Basis Design and Socket Mobile Provide iOS Barcode Scanning for Altiris

Socket Mobile, Inc. announced that Basis Design -- a leading developer of enterprise level software solutions -- has certified the Socket Bluetooth Cordless Hand Scanner (CHS) as the barcode scanner of choice for its Barcode Essentials application for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
Barcode Essentials is used in conjunction with the Altiris Barcode Solution from Symantec, to provide mobile barcoding support to Symantec's Altiris IT Management Suite and Altiris Asset Management Suite. IT organizations in healthcare, finance, government and other industries use the suites to track costly assets throughout their lifecycle and ensure that current infrastructures can support new technology changes and adapt to changing processes and business needs.
Besides the CHS 7Ci, Barcode Essentials also offers native iOS support to the Socket CHS 7Xi and 7XiRx Apple certified 2D barcode scanners.
Barcode Essentials is available in Free and Standard editions for download in the Apple App Store. Customers must have an existing Altiris Barcode Solution license from Symantec in order to sync Barcode Essentials with their server.

Evolis ID Card Printers chosen by the Public Transit Pass in Belgium

Million of MOBIB contactless passes will be delivered by public transportation operators STIB & SNCB in Belgium. The Evolis Zenius Expert card printer will personalize and instantly deliver such passes to commuters.
A MOBIB pass is the ultimate way to gain access to the entire public transportation network in Belgium (metro, tramways, trains and buses). Sales counters operated by STIB and SNCB print and issue instantly personalized MOBIB transit cards to commuters thanks to the Evolis Zenius Expert ID card printer.
With Zenius Expert, a MOBIB pass is personalized in a matter of seconds. First, the card holder’s picture and personal data are printed on the MOBIB card. Next, the integrated Crazy Writer Calypso module encodes all data related to the subscribed travel plan onto the contactless chip. This virtual embedded subscription can be renewed and updated easily online or at counters and vending machines available throughout the numerous stations. This contactless technology is compliant with Calypso2, a standard specific to public transportation systems that offers all public transport operators the guarantee of a proven level of security and interoperability.
To reliably deploy this new and extensive solution for the benefit and convenience of commuters, the transport operators have collaborated with several systems integrators to design cutting-edge IT solutions, along with GMP Belgium Bibliofilm, Evolis’ distributor for Belgium.

'Apple will make NFC happen this year'

Jim Peters, CTO at SITA, told delegates at this year's Air Transport IT Summit in Brussels that they need to be prepared for the proliferation of near field communications (NFC) technology, which he predicts will become widespread before the end of the year. 'Who is thinking of the user? Apple. They don't argue about it with anybody. They came out with Passbook last week, which is an electronic wallet that they are going to start putting stuff on.' SITA is currently running a project at Toulouse airport, where it is using SIM-based NFC to allow passengers access into the car park and business lounges. It partnered with Orange and Blackberry to run the project.

Industry's Highest Parallelism Being Used in Volume Production to Lower Cost of Testing RFID ICs

Shanghai Hua Hong NEC Electronics Company, Ltd. have collaborated to successfully develop a wafer-level, multi-site parallel test solution for radio-frequency identification (RFID) semiconductor devices that meet industry-standard ISO 14443 guidelines. This new test methodology is now being used to improve the cost efficiency of volume-production testing at Hua Hong NEC and, most importantly, has already met with approval from the foundry's key customers.
By leveraging Hua Hong NEC's advanced production processing and test development capabilities in smart card and information security applications and the highly efficient performance of Advantest's T2000 test platform, the jointly developed test solution provides fast accurate recognition and feedback for cost-effectively testing current and future generations of RFID devices.
RFID devices that comply with ISO 14443 standards are divided into two types: Type A and Type B. The major difference between them is in the modulation/demodulation for the 13.56 MHz carrier wave. When in use, a proximity coupling device (PCD) sends a carrier signal at 13.56 MHz to the RFID device. The RFID device's antenna receives the signal wave, which carries both transmitted data and the power that drives the RFID device. The RFID device then sends a return signal carrying response data back to the PCD. In this way, information is communicated between the PCD and the RFID. However, crosstalk among RFID devices during wafer-level testing can result in reduced production yields and low productivity.
The new test solution uses a high signal quality, anti-crosstalk interface and an optimized algorithm within the test program to minimize the bit error rate and perform multi-site parallel testing. This methodology is currently being used in mass production to test 32 RFID sites in parallel -- the highest parallelism in the industry. The next-generation solution under development by Hua Hong NEC and Advantest will be capable of 64-site parallelism to meet the testing needs for future RFID devices.

