This article examines the controversial PASS Card program, which will give US citizens an RFID alternative to traditional passports for land and sea travel between the US, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda starting in late 2008. Critics say the RFID chips in the PASS Cards are insecure and pose a privacy risk, while the government says these concerns are misguided.
ASK, WS Packaging form U.S. venture to produce contactless cards, tickets; University HealthSystem Consortium picks Ekahau as RTLS provider; SAVR Communications team forms new company to target M2M market; MBTA, MIT students make peace to work on security; CEL adds to line of ZigBee transceiver solutions.
ABI Research has published its most recent prediction for the NFC market. The Oyster Bay, New York-based research firm predicts “steady growth” for NFC chipsets over the next five years, culminating in shipments numbering 419 million by 2012.
Hundreds of thousands of drivers worldwide prefer car-sharing to owing their own wheels—and they use an RFID-enabled card or fob to get in the driver’s seat.
The benefits for hospitals and other medical facilities are so overwhelming; it’s hard to understand why the sector is not leading RFID adoption.
The industry association has identified five trends to watch in the coming year.
Parco Merged Media announced its “Pennies Per Day Tag System Bundles,” which lets organization rent RTLS systems — complete with tags, readers and application software — for one to five years. The program reduces the initial cost required to implement RTLS, and credits rental payments toward system purchases if customers decide to buy.
In California, the county’s registrar of voters has instituted a system using EPC Gen 2 tags to streamline the process of collecting ballot results.
Chicago hotel keeps better bar tab with RFID; Metalcraft and ADASA team up in RFID label market; Columbia River Resources acquires pharmaceutical RFID developer; Israeli RFID company purchases Dimex Systems.
The industry association has identified five trends to watch in the coming year.