8 key factors for an effective Internet of Things (IoT) network

Connected devices, or the Internet of Things (IoT), are exploding on the market. Securing their access has become one of the major concerns in recent years. But security is only part of the equation. What good is a secure network if you cannot access it? As more and more devices connect together, the availability to connect becomes paramount. If your business is going to depend on an IoT infrastructure, it must be available, accessible, and safe from attack. If you cannot count on your infrastructure, you cannot depend on it. When selecting an IoT platform, these are the sort of issues that should be considered.

Osram taps powerline communications to deliver IoT lighting at Berlin supermarket

Powerline communications (PLC), one of the lesser-known means for delivering Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled lighting, got a big boost when Osram revealed to LEDs Magazine that the technology is a key part of its Lightelligence IoT system, and that a Berlin supermarket has deployed it. PLC uses standard electrical wires to carry data. The Internet can thus connect via a building’s existing power cables to smart lights, carrying instructions for controlling light settings, and delivering information to support everything that a smart light might do, such as providing indoor navigation services, engaging shoppers with offers, tracking assets, and much more.

Growing Popularity of RFID-Based License Plates

The growing popularity of RFID-based license plates is to push growth in the market. These electronic license plates can be used for tamper proof vehicle registration and identification, traffic management, and access control.

Economies like India, Indonesia, Thailand, and others are encouraging the integration of RFID tags in vehicle to make toll payments convenient. This increases the revenue from toll operations that can be used to enhance road infrastructure. Hence, RFID tags are crucial to increase revenue.

RFID tags are still a concern for vehicle security. The system uses RFID that is exchanged between the RFID tag in the vehicle and RFID receivers. RFID tags are prone to hacking for the extraction of vehicle identification number.

The market appears to be fragmented and with the presence of several companies including AVERY DENNISON and Confidex, the competitive environment is quite intense. Factors such as the rising growing popularity of RFID-based license plates and the increase in tax revenue, will provide considerable growth opportunities to vehicle RFID tag manufactures.

RFID tags precisely track movements and monitor infrastructure

Video game avatars could be controlled by inexpensive radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags embedded into clothing, claim researchers from Carnegie Mellon University. The team in Pittsburgh have found ways to track body movements and detect shape changes with passive RFID, an advance with further applications in wearables and condition monitoring According to CMU, the unique element of this research can be found in the way tags are tracked, and the way movements and shapes are monitored. To do this, the CMU researchers showed they could use a single, mobile antenna to monitor an array of tags without any prior calibration."
















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BIBD introducing Brunei’s first NFC mobile payment in January

BIBD will be introducing Brunei’s first near-field communication payment service on their mobile application for Android this January 23, enabling users to pay at card terminals worldwide by “simply tapping” their phones. In a media engagement at Belluno, BIBD showcased their NFC system called the BIBD NEXGEN Wallet, which will be incorporated into their upcoming update of their mobile application V3.9. The service syncs up a users’ debit or virtual cards to the ‘wallet’ – effectively acting as their substitute – so users can make instantaneous payments with their mobile at any Mastercard or Visa terminal, locally or abroad without their debit cards.

CIMB files arbitration to stop PLUS RFID

CIMB Group Holdings, the parent company of Touch ‘n” Go Sdn Bhd, is seeking to stop highway operator PLUS Malaysia Bhd from launching its own toll payment collection system. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia today, CIMB said it has filed and served a notice of arbitration dated Dec 17 on PLUS. The company claimed that PLUS has breached the obligations it owed to CIMB and CIMB SI 1 Sdn Bhd by commencing and launching its own PLUS radio frequency identification (RFID) system.

Schneider Electric expanding with IoT

France-based Schneider Electric has committed to expanding its business presence in Southeast Asia with an Internet of Things (IoT) concept called EcoStruxure. Thailand was chosen as the first country in this region for the concept after the government announced the economic roadmap for Thailand 4.0. EcoStruxure can help customers and partners succeed with digital transformation, allowing each customer to adopt the automation system for many industrial segments.

