Augmented Reality: Layar and QR codes

LG patents RFID-labelled cookbook

LG is no stranger to mixing together patents and white goods and this time its trying to bridge the gap between recipes and those all-too-often underwhelming results. One of its patents, granted this week, outlines the idea of two RF tags that would offer food information and appliance specs, with a reader located on a terminal (say, an oven) that would attempt to bridge the gap between the two.

Is NFC Finally Becoming Mobile's Next Big Thing?

NFC has been a decade in the making, and has always been about to be The Next Big Thing. It is a contactless radio technology that can transmit data between two devices within a few centimeters of each other. Coupled with a security chip to encrypt data, it promises to transform a wide range of consumer experiences from simple ticketing to the Holy Grail of replacing your cash and payment cards with just your smartphone. The key word there is "promise". But is NFC a solution in search of a problem? Bar codes, either regular ones or the QR variants, already let you scan posters to unlock extra information; Bluetooth lets you share data wirelessly between devices; cards like Transport for London's Oyster card already allow you to travel ticketless.

Sushi Joint Serves Edible QR Codes, Sustaintable Fish

A California sushi restaurant in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has launched a program that uses edible technology — served on the sushi — to provide diners with sustainability information about the fish. Harney Sushi’s will print edible, water-based ink quick response (QR) codes on rice paper wafers and serve these codes on its sushi. The QR code will take customers to NOAA’s FishWatch website, which will provide diners with information about the fish they’re consuming, sustainable species on Harney’s menu and the latest news coming from the sustainable seafood world.

Clean? This Wristband Knows

Millions of people get infections from hospital care each year in the U.S. Many cases arise from improper hand hygiene among hospital workers. A startup called IntelligentM wants to make hospitals healthier by encouraging workers to clean their hands properly. Its solution is a bracelet that vibrates when the wearer has scrubbed sufficiently, giving employees a way to check their habits and letting employers know who is and isn’t doing things right.

Trinity Mirror pilots new PaperPay app

Trinity Mirror, the UK newspaper and magazine publisher behind the likes of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People, has launched a new mobile app for Android and iOS called PaperPay, the first app from Trinity Mirror’s New Businesses team. In a nutshell, PaperPay allows readers to buy newspapers with nothing more than their smartphone and a bar code on their screen that can be redeemed at participating PayPoint or Payzone terminal newsagents in exchange for a copy of their chosen newspaper.

AXON Energy Acquires Merrick Systems' RFID Product Line

AXON Energy Products has acquired Houston oil and gas production services company Merrick Systems Inc.'s RFID product portfolio of rugged passive low-frequency (LF) tags and related intellectual property, which will now be marketed by the company's subsidiary, AXON Tubular Products.

The acquisition includes all of Merrick Systems' RFID-based technology and assets, and enables AXON to provide solutions supporting both LF and ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID technology to RFID end users within the oil and gas industry.

Michigan's Memorial Healthcare Adopts Ekahau Wi-Fi Tags

Michigan hospital Memorial Healthcare has installed a real-time location system (RTLS) employing Wi-Fi active radio frequency identification tags supplied by Ekahau, to enhance the safety of staff members and track temperatures within its pharmacy's department coolers. In addition, the medical facility plans to extend the system's use for tracking assets, as well as for identifying instances when patients are at risk for wandering.
Memorial Healthcare installed the system within its behavioral health unit (where psychiatric patients are treated) to replace an outdated proprietary RFID system for monitoring staff safety. The facility found that the Ekahau solution could be utilized for other applications as well, beginning with tracking temperatures, in order to reduce the amount of time that staff members spend monitoring and recording the temperatures of medication refrigerators, and to collect more accurate electronic data that could be used to fulfill the Joint Commission's reporting requirements.

New International Organization Formed to Promote RFID

Leading members of the radio frequency identification industry announced today the launch of a new independent body, the International RFID Institute, RFIDinstitute.org, dedicated to advancing the state-of-the-art in effective and appropriate application of RFID technologies in industry, government, and non-commercial organizations through technology-neutral, vendor-neutral and independent, RFID education, certifications, and applied RFID research.
The Institute’s mission is to promote the “public good” that comes from having industry and professionals achieve high levels of professionalism through the research, education, and development of the RFID science and knowledge-base; and validation of that knowledge obtained through professional certification. Membership is open to all interested in pursuing this mission.
The Institute will cover all forms of RFID, including real-time locating systems (RTLS), active, passive, battery-assisted, and near field communications (NFC) systems, software to manage or share data through RFID systems, RFID-enabled sensors, and related technologies with which RFID systems will be integrated.
The RFID Institute is currently recruiting Subject Matter Experts to help develop its Foundation Certification exam addressing the needs of both end-users and solution providers. The first public event will be held at RFID Journal Live in Orlando, Fl. on April 30th – May 2nd.

