Identive Expands Tagtrail NFC Mobile Services Platform

Identive Group, Inc, a provider of solutions and services for the identification, security and RFID industries, announced enhancements to its Tagtrail NFC mobile services platform that make it easier than ever to launch NFC tag campaigns and create more targeted engagements. The cloud-based Tagtrail platform allows advertisers, retailers and organizations of all types and sizes to deliver dynamic, personalized content and services to users' mobile devices via NFC and QR codes.
Extension of Tagtrail's Dynamic Action Bundle rules engine, which determines what information users receive when they tap their phones to a Tagtrail tag. The Dynamic Action Bundle has been enhanced to enable an unlimited number of actions to be assigned to each tag within a campaign, and to allow multiple criteria to determine which content is delivered to each user. For example, a tag in a shopping mall could deliver a store's website URL, information about daily specials or a merchandise coupon, depending upon factors such as who is tapping the tag, time of day, what kind of phone is being used, whether the user is already recognized by Tagtrail, or other rules the campaign owner wishes to incorporate.
A simplified, click and drag process for ordering NFC tags for Tagtrail campaigns. A standard tag can be selected from our extensive menu of options, or artwork can be uploaded and the customized tags ordered online in a few easy steps.
User interface improvements that further streamline the process of designing, launching, evaluating and improving Tagtrail campaigns.
Identive's patent-pending Tagtrail platform is offered as a complete solution that includes cloud-based content delivery and analytics services, NFC or QR code tags and a mobile user app. The mobile app allows users to go back and review the personalized content received from their taps so they can re-live and share the experience later. Tagtrail's online community forum lets current and potential users ask questions, get support and share feedback with each other and with Identive to enhance their mobile NFC experience and help drive future Tagtrail improvements.

Precision Dynamics and Intellitix to Showcase Innovative RFID Technology

Precision Dynamics Corporation (PDC), the global leader in automatic wristband identification, and Intellitix, the global leader in RFID solutions for live events, will showcase their RFID solutions, designed to enhance guest experiences, at the Event Live Expo from Feb. 5 to 7, at the L.A. Live Event Deck in Los Angeles, CA. The Event Live Expo will showcase all of the latest technology, equipment, products, and services for the live entertainment industry.
Event professionals will be able to participate in an interactive demonstration of PDC’s Smart Band® RFID Wristbands with Intellitix’ systems that provide secure access control, social media integration and photo-sharing applications, and the new Intellipay cashless payment system. The innovative technology is powered by an RFID chip containing an exclusive code sealed inside each Smart Band®. The codes are validated by the Intellitix system when a person wearing a Smart Band® comes within several inches of its custom-built entrance portals, or other RFID hardware.
For electronic access control, Intellitix’ entrance portals have a throughput rate of more than 2,500 persons per hour, while offering real time monitoring and analytics to event management. The system greatly reduces queue lengths, which allows patrons to spend more time inside of a venue to watch performances and buy refreshments or souvenirs. Smart Band® inhibits counterfeiting and scalping, providing important security to promoters and venue operators.
Also on display will be Intellipay, the new cashless payment system launched last month by Intellitix. Intellipay is the most advanced cashless system available for live events that helps increase guest spending because it’s quick and convenient. Guests can load cash or credit funds onto their Smart Band® before an event, which replaces the need to carry a wallet or purse. Intellipay helps shorten lines, eliminating congestion around merchandise and concession areas, offering heightened public safety.
Intellitix and PDC’s RFID technology helps meet the ever-growing demands from promoters to network with their guests via social media. At the PDC and Intellitix booth, a photo kiosk will be set up to demonstrate how event guests can use Smart Band® to instantly post branded photos to their Facebook accounts. With a quick a flick of the wrist, fans can also share their live event experience with friends and family at RFID-enabled "Live Click" Stations that can be installed near a venue’s entrance, main stage, or anywhere throughout an event.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/Precision-Dynamics-and-Intellitix-to-Showcase-4227933.php#ixzz2JIs9h6NG

-Mobile aims to make NFC a reality in 2013

T-Mobile USA is working with a number of partners to bring “a variety of NFC technologies to market”, according to a blog written by senior vice president of product management, Brad Duea. The plans go beyond the operator’s current NFC offerings,  said Duea in a post on the operator’s website titled “T-Mobile makes NFC a reality in 2013”. Specifically he mentioned US bank Chase as a partner with which T-Mobile USA is currently working.