Toronto transit to test mobile, contactless payments

More mobile payment news on the transit front. The Toronto Star is reporting that commuters in Toronto will soon be able to pay their fares by mobile and contactless card. The program will begin sometime this summer. According to the story, the Toronto regional transportation authority, Metrolinx, will be using "open payments," meaning that instead of having to tap a Presto Card, the contactless transit card currently used, commuters can now pay with any contactless card or NFC-enabled mobile device.

HID Global Grows Their SlimFlex RFID Tag Portfolio

HID Global announced the availability of its new SlimFlex Square Tag, a highly durable UHF – RFID tag that enables users multiple mounting options for optimal read range in industrial applications. The pliable SlimFlex Square configuration delivers read ranges of up to 26 ft (8 m) in dry conditions when mounted to any non-metal surface and in wet conditions when mounted vertically to a flat surface or extended from a corner.
SlimFlex Square Tag is the latest addition to the company’s recently introduced SlimFlex family of RFID transponders, which are among the most advanced general purpose UHF tags available. The tags’ unique thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) housings tolerate repeated bending or torsion, while maintaining excellent performance characteristics and safeguarding embedded electronics, even under harsh conditions.

ATM Kiosk Mobile Cash Withdrawal Video Demo

TAGSYS Ensures Full RFID Compliance to Improve Brand Owners' Supply Chain Agility

TAGSYS, the leading provider of item-level RFID infrastructure, announces that its FiTS (Fashion Item Tracking System) offering ensures complete compliance with new RFID guidelines backed by some of the largest retailers in the US, including Lord & Taylor, Macy's, PVH Corp (owner of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger), Jockey International and Maidenform. The latest version of guidelines, published last week by independent standards administrator GS1 US, includes support for Serial Global Trade Item Number (SGTIN)-96, enabling simultaneous inventory counts and shortening lead time. This allows suppliers to have products strategically located for effective demand response to reduce replenishment cycle times.
The support for the guidelines means any company supplying to the retailers involved in the initiative can rely on the TAGSYS system to both boost their supply chain agility and be compliant with the requirements of their retail partners, regardless of the serialization technology used - IT-based or chip-based serialization.
FITS system has been designed to boost supply chain agility by integrating fundamental logistics capability processes in an RFID-based flexible and scalable information system. The modular system provides global visibility from source to department stores, supports cross-chain collaboration, and is capable of meeting fast-changing market demands.
The TAGSYS system also supports reliable and fast encoding techniques such "Bulk Encoding" and "Read-and-Verify," both of which significantly improve the productivity and efficiency of the manufacturer at the point of manufacture- or the point of distribution.

Mobile phones could be used to pay for train and bus journeys across the UK

Transport operators have been summoned to a Whitehall summit next month to push ahead with an initiative known as “smart ticketing”, which could revolutionise how passengers pay for their journeys. Ultimately it could mean the days of the conventional paper ticket are numbered as train and bus operators agree a standard which would apply across the whole country. The Government has said that all companies will eventually be expected to comply with a common industry standard known as ITSO – standing for Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation.

Socket Mobile Barcode Scanner

Socket Mobile, Inc. announced that Zerion Software, creators of the award-winning iFormBuilder data collection platform, has standardized on the Socket Bluetooth 2D Cordless Hand Scanner (CHS) 7Xi for its mobile ticketing/citation project. The eTicketing solution allows law enforcement officers to enter citation data directly on an Apple iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch while interacting with drivers, eliminating the need to return to the car and thus, saving time. To reduce data entry errors, driver's license and vehicle information can be collected using the Socket CHS 7Xi barcode scanner. The final citation is printed on a Zebra mobile printer and is then sent to a centralized server or stored for later transfer when using offline.

