iKaaz ties up with DCB to offer NFC payment solutions

Bangalore-based mobile payments solutions provider iKaaz has tied up with DCB Bank to offer tap and pay mobile payment which will allow consumers to perform cashless transactions across various retailers in India, even as mobile phone users slowly take to cashless micro payments through mobile wallets. The strategic tie-up with the bank will allow iKaaz's service to perform like an open wallet, into which cash can be loaded, used at retail points and taken out when required, said chief executive officer and founder Soma Sundaram, a former Nokia Money team member.

True Health Clubs Use RFID to Shape Up Towel Management

Fitness gym True Group, an international health-club company based in Singapore, has begun a five-year rollout of radio frequency identification technology at all of its clubs to manage its towels. The solution, provided by EPC Solutions Taiwan, was taken live in October 2014 at the newest True Yoga facility in Chung-Ho Taiwan, and the company plans to install the technology at its other clubs as well, beginning next month, at a rate of one center going live every three months.

First Intel inside Bitcoin ATM at Internet of Things Roadshow

Recently at the Internet of Things (IoT) Roadshow in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a group of developers created what may be the first Bitcoin ATM powered by an Intel platform. Intel IoT Roadshows are being held at ten different locations around the world. Intel runs these to encourage innovation and give away its Internet of Things Developer Kits to a set number of attendees at each convention. At the Sao Paulo Brazil event, a kit was given to the first 100 attendees. One team went the Bitcoin route and created a Bitcoin ATM over the course of the two-day event.

Could Samsung Build a Better Mobile Wallet Than Apple?

If recent reports are to be believed, Samsung may join Apple and Google in offering a mobile payments system of its own — one that it hopes could be more accessible and universally accepted than Apple Pay. Re/code’s Jason Del Ray reports that Samsung is in talks with a payments startup to create a wireless mobile payments system to be unveiled in 2015, that would rival the recently introduced Apple Pay. The technology would enable owners of certain Samsung phones to pay at brick-and-mortar stores by waving their phones instead of swiping a card. It’s unclear so far if Samsung has actually reached a deal with Massachusetts-based LoopPay, but one source says that a prototype of the payments system has already been created.

Trimble Announces Firmware Update for ThingMagic RFID Modules to Simplify Integration into Finished RFID Readers

Trimble announced an update to its ThingMagic Micro and Micro-LTE, embedded UHF RFID modules in the ThingMagic Mercury 6e Series. The firmware update allows for autonomous operation by enabling hardware read triggers and savable configuration settings in the module. It eliminates the need for users to write and run MercuryAPI development code and simplifies the process of building RFID-enabled products.

Customers currently using the Micro and Micro-LTE modules in their existing RFID products need to use ThingMagic's MercuryAPI to write applications to control the module. The MercuryAPI supports Java, .NET and C programming environments. The MercuryAPI Software Development Kit (SDK) contains sample applications and source code to enable developers to get started demonstrating and developing functionality. With the firmware update, users can now save configuration settings such as RF power, duty cycle, read triggers and which antennas to search on, among many others. This allows prospects, who have not previously used ThingMagic modules and written code to the MercuryAPI, to build RFID finished readers more easily.

The Micro and Micro-LTE with autonomous operation is suited for prospects who have an existing platform that cannot accommodate the use of the MercuryAPI but want to implement an RFID solution. Additionally, this mode of operation results in decreased power consumption because the "read on power up" mode allows the reader to only consume power when it is on. There is no power consumption if the device is off, making it an ideal solution for a battery-operated device such as a handheld reader.

These $151 jeans feature RFID-blocking signals to ward off high-tech pickpockets

San Francisco-based Betabrand, home to the fashion wonder that is known as the 5-Pocket Dress Pant Sweatpants (Seriously, has anyone bought these? I would like to know.) is now bringing us READY Jeans Protected by Norton for a mere $151 (on sale). The jeans feature two RFID-blocking pockets to stop scanning devices from pulling your credit card info (Here’s a travel tip: pickpockets are going to steal anything you keep in your back pocket no matter what, so really, not a good move to store anything there.). They’re made from “subtly stretchy denim” and have “gusseted crotch for better range of movement.”