Lenovo to integrate NFC payment processing into more 2013 tablets and Ultrabooks

Selected ThinkPad tablet and Ultrabook models coming later in 2013 will sport contactless NFC credit card payment methods, according to Lenovo reps at this year’s Expand conference in San Francisco, California.  Currently, Lenovo is still trying to work with payment processors to make the NFC payment feature more feasible. NFC-enabled models are currently unknown, but, if things pan out as planned, Lenovo consumers will be able to go about purchasing goods online with ease by simply tapping a credit card. 

Disney converts its Annual Pass program to RFID

Walt Disney World is set to roll out the first installments of its enhanced guest experience, issuing RFID passes to park goers participating in the its Annual Pass program. According to touringplans.com, starting on March 20, guests who purchase or renew their park Annual Passes will be issued one with RFID technology embedded, as opposed to the old type. These passes can be used to enter the parks through the Next-Gen Touch Point entrances.

Estonia's EMT pilots NFC tags

EMT is launching NFC (Near Field Communication) service, which enables NFC tags to perform various contact-free functions. NFC tags can really simplify your daily life by automating routine tasks. Once the tag is programmed to perform a certain task, all you have to do is wave the phone near the NFC tag area to get the task done. „For example, you can encode a tag to activate GPS," says Tiit Tammiste, CTO at EMT. „If you put this tag in the cell phone holder in the car, you no longer have to activate the navigation app every time you are driving. Or, you can activate Bluetooth to pair your headset with your cell phone."

INSIDE Secure Reinvents the NFC Tag

INSIDE Secure introduced an innovative near field communication (NFC) tag that creates virtually limitless possibilities for interactions between NFC mobile devices like smartphones and a broad range of medical, communications, entertainment and other electronic devices. In addition to a conventional NFC contactless interface, the new INSIDE dual-interface NFC Forum Type 4 Tag also provides a unique one-wire interface that allows the tag to provide a low-cost wireless communications bridge between two devices, opening the door to an array of exciting new NFC application.
“With the addition of the one-wire interface to our NFC type4 tags we transformed basic storage devices into a versatile communication channel that can be a very cost effective alternative to Bluetooth or other connectivity technologies,” said Christian Fleutelot, executive vice president, digital security at INSIDE Secure.
With the new tags, for example, a single tap of an NFC phone to a Bluetooth wireless headset containing one of these tags can initiate the pairing operation. The tag detects the NFC field on the contactless interface, and sends a pulse over the one-wire interface to the controller inside the headset to start the pairing process.
This same kind of field sensing could be used to quickly and automatically establish Wi-Fi connectivity for the first time between an NFC device, such as a tablet, and a new wireless access point, or to start transferring data, through the tag, between the NFC and host devices.
The INSIDE dual-interface NFC Type 4 Tag is offered in two memory configurations. The VaultIC™ 151D offers a 1.5-Kbyte file system size, while the VaultIC 161D has a 16-Kbyte file system size, the largest in the industry. Each tag integrates a standard contactless interface with full ISO14443 Type B protocol support for communicating with NFC devices and an INSIDE Secure proprietary one-wire interface for connection to a host processor (using just one GPIO). Accessing the data contained within the file systems from either interface is performed using the standard NFC Forum command set.
The large 16-Kbyte storage capability of an embedded VaultIC 161D NFC tag makes it ideal for use in home medical monitoring devices, where it is able to store a days worth of medical data from the device’s host processor through the one-wire interface. At the end of the day, a simple tap on the device with an NFC smartphone can transfer all of the information stored in the tag through the NFC interface into the phone, which can then transmit it to the medical center.
These VaultIC dual-interface tags are actually high-security modules designed to be used as NFC tags, and feature several hardware security protection/detection mechanisms to prevent tampering and a variety of external attacks, including dedicated hardware for protection against SPA/DPA/SEMA/DEMA attacks, advanced protection against physical attacks, environmental protection systems and secure memory management/access protection. In addition to standard NFC Forum Type 4 Tag operations, the dual-interface VaultIC tags can also authenticate the NDEF content stored in the tags, which can be digitally signed using on-chip asymmetric cryptography.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Wallet Is Ready With Barcode Magic

Samsung made a big deal about using the Samsung Galaxy S4 as a wallet and as a digital companion for tickets and coupons at the launch event. Samsung’s ace in the pocket is the ability for Galaxy S4 users to use their coupons, tickets, loyalty cards and more in places where retailers have not upgraded to advanced 2D scanners. While some competing phones will not scan at every retailer due to glossy, backlit displays, the Galaxy S4 features technology from Mobeam.