Israeli Startup Unveils Almost Invisible QR Code

An Israeli startup has developed technology that fades the look of a standard QR code no doubt much to the relief of designers. Israeli startup Visulead says its technology reduces the look of a standard QR code by as much as 70%. So far it has reached generation two of its patent-pending design. The next generation, due in a few months, will reduce the QR code to little more than a box showing the viewer where to scan, according to The Next Web.

Visualead aims to kill off ugly QR codes

I can think of few things in technology as widely detested as the QR code. Israeli startup Visualead understands that problem and is looking to make them more palatable with the release of a new revision to its visual QR code standard. Visualead says the new technology fades the look of standard QR codes by as much as 70%

Quake Global Acquires RFID Solutions Designer ODIN Technologies

Quake Global Inc., a maker of satellite tracking and monitoring devices, said it acquired ODIN Technologies Inc. of Washington, D.C. for an undisclosed price. ODIN is a designer of RFID solutions for the health care, government, asset management, and other industries. Polina Braunstein, Quake’s CEO, said the acquisition is an important milestone toward achieving the company’s goal of becoming the world’s foremost provider of RF M2M technology hardware and services at all levels. RF M2M refers to radio frequency, machine to machine.

Nacha issues final guidelines on QR codes in bill payments

The Electronic Payments Association's Council for Electronic Billing and Payment (CEBP) issued final guidelines for the use of Quick Response (QR) codes in consumer bill payment. The guidelines, developed in collaboration with CEBP members and refined through industry input, describe the use of QR codes in a variety of bill payment functions such as viewing bills, making bill payments, enrolling for eBills and setting up payees in online banking.

Setback For Student In Fight Against RFID Chips

Andrea Hernandez is a student at John Jay School, a magnet school in Texas whose students were recently required to begin wearing Smart ID badges with radio-frequency identification (RFID) locator chips in them. She is also a member of an evangelical Christian family who view the badges as an affront to their religion. Which is why, when school officials told Andrea she would have to wear the badges like all the other students or risk transfer, the Hernandez family took the school to court. They sought an injunction against the school system. Unfortunately for the family, however, US District Judge Orlando Garcia has now rejected the request.

SemaConnect Charging Stations Add Convenient QR Code Pay-by-Cell System

Plug-in vehicle charging is now even more convenient with the launch of SemaConnect's mobile payment system, which will soon be available on all of SemaConnect's public charging stations in the US.

The mobile payment system simply allows plug-in vehicle owners to pay for charging by scanning a QR code with their smartphones. This eliminates the need to swipe a credit card or to call customer support to submit payment information over the phone

Real life Mario Kart with RFID bananas

True fact: Mario Kart will always be one of the best Nintendo 64 games of all time. It’s just not disputable. It’s so awesome that a bunch of robotics nerds at Austin-based Waterloo Labs decided to outfit race karts with RFID tags so they could play real life Mario Kart. I know where I’m having my next birthday party.

NFC: Not just for mobile payments anymore

NFC has long been hailed as the technology to bring mobile payments, or the idea of waving your phone in front of a cash register to purchase a good, closer to reality. However, the mobile payments trend has been slow to take off, and it continues to face many hurdles for adoption. While the technological issues have largely been resolved, there just aren't that many stores and point-of-sales terminals equipped with NFC for widespread use.

The Three QR Code Maxims

Marks & Spencer expands RFID program

Leading U.K.-based apparel and food retailer Marks & Spencer PLC (M&S) has expanded its nine-year radio frequency identification (RFID) supply partnership with Avery Dennison. To provide an exceptional customer experience by ensuring that the correct product mix is available in-store and online, M&S has expanded its use of Avery Dennison's RFID technology to all clothing and home wares in its stores. This roll out will take place throughout all departments in the course of 2013 and will be complete by Spring 2014

More than 1 in 4 young mobile users scan QR codes

Mobile users in North America and Europe are increasingly scanning QR codes with their devices, according to new research released by Pitney Bowes. Research from Nellymoser reveals mobile action codes in print magazines deliver a better response rate than traditional forms of direct mail.