Fujitsu Forges Li-Fi-like QR Code Replacement

Forget about QR codes (if you haven’t already). Fujitsu Laboratories, in Kawasaki, near Tokyo, has come up with a much brighter idea: Its researchers have developed a way to embed identification data in LED lighting that can be projected on any object. Like with a QR code, you’d point your smartphone camera to the object to get more information about it. But in the case of the Fujitsu system, it doesn’t require anything to be physically printed or attached to the object being queried, which can be distracting, costly, or otherwise mar something’s appearance.

The Internet Of Things' Best-Kept Secret

“The Internet of Things is more about the things than about the Internet,” Jim Heppelmann, President and CEO of PTC, told me recently. “The Internet is not going through a radical transformation,” he explained. “It’s evolving. But the step-function change is happening in the things.” PTC may well be the Internet of Things’ best-kept secret. It is a $1.36 billion company with 28,000 customers worldwide, known primarily (by those who know it) as a pioneer in computer-aided product design and development. But in the last five years, under Heppelmann’s leadership, PTC has been going through a transformation, not unlike the products it helps its customers create, operate, and service.

Suncorp backs NFC payments, Apple Pay

Suncorp Bank has revealed it will soon support contactless mobile payments on Apple iOS and Google Android devices. “We are now looking into rolling our contactless payments in our banking app for selective Android devices in 2015,” a Suncorp spokesperson told Computerworld Australia. “We'll also be working with relevant parties to enable our cards for Apple Pay when it becomes available in Australia.”

How inspection management software helps you day to day

Automating inspections can dramatically simplify daily processes and speed up tasks compared to paper-based data collection. A paperless inspection management system will use barcodes or RFID tags for instance, to expedite daily routines with minimal effort and simple setup. Features such as one-click recording of visual inspection results and speech-to-text capabilities save time and improve efficiencies during field inspections or audits.

Chick-fil-A rolls out mobile payments

Fast food chain Chick-fil-A has rolled out mobile payments to all of its US restaurants, with the exception of licensed locations, following a pilot that began in June 2014. The chain is also testing mobile ordering in more than 130 restaurants in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando and Washington DC with plans to expand the service in 2015 ahead of a nationwide launch by the end of 2016.

Engineering Firm Ludwig Pfeiffer Uses RFID to Keep Track of Tools

Ludwig Pfeiffer, a global structural and civil-engineering firm based in Germany, eliminated the need for its construction foremen to manually track the company's 6,000 pieces of equipment at dozens of European construction sites, and reduced the amount of time needed for its annual inventory check time by 50 percent, by adopting an RFID-based solution provided by Advanced Panmobil Systems and Reutemann.net. Ludwig Pfeiffer reports that the solution has saved its workers time in tracking equipment, has reduced the incidence of errors related to items' locations, and is now being used by employees to clock in and out at the job site.

Will Government Regulation Kill the Internet of Things

The government needs to update laws and regulations to accommodate the explosive growth of Internet-connected smart devices or risk falling behind the global technology curve. That's the view of a few tech-minded lawmakers who have turned their focus to the expanding web of objects and sensors that make up the so-called Internet of Things.“We're destined to lose to the Chinese or others if the Internet of Things is governed in the United States by rules that predate our VCRs,” said Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, speaking at a Washington, D.C., event last week hosted by the Center for Data Innovation. 

The Next Challenge for the RFID Industry: Rapid Growth

The radio frequency identification industry is on the cusp of rapid growth. When precisely we will reach the tipping point, I can't say (though I will provide some insights in the next issue of our digital magazine). But I can say that both potential users and providers of RFID technologies will be caught unprepared for the rapid acceleration in adoption. RFID vendors will also be caught by surprise. Many companies have been burned by investing too much too early in anticipation of growth that never occurred. Now, many are holding back on investing in capacity, because they are concerned that the growth won't materialize.

