RFID Journal Staff asked 11 years ago We are an RFID reader manufacturer. We are writing the firmware package for our new ultrahigh-frequency reader line, and would like to include functions from all EPC chip vendors. Do you have a list of all semiconductor companies that manufacture UHF RFID transponders based on the EPC Gen 2 specification? We aware of some—Alien Technology, EM Microelectronic, Impinj, Fujitsu, Hitachi, NXP Semiconductors and Texas Instruments—but are wondering if there are others.
—Name withheld
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Yes, there are. Manufacturers that produce EPC RFID tags must obtain a mask designer identifier (MDID) from GS1, which maintains a list of all Gen 2 mask designer IDs assigned to date. The list might include a few firms that have obtained MDIDs but are not actually making chips, but this is the most comprehensive list available. You can peruse the list here. Sue Hutchinson, GS1's director of portfolio strategy, tells me that there are more MDID applications currently in the works, so you should check the list every few months or so, to learn about the latest chip providers.
—Mark Roberti, Founder and Editor, RFID Journal
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