Intermec Adds RFID to Ultra-Rugged Data-Capture Devices

Intermec has upgraded its line of ultra-rugged mobile computers to allow for RFID asset tracking in industries such as health care and retail. Intermec has unveiled an upgraded line of 70 Series ultra-rugged mobile computers featuring radio-frequency identification. The devices enable professionals in health care and retail to track equipment and merchandise. The company launched the new models Jan. 14 at the National Retail Federation Show in New York.

Dita Von Teese clothing line will feature QR codes

Dita Von Teese, an acclaimed costume designer, author, and burlesque dancer, recently launched a new clothing line bearing her famous name. Von Teese has had significant experience in the realm of fashion and this experience reflects in her clothing line, but her designs are meant to be much more interactive than typical clothing. This is because Von Teese is hand sewing QR codes into each of her pieces, hoping to give people a chance to experience something new with her clothing line.

Accusoft Releases Barcode Xpress v9 with New GS1 DataBar and QR Code Functionality

Accusoft, the leading provider of document, content and imaging solutions, today announces the release of Barcode Xpress v9, barcode SDK, with QR Code writing and GS1 DataBar reading.
Developers utilizing Barcode Xpress can now read and write QR Codes when developing applications. QR Codes are used by a wide range of industries that need to store and quickly read back large amounts of data. Barcode Xpress supports all four QR Code modes: numeric, alphanumeric, binary and Kanji, and the mode selection are automatic to give the best compression. Alphanumeric mode QR Codes are commonly scanned by consumers, using their mobile device, to link to URLs for marketing promotions.
“This newest version of our Barcode Xpress SDK makes developing even easier with the ability to read and now write QR Codes using one component,” said Tom Setzer, Director of Recognition at Accusoft. “With the growing popularity of the many GS1 DataBar types, we’re also very excited to introduce GS1 DataBar reading into this latest version of our barcode component.”
The GS1 DataBar is a barcode symbology originally designed to replace the Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode format. GS1 DataBar barcodes not only have greater data density, but also have the capability in some variants for much greater data storage.

Appeals court denies request in RFID tracking badge battle

The courts have, once again, sided with Northside Independent School District in a battle over RFID tracking badges. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request for an injunction that would prohibit Northside ISD from removing sophomore Andrea Hernandez from John Jay Science & Engineering Academy pending the outcome of her case. Hernandez has refused to wear a chipless RFID tracking badge based on her religious beliefs.

RFID Hotel grows with new sales office

RFID Hotel, a hospitality sales and marketing company that supplies the industry with a full spectrum of RFID keycards and credentials, is improving its client services efficiency with the opening of a new sales office and order fulfillment center in Nashville. RFID Hotel has an exclusive strategic joint venture agreement with a premier manufacturer of RFID cards and credentials to represent its products in North America. Working with both independent properties and major hotel chains, RFID Hotel stocks more than a million RFID keycards, key fobs and wristbands with credentials for all major locking systems, ready for immediate shipment.

KDC200 Laser Barcode Data Collectors available from POSBay

The KDC200 Laser Barcode Data Collectors, available from POSBay, enable diverse mobile Auto-Identification applications for collecting and storing barcode data. They feature a built-in display which eliminates erroneous data collections and enables interactive data collection processes. In addition, they feature a rechargeable battery that is easy to replace. They can recharge from any USB port and can handle over 5,000,000 barcode scans. Memory shortage is eliminated by the presence of 4MB of on-board memory that can store in excess of 100,000 product records. All KDC Laser Barcode Data Collectors come with KTSync software. This includes keyboard wedging, application generation, DB look up and inventory management features.

U.K. Startup Launches Wide-Area EPC RFID System

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have formed a new company, known as PervasID, to deliver a "wide-area" radio frequency identification solution that it claims is "error-free" when tracking paper documents and other assets. The system can cover up to a 400-square-meter (4,300-square-foot) area by means of a single EPC Gen 2-compliant ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID reader, and can scale up to accommodate much larger deployments.

NFC is Now for Consumers

NFC (near field communications) has been around for a while, but at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show it was clear that the technology has made it out of the technical journals and into the products that consumers are buying. From smart TVs to mobile devices to gaming systems to home appliances, NFC was everywhere at CES. The technology enables devices to transfer information and content to one another directly, without using a wireless network

Disney plans to offer RFID bracelets

The Magic Kingdom is now offering a new brand of magic, in the form of tracking bracelets enabled by RFID chips. According to the New York Times, Orlando's Walt Disney World will soon be distributing out MagicBands, a part of the MyMagic+ program, which will store the personal information of guests in order to "enhance" their visit.

