopier and the result will be sharp output every time, no matter how many copies are needed, and avoiding any possibility of the originals jamming in the feeder.
* Security passes: Add a chip to an identity card or security pass for the best of both worlds --- a handy card with secure, relevant digital information included.
* Anti-counterfeit tags: Counterfeit drugs are a significant problem globally. Memory Spot chips can contain secure information about the manufacture and quality of pharmaceuticals. When added to a drug container, this can prove their authenticity. A similar process could be used to verify high-value engineering and aviation components.


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Labels: antenna, business, circuit, rfid, security, technology

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In the spirit of cooperation between government and industry through RFID innovation, we are glad to announce that the upcoming RFID Asia 2nd Meeting 2006 will be held in Kuala Lumpur, 20-21 September 2006.

Following the success of the RFID Asia 1st Meeting 2006 in Singapore, the RFID Asia 2nd Meeting 2006 is expected to attract the attention and participation of the major RFID players, governments and users in the Asia region, including industrial senior executives, researchers, venture capitalists, government official representatives and policy makers.

Several topics of interest during the meeting include the Integration of RFID and Sensor technology, RFID Access Control and Security Systems, RFID Privacy, New RFID Standards and Alternatives, IEEE P1902.1, RFID/USN and the Regional RFID Ecosystem in Asia and Malaysia.

By actively participating in the event, the attendees can expect the opportunities for RFID knowledge exchange, network among the RFID community members in Asia, open up business opportunities, develop RFID skills and participate in Asian RFID projects.

More detail information on the event can be retrieved from http://summit.rfid-asia.info.


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Labels: business, malaysia, privacy, rfid, security, singapore, technology

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Edited Nokia Press Release

Xiamen, China - On 27th June 2006, Nokia and its collaborators, China Fujian Mobile Communications Co., Ltd., Xiamen Branch, Xiamen E-Tong Card Company Ltd., and Philips, announced the first NFC Mobile Payment Field Trial in China at Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China.

During the trial, one hundred of volunteer consumers of China Mobile in Xiamen will experience first hand the conviniences of mobile payment enabled by NFC technology. The consumers will use the NFC enabled Nokia 3220 mobile phones to make mobile payment through any point-of-sales covered by Xiamen E-Tong Card, including locations such as on the public transportation buses, ferry boats or at restaurants, movie theaters in Xiamen City.

E-Tong Card is a contactless transportation card, conforms to ISO 14443 Type A, compatible with Mifare. It has a volume of issuance of 800,000 in Xiamen City.

In addition to the standard E-Tong Card function, consumers can check their card balance and the last nine transaction records on their mobile phone display. They can also use their Nokia mobile phone to access a built-in, WAP-based website, to find out stores and venues that accept E-Tong Card and the interesting product or service information.

Mobile payment is one of the most welcomed emerging mobile applications. Market research in Shanghai, China by AC- Nielson in 2006 showed that over 80% of consumers are interested in the functional integration of city transportation cards and bank payment cards into mobile phone.

Nokia has launched the world first NFC enabled mobile phone, Nokia 3220, in April 2005. And the commercial trials using Nokia 3220 for mobile payment have been completed successfully in the U. S. A., Germany, and Malaysia.

Mr. Joseph Zheng, Director of NFC Consumer Solutions in China at Nokia Ventures Organization Asia, said: "Nokia is dedicated to innovations from technologies to applications and business models. The successful kick-off of the first NFC Mobile Payment Field Trial is very encouraging to all of us participating in the mobile payment value chain. It also demonstrates our confidence in the NFC technology and the new business model it enables. With the progress of NFC Mobile Payment Field Trial, there would be more types of mobile payment available, which will bring totally new user experiences for the mobile phone users in China, and create values for the whole mobile application ecosystem."

Mr. Xu, volunteer consumer of China Mobile in Xiamen said: "With the integration of E-Tong Card to my mobile phone, I feel so convenient to make payment. It is cool! I hope it will be put into commercial use soon"

NFC is a contactless technology based on open interface and standard platform. Nokia is actively participated in the development of NFC Standards, and co-founded the NFC Forum with Philips and SONY.

With the development of NFC technology, mobile phone becomes a safe, convenient, speedy and fashionable payment instrument. NFC technology is compatible with current contactless smart card infrastructure, so there is no need for significant upfront investment on NFC technology.

NFC device can work under both active and passive mode. For active mode, NFC device can work as a reader and generate its own radio frequency field to identify and read smart card and tag. For passive mode, NFC device can emulate as a card or tag to be read. In this trial, NFC phones work under this passive mode. In addition, two NFC devices can set up communication very conveniently as long as they are close to each other (within 10cm).


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Labels: business, china, malaysia, mobile, nfc, payment, rfid, technology

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Edited News Release.

Ontario ’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, yesterday released privacy Guidelines for the growing field of radio frequency identification (RFID).

These Guidelines flow from her earlier work in 2003 when the Commissioner first identified the potential privacy concerns raised by RFID technology. Following a history of ground-breaking work on building privacy into the design of emerging technologies, these Guidelines are a natural progression of this pragmatic approach.

“I have always found it beneficial to assist those working on emerging technologies, and to be proactive whenever possible – to develop effective guidelines and codes before any problems arise,” said Commissioner Cavoukian. “These made-in-Canada Guidelines provide guidance and solutions regarding item-level consumer RFID applications and uses.”

EPCglobal Canada, an industry association that sets standards for electronic product codes, has been collaborating with the IPC in the development of these Guidelines, and will be seeking Board approval by its member companies to signify the association’s endorsement of the Guidelines.

“ This technology offers exciting benefits to consumers and businesses alike. As the trusted source for driving adoption of EPC/RFID technology for increased visibility within the supply chain, privacy is as important as anything else we are doing,” said Art Smith, President and CEO, EPCglobal Canada. “We promote an environment that encourages ongoing innovation while respecting privacy issues