Viscount Systems To Secure Connecticut School

Viscount Systems announced that its Freedom access control solution has been installed at a private faith-based K-12 school in Connecticut.This enables the school to either reduce the cost of securing each facility or to expand security within the same budget.
Freedom Encryption Bridge is the first and only access control system that allows entry devices (ID cards, RFID readers, biometrics etc.) to be connected to standard building IT networks without requiring expensive control panels that are programmed from a PC. It eliminates up to 80% of the cost of traditional systems that require the installation of control panels. And, according to the company, it utilizes existing logical IT security software (LDAP) to replace both the control panel component and the software component of traditional systems. Freedom drastically reduces system costs while providing a much more secure software solution.

NFC embedded into 140 US malls

Adspace is the owner of the Digital Mall Network, which it claims is America's largest in-mall advertising platform, comprising 206 venues that feature its Smart Screen promotional displays. The company has teamed with mobile marketing specialist Blue Bite to make the monitors even more engaging, using the new partner to add its NFC mTAG platform to Smart Screens across 140 malls.

DOST eyes RFID tech for disaster prevention

Expect radio frequency ID (RFID) technology to play bigger roles in disaster mitigation and several other aspects of Filipinos' lives, the Department of Science and Technology said. DOST Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) Executive Director Louis Napoleon Casambre said RFID will be at the heart of smart sensors the DOST is developing to monitor weather and geological conditions, as well as other aspects of its "Smarter Philippines" program. “We believe that the RFID technology can complement the DOST’s Smarter Philippines program, the essence of which is the effective generation, gathering, and analysis of data to enable timely and effective decision making and planning,” Casambre said at the 2013 RFID Technology Awareness Workshop held at the ICTO-National Computer Center Building in Diliman, Quezon City .

Proxama and The Logic Group Partner for NFC Initiative

NFC, mobile wallet, and mobile marketing technology provider Proxama has confirmed a new partnership this week with The Logic Group. Together, Proxama will create a complete NFC-based services offering for retail clients. The Logic Group, which distributes vouchers and coupons via NFC-enabled in-store smart posters, has much to gain from Proxama, which will provide the NFC technology and platform to enable fully branded incentives to be delivered to consumers’ mobile devices following a tap on an NFC tag embedded in a poster.

iPhone 5S with NFC, Fingerprint Reader And Mobile Payments Rumored

New iPhone 5S rumors claim Apple is planning NFC and a fingerprint reader for the iPhone 5S. The pairing would allow Apple to add support for mobile payments with the added security of a biometric authentication. Rumors of an iPhone 5S with a fingerprint reader trace back to before the iPhone 5 launch and recently KGI Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated that he expects a Fingerprint reader built-in to the home button on the iPhone 5S.

Omni-ID Sues Xerafy and RFID TagSource

RFID technology company Omni-ID has filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against its competitor, Xerafy Ltd., as well as one of Xerafy's business partners, RFID TagSource. The lawsuit was filed on Feb. 8 of this year in the U.S. District Court in Camden, N.J. Both Omni-ID and Xerafy manufacture rugged read-on-metal EPC ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID tags. Omni-ID was initially a division of British research firm QinetiQ, but spun off as a separate company in 2007, and is now based in Rochester, N.Y.

Electronic pickpockets: fact or fantasy?

As wireless payment transactions grow in popularity, so, too, has the shadow of the electronic pickpocket. These "e-dips" can putatively snatch credit card information from unwary consumers just by being in close proximity. How much of that scenario is probable and how much paranoia? "I wouldn't say it's never been done or it's impossible, but right now it's an academic exercise at best," said Sean Brady, identity and data protection director at RSA, in Bedford, Mass. RSA is the security division of EMC.

Partnership develops security smart card with LED display

German companies Infineon Technologies AG and Bundesdruckerei GmbH have teamed up to develop a security smart card with an LED display that features a one-time password (OTP). The technology in the card’s chip can generate a dynamic OTP, which it then displays on the LED screen. The system also has a static password, and together the two increase the security of authentication and payment applications.