KoamTac Introduces Revolutionary IP65-rated Bluetooth Barcode Scanner

KoamTac, Inc. announced the release of the KDC350, which features added durability and keypad convenience, the newest in the company’s line of programmable Bluetooth barcode scanners and card readers that are changing the way the world collects and stores information.
The KDC350 has an IP65-rated design that allows users to collect information in dusty and wet environments. The compact keypad adds convenience to data entry enhancements. NFC (Near Field Communication) and GPS options further enhance the traditional data collection applications.
The KDC350 also comes with an anti-microbial case, ideal for environments such as healthcare, as well as a switch to put it in vibrate mode, ideal for noisy environments.

Tap Tag app for NFC-ready Android phones

T-Mobile had more than just big updates at its CES event; it gave us opportunities to try both its newly national HD Voice service and a seemingly unknown carrier-specific NFC app, Tap Tag. The currently Android-only software is best described as a crossover between somewhat simpler existing NFC tag systems. like Samsung's Tectiles, and multi-step automation like Motorola's Smart Actions. Put a Tap Tag-equipped phone against a relevant marker and it will perform one or more customizable tasks, such as putting the phone in a do-not-disturb mode at the same time it sets an alarm for the morning.

Student Suspended for Refusing to Wear RFID Tracker Loses Lawsuit

A Texas high school student who claimed her student identification was the “Mark of the Beast” because it was implanted with a radio-frequency identification chip has lost her federal court bid Tuesday challenging her suspension for refusing to wear the card around her neck. Radio-frequency identification devices are a daily part of the electronic age — found in passports, and library and payment cards. Eventually they’re expected to replace bar-code labels on consumer goods. Now schools across the nation are slowly adopting them as well.

Samsung announces a new NFC-enabled wireless speaker

Just before the opening of CES, Samsung gave a press release outlining the features of its latest digital audio products. As a bit of an audio hardware enthusiast, this new gear has peaked my interest. Samsung’s new DA-F60 wireless speaker is to be the company’s flagship portable audio system, which comes complete with Near-Field-Communication (NFC) integration. This allows you to easily pair your NFC compatible smartphone or tablet with the speaker, enabling wireless music streaming by simply touching the two devices together.

RFID Technology – Taking Notes From Orwell

CIBC promotes NFC payments via BlackBerry

Canada’s CIBC bank has launched a novel promotion aimed at increasing uptake of NFC technology for mobile payments. In collaboration with handset maker RIM, the manufacturer behind BlackBerry, and Canadian telco Rogers, the bank has placed a print magazine advertisement in Connected Rogers Magazine that contains an NFC tag developed by NFC specialist Crosscliq. Readers can tap the NFC tag contained in the advert to obtain a holiday gift offer. Users can also gain free BlackBerry apps, information on the new Blackberry 10 product range and the ability to make contactless payments using CIBC bank’s mobile app, called Sure Tap.

War graves in Wales to get QR codes

Canadian war graves in a Welsh cemetery are being given QR codes to explain their presence to confused visitors. Rather than kitting out the graveyard with traditional information stands, the HistoryPoints project  opted to add the QR codes nearby as a way of providing the information unobtrusively.

BarMaxx RFID Solution Tracks Liquor Usage By Weight

Several Miami-based restaurants and bars are employing a radio frequency identification solution that identifies and weighs liquor bottles, and then transmits that information to a server where it can be linked to point-of-sale (POS) data. In this way, management can know how much of each type of liquor is being poured, how customers are then being charged at the register, and when any discrepancies might occur, such as an over- or under-pour, a missing bottle or unbilled pours.

Trakker Middle East launches its new tracking system

Trakker Middle East ( TME ) willing to launch its new tracking system "ISIS" on 2013. The new system ISIS is an integrated active RFID monitoring system powered by Ctrack fleet management that allows customers to not only benefit from the journey management tools but also plan, load, tag, reconcile, track contents during transit, delivery and issuing of instant PODs to customers as proof of delivery.
The RFID tags are active once shipped from factory and can't be disabled. ISIS tags are reusable for up to 3 years with 2 minute interval reporting, with alerts reported immediately.