Singtel adds Apple Pay to Dash mobile wallet

Singtel is expanding the payment capabilities of its all-in-one mobile payments app, Dash, to include international mobile payments. Dash customers are now able to use their Visa Virtual Account on the Dash app at millions of online retailers worldwide and merchant points that accept Visa Contactless Payments. In addition, customers can also use Dash on Apple Pay, making it the first non-bank mobile wallet in Singapore on Apple’s easy, secure and private payments system. Gilbert Chuah, Head of mCommerce, International Group at Singtel, said “This is a game changer for the mobile wallet scene in Singapore especially with the rising popularity of travel and online shopping among Singaporeans. Everyone can simply download Dash regardless of their telco, and enjoy shopping online and in-store at millions of merchants globally – perfect for the festive season."

Why an RFID Strategy Is Important for Retailers

While a report published by IDC earlier this year notes that nearly 8 in 10 retailers have set aside funds to spend on visibility platforms, including radio-frequency identification, research out of Auburn University’s RFID lab indicates that such technology could potentially remove claims costs in the supply chain. The study, which reviewed the flow of product information of eight retail brand owners and five retailers from June 2017 through July 2018, found that order accuracy for brands using RFID tags to capture information and reconcile shipments exceeded 99.9 percent. “In an era of omni-channel retail — which demands high inventory accuracy — the errors created in the supply chain propagate downstream and ultimately impact a retailer’s ability to meet customer demand in a timely manner,” the study’s authors write.

RFID tech may tell us if hummingbird feeders are really a good idea

While it's certainly kind of people to set up hummingbird feeders in their back yards, some scientists are wondering if the practise may be causing more harm than good. In an effort to better understand the issue, researchers recently equipped a group of the birds with tags that were read by devices at urban feeders. When hummingbirds feed upon flowers in the wild, they tend to do so individually, staying relatively far apart from one another. By contrast, the birds are crowded together at feeders, physically contacting one another and sharing the same nectar. Therefore, it's been suggested that the feeders might raise the risk of disease transmission between birds. In order to determine just how often the animals visit such feeders – and how long they stay there – a team from the University Of California, Davis captured 230 Anna's and Allen's hummingbirds, and inserted tiny passive integrated transponder (or PIT) tags under their skin.

Mobile RFID/GPS Tracking Solution is Bound for U.S. Navy

RFID and IoT solutions supplier Venture Research Inc. has received a contract through the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) “to supply mobile passive radio frequency identification (pRFID) systems for the U.S. Navy to use at four geographically diverse sites,” according to BusinessWire. With the end goal of the U.S. military capturing large-scale asset tracking data through reliable means, the initiative aims to gauge the performance of a tracking solution that, according to BusinessWire, combines Venture Research’s “MultiTrak™ mobile pRFID reader with its integrated geo-positioning capability with a customizable application programming interface (API).”

RFID Enables Real-Time Warehouse Visibility for World's Largest Men's Accessory Company

MSM Solutions, a global provider of RFID and barcode solutions, implemented an RFID tracking solution for real-time inventory management at the world’s largest men’s accessory company, Randa, in their Reno Nevada Fulfillment Center.

"The challenges that Randa faced are the same problems that many businesses face; accurately identifying where stuff is and how much they have. Utilizing RFID and our PortalTrack software we were able to bring real-time visibility to the Randa Fulfillment Center. The results enabled Randa to easily and accurately identify inventory locations and counts; which in turn lowered labor and operating costs, increased customer satisfaction and enabled real-time decision making.” Brett Wilkerson, RFID Business Development, MSM Solutions.

IDEX Partners with China-Based Smart Card Specialist Excelsecu

IDEX Biometrics has a big new partner in the China market for its biometric card efforts. The company has teamed up with Excelsecu, a Shenzhen-based security solutions provider specializing in security solutions including FIDO-based security keys, One-Time Password systems, and smart cards. Together, the companies will develop “battery-less dual-interface biometric cards with display,” according to a statement from IDEX. In its announcement, IDEX noted that Excelsecu counts among its customers some of China’s biggest banks, including the Agricultural Bank of China, the Bank of Communications, and the Commercial Bank of China

The world’s biggest electronics store uses NFC tags to let shoppers self-checkout on their mobile phones

MediaMarktSaturn, Europe’s largest consumer electronics retailer, is piloting a mobile self-checkout service that lets customers add products to their shopping basket by tapping the NFC tag included in the digital price tags of more than 100,000 products on sale at its Hamburg city centre store. “Lengthy queues at the checkout cost customers time and retailers money,” the retailer says. “Over the past 12 months alone, the European retail sector has suffered losses estimated at €34bn (including €6.7bn in Germany) because customers couldn’t face the long wait at the checkout.