AIS and Oberthur prep Bangkok public transport mobile NFC trial

Thai telco Advanced Info Service (AIS) has selected an Oberthur Technologies SIM card for its upcoming mobile contactless payments trial on Bangkok's public transport network. The new Oberthur DragonFly NFC SIM card, with embedded Mifare DESFire technology, will enable customers to use their mobile phones as e-purses to pay for public transportation and goods in the Thai capital. Pilot participants can also directly top-up credit on their SIM card and check both their balance and transaction history using their mobile phones.

HID Global Introduces The SlimFlex Laundry Tag

HID Global announced the addition of its industry and logistics laundry tag solution to the expanding SlimFlex Tag family of broadband UHF radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders. This introduction provides integrators with a rich feature-set of RFID tags that deliver the characteristics of the SlimFlex tag’s durability and flexibility in a format ideal for automated tracking and inventory for commercial laundry and health care linens and supplies.
HID Global’s SlimFlex Laundry tags withstand the chemical exposure and high temperatures of repeated commercial washing, drying and pressing cycles, as well as medical-grade sterilization procedures. The small, thin, flexible white strip-shaped tag can be discreetly sewn into the hem of clothing or linens, unnoticeable to users during everyday operations. With a long read range of up to 8.2 ft. (2.5 m), SlimFlex Laundry tags enable automated sorting, inventory and accounting for commercial cleaners, and improved tracking and infection control processes for health care linens and supplies.

TELUS Selects Gemalto SIM to Enable Secure NFC Mobile Payments

Gemalto announced that Canadian telecommunications carrier TELUS will use Gemalto’s UpTeq NFC SIM cards to enable consumers to securely store a variety of credentials on their SIM for use with their mobile phones. This fully compliant Europay MasterCard Visa (EMV) technology will enable customers to make secure payments, participate in loyalty programs, validate their transit pass, and redeem coupons using the secure credentials stored on their SIM cards accessed by with TELUS smartphones equipped with tap-and-go Near-Field Communications (NFC) and LTE capabilities.
NFC technology makes life easier and more convenient for consumers around the world by making it simpler to make transactions, exchange digital content, and connect electronic devices with a touch of their phone.
The UpTeq NFC SIM secures credit and other payment card credentials, offering the same security protection as chip payment. The embedded software on the UpTeq NFC SIM has achieved compliance assessment and security testing certification in accordance with AmEx, MasterCard and Visa’s highest requirements. Besides the NFC-compatibility, the SIM also has built-in LTE capacities which are fully compatible with existing networks.

New boosted NFC/RFID Tag Front End Enables Secure Payment Transactions on microSD and microSIM Cards

Featuring Active Boost technology and other unique enhancements, the AS3922 achieves reliable reader-tag communication in the hostile mobile phone environment with no need for an external booster antenna
ams AG, a worldwide designer and manufacturer of high-performance analog ICs for consumer & communications, industrial & medical, and automotive applications, today announces the release of the AS3922, a tag analog front end (AFE) which enables the operation of NFC on μSD, μSIM, SIM and other space-constrained carrier devices.
Featuring Active Boost technology from ams, the AS3922 emulates an ISO14443A/B tag through active transmission of the tag's response in synch with the reader's carrier field. This overcomes the difficulties with using conventional passive load modulation in a μSD or μSIM card, a device with a very small antenna and - in a mobile phone - operating in a harsh environment. The use of an AS3922 AFE provides for tag-to-reader communication at coupling factors one order of magnitude lower than is possible using conventional methods.
The general introduction of the AS3922, which can interface to any Dual Interface Secure Environment, enables the development of a new generation of contactless payments accessories hosted on a μSD, μSIM or SIM card. Mobile phone network operators, banks and others will be able to provide customers with a contactless payment technology card suitable for the many mobile phones that have no NFC capability.
As well as offering Active Boost functionality, the AS3922 also features antenna auto tuning (AAT) technology, Q factor adjustment, and a low-impedance output driver with adjustable output power.
The AS3922 complies with the ISO14443A and B standards for tag emulation, supporting data rates up to 106kb/s. It also supports FeliCa at data rates up to 212kb/s.