Swiss Food Co-op Deploys RFID to Automate Shipment Tracking

Migros Ostschweiz (East Switzerland), one of the 10 regional cooperatives belonging to Swiss supermarket chain Migros, is employing radio frequency identification technology to automate the confirmation of which goods are loaded onto vehicles destined for particular stores, and when this occurs. By using the solution, known as Load Unit Identification and Positioning, or LUIDO (LU-Paletten Identifikation und Ortung), the company can ensure that forklift drivers need not visually verify that they have the correct load, move boxes to do so, or scan bar codes. Instead, they can merely proceed with going about their job of moving goods from the staging area onto trucks, while receiving an alert in the event of a mistake.

Audi Launches RFID Deployment for Tracking Assembled Vehicles Worldwide

Automobile manufacturer Audi is preparing to install a radio frequency identification solution for tracking its newly manufactured vehicles through finish work and shipping, at multiple global factories, based on a template installation in use at its new Hungarian plant. The EPC Gen 2 ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID system, provided by German RFID company noFilis, was taken live when Audi Hungaria Motor Kft. launched the production in Győr, Hungary, in June 2013. The system is now being used to track the assembly and inspection of the new A3 sedan and A3 cabriolet that the plant produces, as well as the vehicles' outbound preparation and shipping.

Should We Use RFID for Order Fulfillment?

There are a couple of factors to consider. Can you place tags on goods when they are being manufactured (if they are your own products), or can your suppliers put tags on the products (if you are purchasing them)? The nature of the shipments is also important to consider. If you are tracking only pallets or cartons, it would be easy to place a tag on each and read them all as they are moved through a portal. But if you have metal parts in cartons and are trying to read them on a pallet, it would be difficult to interrogate the tags on cartons at the pallet's middle.

One in four US smartphone owners have paid by mobile

Almost a quarter (24%) of US smartphone owners have now used one or more mobile payment apps, research from PunchTab has found. Starbucks tops the popularity list with 40% of respondents citing it as their most-used mobile payment app. More than half (55%) of millennials say they would like a single mobile payment app that can be used across multiple stores and offers loyalty programs, the research also found.

National Institute of Standards and Technology Makes Case for RFID Forensic Evidence Management

RFID tags & devices that can transmit data over short distances to identify objects, animals or people–have become increasingly popular for tracking everything from automobiles being manufactured on an assembly line to zoo animals in transit to their new homes. Now, thanks to a new NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) report, the next beneficiaries of RFID technology may soon be law enforcement agencies responsible for the management of forensic evidence.

Smart Card pilot program proposed for summer

Smart Card-based resident parking system could be introduced as a pilot program as early as next spring. At the Nov. 19 Lake Geneva Parking Commission meeting, Sylvia Martinez-Mullally, city parking supervisor, said she has researched the Smart Card and believes it could be adopted by the city to manage its summer free parking program for city residents. She said the computer-chipped card is fully-compatible with the city’s Luke II parking kiosks.

How GPS and smart card data is used to reduce city transport congestion

With 5.6 million people living in an area of 270 sq miles (700 sq km), the authorities in Singapore have invested heavily in public transport in an effort to reduce the numbers on the roads. But, like other metropolitan hubs, they faced the inevitable problem of heavy congestion at peak time between 8am and 8.45am. Part of the solution has come in the form of an incentive for passengers: if they registered their smart travel cards and commuted in the hour after these peak times, they would earn points which can be used in a raffle to win cash.

UHF RFID Tags Enabled for Easy and Remote Identification of Stolen Bikes

The solution, named CycloSafe, was developed around a clever idea to equip mailmen of bpost with mobile reader devices to track and locate lost bicycles. The solution uses passive UHF (ultra-high frequency) RFID technology with 2 Confidex Silverline Slim RFID tags installed on the frame of the bike to enable easy and remote identification of the stolen or misplaced bicycle. Stolen bicycles are a large problem in many European cities where people are increasingly using their bikes to commute to work and elsewhere. A growing number of people use bicycles not only to stay fit but also to avoid traffic jams and to minimize traveling costs. For many, the bicycle may also be a significant investment.