Simple mobile payments through barcode

Barcodes are already becoming widely popular among smartphone users, but now they are adding yet another benefit, and it is one that is working to the advantage of m-commerce, and that is mobile payments. An increasing number of merchants are using scannable barcodes for enabling purchases. They are being rapidly embraced by consumers who are always seeking a faster and easier way to shop. Many different technologies are being used for this purpose, ranging from the more “traditional” QR code, to near field communications (NFC) as it is slowly becoming available on some of the newest models of smartphones.

Modi scuttles PC’s smart card project

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi (India) doesn’t pull his punches when it comes to confronting the UPA government. In his latest show of aggression, Modi has nixed Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s ambitious pet project of launching Resident Identity Cards (RICs) in the coastal areas of the state. Modi argued that the methodology adopted for vetting citizens’ status was fraught with danger. The Home Ministry’s plan of handing over the second batch of RICs to adults of the age of 18 years and above in more than 650 villages of the coastal belt of Gujarat has come to a halt.

GAO launches 13.56 MHz Smart Label RFID Reader

GAO RFID Inc. is offering its 13.56 MHz Smart Label Reader which operates as a configurable block reader. It is commonly used in such applications as logistic control systems, library management, and ticketing systems.
This compact handheld RFID reader, model 223019, can be configured output in hex or decimal format. It operates at the frequency of 13.56 MHz and has a maximum read distance of up to 50 mm at 12 V with ISO15693 standard smart labels. It provides RS232, USB and USB keyboard emulation. Its power requirement is 5 volts regulated DC at 150 mA. In addition, it is housed in ABS packet for protection from harsh environments.
This smart label RFID reader belongs to GAO's family of 13.56 MHz RFID Readers. This line includes a lot of different RFID readers with the same working frequency. One of the well-accepted products is 13.56 MHz RFID HF Bluetooth Reader/Writer which uses Bluetooth (Class Two) technology to upload tags ID to Bluetooth based computers/PDAs in a real-time mode. It is widely used in the industries of security / Patrol / Mining / Finance and Railway system, etc. Another featured one is 125 kHz or 13.56 (LF or HF) MHz Dual Frequency RFID Reader which is used for authorization/login to POS terminals or any device that requires security prior to being used

Identive Smart Card Readers Support Cyber Security for U.S. Government Agency

Identive Group, Inc. announced it is providing 266,000 smart card readers to a U.S. government agency for secure authentication and email encryption. The SCR3310/v2 readers fit easily into the USB port of a PC and allow government employees to quickly and securely log on to the agency's computer network.
"Cyber security is receiving an increasing amount of focus across industries and among consumers as well. Using smart cards to validate user identities is an important step in protecting the data on a computer and the assets in a network. U.S. government agencies are ahead of the curve in adopting smart card-based security and have a clear understanding of the benefits," explained Dr. Manfred Mueller, COO Identification Products for Identive. "For this agency, the product delivery schedule was quite aggressive and Identive was the only supplier capable of delivering the required volumes in a short time. Once again we have demonstrated why Identive is recognized as a trusted supplier to the U.S. government market."
Identive's SCR3310/v2 USB smart card readers are compact, ergonomic and compliant with all relevant technology and industry application standards, making them ideally suited for a variety of government and consumer applications, including electronic ID, social security and eGovernment as well as loyalty programs, e-Couponing, e-Banking, online shopping and gaming activities.

Emergency Workers Scan QR Codes

Lifesquare, a Silicon Valley start-up, has partnered with two emergency response agencies in Marin County to run a year-long pilot program. Lifesquare wants residents to input personal information about their medications into its website, then place corresponding QR code stickers where emergency responders can scan them with an iPhone. The secure link from the sticker will then provide paramedics and firefighters with information they need during a medical response call.