Feig delivers 600 RFID readers to improve tolling in India

Electronic has deployed more than 600 radio frequency identification (RFID) readers in India to allow drivers to pay for tolls without stopping at toll booths. The delivery is part of the National Highway Authority in India’s (NHAI) Fastag programme, an open road tolling method that relies on open ISO standard RFID technology. In a statement, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways says Fastag enabled vehicles can pass through dedicated lanes without stopping at toll plazas on national highways.

Tesco lets shoppers self-checkout with their mobile phone at new Jack’s discount chain

Low-cost Tesco spin-off Jack’s will differentiate itself from Aldi and Lidl by offering shoppers a complimentary Smart Shop app that will allow them to scan and pay for goods on the fly. Jack’s – named after Tesco founder Jack Cohen and pledging to offer the lowest possible prices and with eight out of 10 of its products UK sourced – is also upping the ante in the discount supermarket space with the use of an app to enhance in-store experience. With the app, shoppers can scan the items barcode or shelf-front price code and then pay by simply tapping their phone on a self-service checkout terminal before leaving. The app also helps the shopper log what they have bought and how much they have paid.

Thinfilm Joins NFC Forum Board of Directors

NFC Forum announced that ThinFilm Electronics ASA (“Thinfilm”) upgraded its NFC Forum membership from Principal to Sponsor and accepted a seat onthe NFCForum Board of Directors. Three other companies joined the world'sleading standards and advocacy association for Near Field Communication(NFC) technology as well.

Thinfilm has been a Principal member of the NFC Forum since 2014 and will join Apple, Dai Nippon Printing, Google, Infineon, MasterCardWorldwide, NXP, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony, STMicroelectronics and Visa on the NFC Forum Board of Directors. Thinfilm’s elevated position willallow it to expand on its technical and marketing contributions to theNFC Forum assuming a greater leadership role in the organization.

Who's to Blame for the Relatively Slow Pace of RFID Adoption?

I was speaking with the CEO of a midsize RFID company last week. He complained about the slow pace of adoption of radio frequency identification technologies, and put the blame for this problem squarely on the shoulders of end users. "Companies have become too conservative," he said. "CEOs are afraid to miss their quarterly numbers and they don't want to take chances. Innovation has disappeared." I offered a different take, however. First, I said, the pace of adoption might not be any slower than for other technologies. The PC was invented around 1980, yet it wasn't until the mid-1990s that sales really began to accelerate. Passive UHF RFID was introduced in 2005, and we won't hit the 15-year mark for that technology until 2020, so adoption might be on a similar path to that of PCs.

Supply Insight and Brady's New Partnership Delivers the First Turnkey RFID Item Tracking

Businesses previously unable to see an ROI for RFID asset and inventory tracking now have an alternative that breaks existing barriers. A partnership between Brady Worldwide and Supply Insight Inc., has integrated Brady's breakthrough CenSys IoT reader into Supply Insight's Turnkey Total Tracking (TTT) RTLS solution via instantaneous IoT messaging. This combo is now the industry's most complete and cost-effective RTLS solution for mobile devices, dramatically reducing costs and re-purposing employees and management to productive tasks.

Brady's CenSys integrated with cutting-edge BYOD readers (TSL-1128 and CSL's CS108) complete the puzzle - a business-ready system, unheard-of ROI, fully operational within one day.

The CenSys records UHF RFID tags and immediately updates Supply Insight's IOT cloud services. There, up-feeds from TSL-1128 or CS108 cycle counts and "Geiger-counter" item locators show location history of assets and inventory goods 24/7, integrating the CenSys "active" zones and hand-held RFID/barcode readable zones.

AB&R to exhibit at RFID in Aerospace and Defense

AB&R (American Barcode and RFID Inc.), a provider of proven supply chain solutions, will be an exhibitor at the RFID in Aerospace and Defense Conference in Arlington, VA on December 12, 2018. The RFID in Aerospace and Defense event will provide information on the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Attendees will have an opportunity to see demonstrations of RFID technology at the AB&R booth.