Tankers to get anti-smuggling RFID

Bangkok Energy Ministry will require all tankers to install the radio frequency identification systems to monitor incoming and outgoing flows of oil and gas into the country, according to Energy Ministry.

Fujitsu develops compact RFID for wearables

Fujitsu Laboratories has developed a compact RFID tag that works on surfaces such as metal, which can otherwise impede radio waves. The tag, 30mm long, 25mm wide and 0.5mm thick, can be attached to any material, including plastic cards, wearables and metal objects. Despite its small size, it has a communication range of about 2 meters.

Gemalto teams up with Chunghwa Telecom

Gemalto has teamed up with Chunghwa Telecom, the largest operator in Taiwan with 10 million subscribers, to secure their mobile NFC services. This commercial launch, supported by MasterCard and four leading Taiwanese banks, uses Gemalto's UpTeq Multi-tenant NFC SIM and embedded software to host mobile payment and Mifare transit purse on a single card. This enables Chunghwa Telecom's subscribers to pay for a variety of goods and services, including rides on Taipei's crowded metro trains and buses, with a simple tap of their NFC phones on a contactless reader.

Gemalto's NFC SIM solution provides banking-grade security for mobile contactless transactions. The Taiwanese are the most frequent users of smartphones in the Asia Pacific region1 and this deployment will pave the way for more service providers to come onboard and deploy mobile contactless services in the country. Chunghwa Telecom customers will be able to download multiple credit cards on their phones, and then use any of them for mobile NFC payments in over 24,000 contactless terminals in major stores, taxis, restaurants, malls, and movie theaters. They will also be able to make contactless payments for their transport and small-value purchases at thousands of other outlets2 where the Mifare transit scheme is accepted.

You can STILL be a card fraudster with this Android app

Cybercrooks have developed an Android app that makes it possible to hack RFID payment cards, researchers discovered after a Chilean transport system was defrauded. The app at the centre of the scam hacked into the user’s radio frequency ID (RFID) bus transit card in order to recharge credits. The fraud-enabling Android tool, found distributed through forums and blogs and circulating in Chile, was detected by Trend Micro and detected as STIP-A.

BRI to issue DKI Smart Card

State-owned lender Bank BRI will cooperate with the city administration to issue the DKI Smart Card in order to establish a cashless society. Bank BRI operational director Sarwono said that the DKI Smart Card would function not only as a debit card, but also as an ATM card and e-ticket, among other things. Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has several times expressed his desire to establish a transparent, cashless society.

RFID Companies Need to Focus on Getting the Technology Across the Chasm

Everyone is frustrated by the fact that the RFID market has not grown faster, including me. I've seen businesses reposition themselves as "sensor network" providers and, more recently, as "Internet of Things" companies, in the hope that this might turbocharge sales. I've seen firms make personnel changes and go to different trade shows, always believing there is a pot of gold out there somewhere if they can just find the right rainbow. RFID Journal has done more marketing than any company in the RFID industry. We've served more than 100 million banner ads for our products, sent more than 10 million e-mails and mailed more than 1 million brochures. These have been sent to RFID Journal readers, as well as to many media and association partner lists.

Ready For The Internet of Things? 5 Skills You'll Need

Regardless of the degree you hold or the career you now seek, there are five fundamental skills every member of the workforce will need. As the Internet of Things becomes a mainstream phenomenon in 2020, your ability to adopt these five skills now will determine your workplace success or failure. Like economists who consult ‘leading economic indicators’ as harbingers of market growth, we can look to these skill areas as ‘leading employability indicators’ for every level of the workforce.

