RFID News Roundup

July 21, 2006—The following are news announcements made during the week of July 17.

IntelliTrack, Lowry, Offering Asset-Tracking Starter Kit
IntelliTrack, a Baltimore-based provider of software for bar-code and RFID data collection, has partnered with Lowry Computer Products, a Brighton, Mich., RFID systems integrator and manufacturer of RFID-enabled labels, to sell an RFID-based starter kit. Designed for asset management, the kit includes IntelliTrack's asset-tracking software, IntelliTrack's RFID Portable Data Terminal software (which enables the asset-tracking software, originally made for bar-code tracking, to be used with RFID) and a set of 300 4-by-2 inch Lowry SmartTrac EPC Gen 1 Class 1 RFID labels. These labels are available with a metal-mount backing, providing a buffer zone to boost the tag's readability when attached to metal assets. The starter kit costs $4,300. Symbol's MC 9000 series with RFID reader and PSC's Falcon 5500 series handheld interrogators (readers) support the IntelliTrack software, but customers must purchase the interrogators separately.

DOD Grants Psion Teklogix $1.8 Million Contract
The Department of Defense (DOD) has awarded a three-year, $1.8 million contract to Psion Teklogix to provide and deploy RFID middleware at all 26 of its Defense Distribution Centers (DDC) around the world—starting with 19 such centers in the United States. The distribution centers are currently being equipped with RFID hardware, including Symbol's XR400 UHF interrogators and AN400 antennas. This will allow them to collect RFID tag data from tagged pallets and cases of goods that some DOD suppliers are attaching to select shipments in compliance with the department's RFID-tagging mandate. Psion has begun installing GlobeRanger's iMotion Edgeware software at DDCs where ODIN Technologies has already installed RFID hardware. ODIN Technologies previously received a DOD contact to provide all hardware (see DOD Grants ODIN $14.6 Million Contract). Psion will establish links between the GlobeRanger middleware and the existing IT systems used at the DDCs. The firm started by providing GlobeRanger's RFID middleware to the DOD in December of 2004, when it helped ready two DDCs (one in California and one in Pennsylvania) receive RFID-tagged shipments for an RFID pilot program.

Avery Dennison RFID Names HEI Qualified Converter
RFID systems provider Avery Dennison RFID has named HEIas a qualified converter of Avery Dennison's RFID inlays. HEI, a Minneapolis-based manufacturer of RFID labels, cards, key fobs and other RFID inlay products, is a full-service contract manufacturer focused on customized RFID solutions for a variety of markets. Before qualifying HEI as a converter, Avery Dennison evaluated HEI's RFID manufacturing and testing capabilities to ensure that high-quality, high-yield RFID products would be available for Avery Dennison RFID's customers. In the Qualified Converters section of the company's Web site, Avery Dennison has included a link to HEI's site, along with information regarding HEI's capabilities.

Sirit Sells Non-RFID Investment
Sirit says it will receive $1.9 million in cash upon completion of a sale regarding one of its minority interests in Medsite. The transaction is expected to close within the next 30 days, with 10 percent of the proceeds to be held in escrow for a period of up to one year. Medsite is a provider of pharmaceutical marketing, as well as services for physicians, such as continuing medical education. Since the business is not part of Sirit's focus on RFID technology solutions, Sirit opted to sell it. Anastasia Chodarcewicz, Sirit's chief financial officer, notes that the sale of Medsite will provide Sirit with cash to support its strategic plan to concentrate on RFID.