Symmetry Electronics signs with CAEN RFID

Symmetry Electronics announces that it will begin to globally distribute UHF RFID products from Italian RFID specialist CAEN RFID. CAEN RFID specializes in UHF RFID and has developed its Easy2Read and Easy2Log technology into a full line of UHF RFID fixed/embedded readers, tags, RFID development tools and accessories. For design engineers, RFID enabled devices are becoming increasingly popular as UHF RFID-enabled products are perceived as smart devices, able to address multiple functions in several applications. Applications that can benefit most from this technology include: asset monitoring tracking, temperature monitoring, pharmaceutical transit, storage and control, access control, industrial manufacturing, logistics, supply chain and agriculture."CAEN RFID products are among the best the world has to offer and their support is unmatched. Symmetry wanted to add one line that covers every need an engineer working with RFID may have and CAEN accomplishes just that," said Gil Zaharoni, Symmetry Electronics CEO."We recognize Symmetry's technical focus as a major benefit in a global distributor of specialized products like UHF RFID readers and tags. We believe that this partnership is the perfect match to enhance the support to CAEN RFID customers and partners in the US," said Adriano Bigongiari, CAEN RFID CEO.

Forget Mobile Payments, Here’s Where NFC Really Shines

If you work for a large-ish company, you may already have a keycard that either uses NFC or NFC-like technology to grant you access to certain employee-only areas. Now imagine having a keycard integrated directly into your NFC-equipped smartphone and outfitting your house with NFC door locks. Instead of fumbling for your keys when you get home, you’d just tap your phone against the lock. If you’re like me and you don’t use a car every day, you’d be able to leave the house with your wallet and your phone – no need to carry keys around. (Of course, all the mobile payment companies would rather you leave your wallet at home, too.)

PointRF Debuts NoWander Connect Mobile Solution at HiMSS13

PointRF Solutions, LLC, a provider of safety, security and business intelligence solutions for the healthcare industry, announced it will debut at HiMSS13 its NoWander Connect Solution, featuring two-way device-to-device communications. The solution portfolio includes a patient bracelet with LCD screen, staff badge, and mobile application for iPhone, iPad, and Android. Part of the PointRF NoWander Safety and Security Platform for long-term and acute healthcare institutions, the NoWander Connect Solution is the first patient life-safety solution on the market that can capture and deliver patient activity data regardless of whether facility infrastructure goes down or patients are off-site, which enables direct communication with staff devices, independent of servers or other onsite hardware.
To meet market demand for readily available, mobile access to patient health and security data, the NoWander Connect Solution includes real-time locating system (RTLS) tracking between any two devices and administering of medication. Organizations have the flexibility to select specific patient data that will populate the LCD display screens on the patient bracelet and mobile application when authorized staff badges are within range. All data captured is also directly uploaded to facility servers for later reporting.
“Some of the most important interactions between patients and caregivers can happen away from workstations or when facility infrastructure is out of range or offline; for example during natural disasters, such as the recent Hurricane Sandy which forced long-term and acute care facilities to evacuate its patients, or less dramatic events like an offsite doctor appointment. During these instances, healthcare institutions still need immediate access to patient information and a method to capture and record new data,” said Richard Bauer, president and CEO of PointRF Solutions LLC. “The NoWander Connect Solution we’re demonstrating at HiMSS13 gives the industry the only option for one-to-one, mobile communications between staff and patient devices in any situation.”
Working in tandem, the NoWander Connect patient bracelets, staff badges and mobile applications allow authorized personnel an instant, even upside down view of patient information such as name, age, allergies, medical conditions, facility-specific codes and other customizable text. When the bracelet is not being used to retrieve information, facilities can program it to a sleep screen that displays basic information such as the time and date. The bracelet also includes a tamper detection band and wireless nurse call. Additional features include an internal paging buzzer and vibrator, as well as three programmable buttons that can be used for activity such as staff duress signals or alarm silencing. The badges are waterproof, shock resistant and mini USB rechargeable.
The NoWander Connect Solution is integrated into the NoWander Safety and Security Platform, which provides users with a set of core and specialty services such as wander management, elopement prevention, asset management, and alarm and alert escalation that streamline silos of processes and information to improve alignment across operations. Patients, staff and equipment are outfitted with active RFID tags configured with specific profiles to permit or prevent access to restricted areas based on factors such as time, day and authorized staff escort. Information collected by the system can be accessed at any time on enterprise dashboards and interactive display panels installed throughout a single facility or multiple ones, and now via mobile devices, providing staff with immediate access to patient and equipment location and alarm event information.

Kana Hotel Group Shores Up Guest Security with RFID Locks

Kana Hotel Group is a full service development and management company that operates 30 properties carrying Marriott, Hilton and IHG flags. The ILCO locks are installed exclusively at all the properties.  Today, Kana is upgrading its magnetic stripe locks to new ILCO 790 RFID units. The 790 RFID locks are easy for guests to use and reliable and this improves satisfaction scores. RFID keycards have eliminated the issue of guests returning to the desk to re-code their key because they cannot be erased by cell phones or other magnetic objects guests carry.