Several large aerospace and defense companies are already including RFID technology in their operations to track parts and shipments throughout the supply chain. For more than 20 years, AB&R has focused on understanding the technological advancements of RFID to help streamline operations and improve the overall performance of the supply chain. “The RFID solutions we offer our customers are designed to improve all areas of the supply chain,” states Gary Randall, VP of Sales, AB&R®. “As a leading RFID technology provider, we are excited to showcase the latest technology for aerospace and defense companies.”

The RFID technology AB&R will present includes asset tracking, work-in-process tracking, worker safety, inventory management, and more. Stop by their booth in the exhibit hall to receive a demonstration of the latest RFID products and solutions.

Pocket-sized AsReader Barcode Scanner and GUN-Type RFID Reader

HID Global enables workers to log in with NFC mobile phones

HID Global announced the Crescendo Mobile smart card to bring convenience to high security for accessing computer, network or cloud applications.  The new HID mobile smart card utilizes digital certificates on users’ mobile devices for client authentication.

The HID Crescendo Mobile solution provides organizations seeking to eliminate passwords with a solution that combines the high security of physical authenticators with the usability of a mobile solution. Crescendo Mobile works similarly to, and is compatible with, highly secure Crescendo smart cards; however, rather than inserting a separate device into a contact smart card reader, it connects to a desktop computer via an NFC (near-field communication) reader or Bluetooth.

Just as convenience is added to the user experience, the deployment of HID Crescendo Mobile is simple. The Crescendo Mobile app can be downloaded onto Android or iOS devices and the IT team can distribute secure cryptographic credentials to users without the need or expense of shipping smart cards or smart card readers. The solution is particularly cost-effective to deploy for contractors and remote users.

QR code innovation will pave way for blockchain adoption in marketing

As QR codes re-emerge as a popular tool for the world’s biggest brands, gaming blockchain company Enjin has released a powerful wallet update, called ‘Enjin Beam’, which allows users to scan a QR code and receive digital assets. This could solve a major problem for brands seeking innovative ways to increase customer engagement and lifetime customer value. Enjin anticipates the technology will have a major impact on a range of retail, advertising and technology companies as they will use it to reward users with discount coupons, unique collectible items, tokenized prizes and other rewards.

Willowglen bags RM14.39m SCADA and RFID contracts

Willowglen MSC Bhd’s Singapore unit has secured a contract worth RM14.39 million to provide supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions. The contract was awarded to wholly-owned Willowglen Services Pte Ltd by SP PowerAssets Ltd, a Singapore electricity distribution services firm. The job involves the design, supply and installation of the SCADA and RFID systems for an existing cable tunnel, Willowglen said in a stock exchange filing.

UNPay expands QR code payments

Electronic payment technology provider UNPay made a move that banks on QR code technology in Asia. The Singapore-based fintech announced it is supporting the Singapore government’s effort to promote more cashless payments with a slew of efforts to promote the use of QR code payments among retailers, reports Julie Muhn at Finovate. UNPay is initiating the effort by providing its merchant clients with Chinese QR code payment capabilities and will include Chinese QR code payment providers by the second half of 2019.

CAPS Teams with Kit Check to Add Serialized Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tags on Pre-Filled Syringes

Central Admixture Pharmacy Services, Inc. (CAPS) has announced a collaborative agreement to embed Kit Check’s serialized RFID tags on CAPS’ pre-filled anesthesia syringes effective immediately. The syringes with embedded tags will be recognized automatically by Kit Check software in use in over 400 of the leading hospitals in the U.S. No additional steps are required by hospitals other than ordering pre-filled syringes with the serialized embedded tags. This technology is designed to help hospital pharmacies improve patient outcomes and operational efficiencies.

Enabling CAPS’ anesthesia syringes with Kit Check RFID has the ability to streamline the inventory management process by insuring the correct syringes are automatically stocked in the anesthesia kits. Each Kit Check RFID tag is registered with the Kit Check’s readers and inventory is managed through the cloud-based software.

CAPS’ 503B–registered outsourcing facilities offer pre-filled anesthesia syringes designed to prevent common compounding and labeling errors that occur in the operating room, while maintaining sterility and potency for extended beyond use dating. CAPS’ pre-filled syringes are prepared in a controlled environment and have undergone stringent release testing for sterility, potency, and endotoxin designed to meet the new FDA quality control requirements.