This RFID wallet also contains a 3000mAh backup battery

QVC is offering a set of two HALO 3000mAh Ultra Slim Portable Chargers with RFID Card Wallet as their Today’s Special Value.  Each charger is individually boxed with a set of cables: USB-to-microUSB charging cable, USB to 8-pin charging cable (Lightning), and a 30-pin connector tip.  The HALO charger has enough power to recharge phones or give a partial charge to tablets.  The battery has a set of status lights to show its charge.  The case includes an RFID-shielded pocket to keep your cards protected from unauthorized access.  The HALO Charger measures 4.2″ x 2.76″ x 0.25″ and weighs 5.1 oz.

Implementing Your iBeacon Strategy Via: Your Own App vs a 3rd Party App

iBeacon technology has been in the talks since it’s introduction in WWDC, June 2013. This technology, that can be used to deliver path-breaking customer experiences and generate more revenue has been the most disruptive technology in recent times. Even though beacons (the hardware devices that work on this technology) have created a substantial buzz, there seems to be a lot of ambiguity about how they really work and how they can be implemented. A lot of businesses that are interested in testing this technology, are struggling to figure out how to integrate beacons with their existing mobile strategy.

Android Pay mobile payments solution coming soon, but not from Google

Apple’s Apple Pay mobile payment app available on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus saw huge popularity after launch, injecting new life into the NFC-based payments business. On top of that, Want China Times citing Shanghai’s China Business News says that an Android Pay product is currently in development in China, but Google isn’t backing it up. Instead, China’s UnionPay, the largest card issuer in the region and a company that has recently announced an App Store-related partnership with Apple, is creating the new contactless payments product, hoping to significantly increase wireless payments adoption in China.

Near Field Communication (NFC) market size and share analysis to 2020 explored in new report

The NFC market is expected to witness rapid growth across various application verticals over the forecast period, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Rapid technological advancement and high smartphone demand due to technology standardization is expected to positively impact market growth.

Demand for cost effectiveness along with increasing availability of NFC-enabled smartphones is also a major market driver. In addition, the market provides opportunities to the direct mail marketing sector, which in turn may drive m-commerce and mobile payment options.

NFC is integrated in a wide range of equipment and devices including tablets, laptops, cameras, headsets, televisions, cookers, washing machines, cars and vending machines. In addition to industrial and commercial applications, this technology is preferred for financial transactions.

High development cost, poor infrastructure coupled with lack of consumer awareness about potential benefits may hamper market growth over the next six years. Transformation in transaction process methods along with social media engagement applications are expected to offer growth avenues for the global NFC market.

Quikkly Wants To Be A Better QR Code

You’ve all used a QR code, right? Those weird-looking barcodes you’re supposed to scan using a mobile to open a related web link. Nope? I thought not. For one reason or another, the technology, which was originally developed for the automotive industry to track parts in vehicle manufacturing, has never really gained critical mass from a consumer point of view. Enter Quikkly, which thinks it’s figured out why. The U.K. startup is another attempt to bridge the physical and digital worlds via your phone’s camera and accompanying mobile app to trigger an online action, but in a way that solves many of the pain points of QR codes.

Chip Implants Easy as Piercings

“I am bleeding just a little bit,” said Raymond McCauley. “Might I ask for a little assistance?” McCauley, chair of Singularity University’s biotechnology and bioinformatics track and a biohacker, had just implanted a microchip in his hand. He was giving his talk at Singularity University’s Summit Europe on the $0.01 human genome, drag-and-drop genetic engineering, garage biohacking, cheese from genetically modified yeast—a whirlwind tour of future biotech. But the real thrust of this particular talk? Cyborgs.

Hacking RFID payment cards made possible with Android app

We recently encountered a high-risk Android app detected as ANDROIDOS_STIP.A in Chile. This app, found distributed through forums and blogs, can be used to hack into the user’s RFID bus transit card to recharge the credits. What is the mechanism behind this, and what is the security risk of RFID payment cards in general? Paying via RFID cards is becoming more popular nowadays as more mobile devices add NFC support. Banks, merchants or public services issue RFID cards to their customers with prepaid credits.