Near Field Communications Handsets and Tags, NFC Pilots and Projects

IBM looks into NFC

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

IBM is currently developing NFC projects as part of its Smarter Planet strategy, according to siliconindia.com.

A team of researchers at Hursley software development lab near Winchester, UK has successfully affixed RFID labels to items such as DVDs that will allow users to launch video trailers using an NFC-enabled device, such as a smart phone.


IBM plans to expand this idea to include tagging other items in stores to create a more interactive shopping experience.

IBM also plans to integrate NFC into its Cognos business intelligence technology to improve supply chain visibility.

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Oracle has released a new version of Oracle Retail Point-of-Service that aims to increase security, operational efficiency and functionality in part by integrating biometrics.

Oracle partnered with DigitalPersonal to add integrated biometrics to the POS package. Users of the software will login using their fingerprint, which will replace the need for PINs or passwords. This feature intends to reduce fraud by eliminating the possibility of unauthorized employees using a manager ID or swipe card to access the POS and approve overrides.

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Authentication and access provider DigitalPersona released the results of a survey that found more than half of retailers rely on passwords for point-of-sale system login in, even though they also have great concerns over passwords being shared and misused.

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Proclaiming its entrance into the RFID space, Honeywell introduced part of a new product portfolio designed to bring efficiency to the retail industry, the Optimus 5900 RFID mobile computer.

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SML Group Ltd announced the launch of its new “ViziT” RFID item visibility solutions for the retail apparel and item tracking applications.

The ViziT solutions include a range of RFID/EAS enabled paper and woven labels, as well as tickets and sticker that can be attached to garments and stacked items. Using the SML ViziT IT cloud based data management software also provides for semi automated inventory control, as well as improved loss prevention by triggering alarms and item identification at the store exit.

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Zebra and Checkpoint Systems have entered into a cooperative relationship and licensing agreement. While the exact terms of the transaction were not disclosed, the relationship does bring together Zebra’s active location solutions with Checkpoint division OATSystems’ passive RFID, auto-ID and sensor capabilities.

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Leo InnoTech (LIT) and UPM RFID have carried out a large-scale item-level RFID implementation for a Chinese apparel company focusing primarily on warehouse logistics optimization.

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