PointRF Adds Moisture-Sensing Diapers and Two-Way Tags to Its RFID Lineup

For the past year, PointRF Solutions has been offering technology for use at long-term care facilities, aimed at improving safety, security and business intelligence for patient care, while also allowing patients freedom of movement. For example, the company's NoWander tracking solution enables a nursing facility to know where its patients are—not only for real-time security, but also for analytics to evaluate each person's health, based on his or her movement behavior. PointRF's SafeTSense bed pads and floor mats with built-in RFID tags and sensors transmit data regarding when a patient is in bed or seated in a wheelchair, or if that individual has fallen.

Tag-a-Bag tests NFC baggage tracking service

Visa's plan to spur NFC mobile wallet adoption may hit a snag

Samsung and Visa announced the partnership, which is part of a new partner program for Visa, at the Mobile World Congress tradeshow in Barcelona. Specifically, Samsung will incorporate Visa's PayWave mobile payment applet into future Samsung devices such as the upcoming  Samsung Galaxy S4. But there's one potential snag in this plan that could derail NFC-payment adoption, especially in the U.S. Since wireless carriers in the U.S. still have a say in what features are available on devices and which aren't, there's a chance that the Visa PayWave technology may only be available on Samsung devices sold internationally and not on most Samsung smartphones sold in the U.S.

IC-TAG Solutions, Inc. Introduces RFID JumpStart Kit

IC-Tag Solutions, Inc. introduces the first JumpStart Kit called the “IC-DEMO”. This new product is a great way for your engineers to evaluate RFID and test application concepts. It allows for end-users and resellers to explore applications like tracking IT assets (laptops, servers, etc.), identifying the location of valuable test equipment, and access control for security and membership management. IC-DEMO is the only RFID DEMO system that allows you to test RFID as it applies to your application. No special software or consultants are needed to get it up and running quickly. The IC-DEMO lets you find out exactly how RFID will work for you and experiment with applications to maximize the impact on your bottom line. Because the IC-DEMO is based on IC-TAG’s UA1000i RFID Appliance with integrated middleware, you can configure your DEMO in less than 30 minutes to meet your actual specifications. IC-TAG’s HyperSage and AnyHost software allows you to customize the data acquisition mode, timing, and data filtering. Test the read range at selectable power levels and see the impact of each RFID tag selection. All you need is the IC-DEMO and your laptop.
This kit is a great way for in-house engineers to become familiar with RFID and test or develop applications or to perform live DEMO presentations for management and board room presentations to secure project funding. This is excellent for VAR’s and resellers to take sales calls and DEMOs with end-users. Once you discover how RFID can improve your business, using the IC-TAG’s UHF Series Appliances for system deployment is just as easy as the IC-DEMO. Our UHF Series Appliances require no middleware and interface directly to existing infrastructure, potentially saving thousands of dollars and greatly simplifying RFID deployment.
Tag selection is a critical part to any RFID application and the included assortment of our UHF and HF RFID tags will help you identify which types of tags will work best for your applications. The IC-DEMO JumpStart Kit comes standard with a collection of tags spanning a variety of types, forms, and vendors (Avery Dennison, Smartrac, and Alien Technology) including on-metal, low cost, and key FOD. IC-TAG’s Sample Pack is a great addition to the JumpStart Kit because it includes an assortment of inlays and various sizes of labels and tags so that the end-user can find the best applications that will work best for them. Testing different RFID applications can help end-users find their min and max temperatures, reading range, and evaluate many more specifications.

Wireless charging car cradle with NFC

Nokia is demonstrating a new wireless charging phone cradle with NFC at Mobile World Congress 2013. The Nokia CR-200 uses the Qi wireless charging standard to recharge mobile phones placed in the holder without the need for plugging in a cable. An integrated NFC tag also tells the phone that it is docked in the cradle and can trigger a predefined application, such as Nokia's Drive navigation app.

Belgian firm launches QR code-based P2P payments app

Belgium-based payments outfit Bancontact/Mister Cash has unveiled a mobile app that taps QR codes to let users send money to each other. To carry out a transaction, the receiver opens the app on their phone and enters the amount to be paid. A unique QR code is then created on the screen which the payer reads with the app on their phone before entering a code to confirm the payment.