Bush's bum rap on 'amazing' barcode scanner

A February 1992 newspaper story reporting that President George H.W. Bush was baffled by a supermarket barcode scanner when he visited a grocers' convention in Florida fed into impressions that the president was out of touch, just as he was dealing with a reeling economy and fending off a primary election challenge at the outset of his re-election campaign. The New York Times' front-page account carried the headline: "Bush Encounters the Supermarket, Amazed." But although Bush had remarked that some of the machine's features seemed "amazing," it hardly looked like his first time in a supermarket checkout line. Mostly, Bush seemed to be politely listening to National Cash Register executives making their pitch. Photo: AJ Guel

Are QR Codes The Salvation Army’s Digital Salvation?

In the past, The Salvation Army experimented with putting credit card readers alongside the red kettles, but found that usage was low and caused more confusion than served a useful purpose.
This year, the red kettle brigade is experimenting with QR codes to reach customers who want to donate, but aren’t carrying cash. “We always get a lot of responses about people saying, ‘well, we don’t carry cash, we want to be able to donate with a credit card,'” said Stephanie Pena, donor development director and volunteer coordinator for The Salvation Army of Amarillo, Texas. “I know I don’t carry cash either, because if I do, then I spend it. So The Salvation Army is doing something new this year. We actually have QR codes on our red kettles.”

InComm Partners With Welcia To Grow Barcode Payments

InComm, a global prepaid product and payment technology company, has announced a partnership with Welcia, Japan’s leading pharmacy chain, to launch four mobile barcode payment solutions in its stores. InComm will be integrating its point-of-sale payment technology directly with Welcia. “Simultaneously connecting these major mobile barcode payments with the largest pharmacy chain in Japan is an exciting opportunity for InComm and Welcia’s customers,” Takumaro Arai, vice president and general manager of InComm Japan, said in a press release. “This partnership demonstrates our flexibility to work with Japanese and other international barcode payment providers while meeting an important consumer need in our region.”

6 ways IoT is transforming retail

An award-winning RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology provider has announced the launch of its new product, Multi-Ranger. PervasID secured £1.6 million in Series A funding earlier this year to create the first 99%+ accurate multifunctional RFID reader to address retailers’ challenges concerning inventory. The technology, which was pioneered at the University of Cambridge and achieves more than 99% tag detection, will combine a wide-area passive RFID system (Space Ranger), an anti-theft RFID system (Security Ranger) and a portal system (Portal Ranger) in order to create the multifunctional reader solution that is the first of its kind.

Barcode Printers Market Set to Register 5% CAGR During 2018-2024

Growing demand for barcode wristbands in the healthcare industry for patient identification will positively impact the barcode printers market growth. Several hospitals are mandating a policy which requires patients to wear a barcode identification bracelet during the duration of their stay which allow hospital staff to provide accurate and speedy data entry and are helping reduce medical errors, thereby allowing time to enhance efficiency instead of physically entering the data.

Barcode Printers Market is anticipated to exceed USD 3 billion by 2024 with the industry growth pegged at a CAGR of over 5% from 2018 to 2024. A barcode printer is a computer peripheral for printing barcode labels or tags that can be attached to, or printed directly on, physical objects. Barcode printers are commonly used to label cartons before shipment, or to label retail items with UPCs or EANs. The most common barcode printers employ one of two different printing technologies. Direct thermal printers use a printhead to generate heat that causes a chemical reaction in specially designed paper that turns the paper black.



Mobile printers are anticipated to witness high growth over the forecast timespan owing to their ease of usage in several field-based applications. Mobile barcode printers are being used increasingly by retail businesses to issue authentic receipts and invoices regardless of the place and time. Moreover, the mobile printers are being to print barcodes for identification of individuals in major events and for patients in hospitals which has augmented the revenue for the barcode printers market.

Sniffing RFID Readers With A Piece of Paper

Milosch Meriac has managed to put together a printable design that’s not only a very cool hack, but is made up of a scant two dimensions. His creation, which could perhaps be considered something of an interactive circuit diagram, allows anyone with a paper printer and a few passive components to make a functional low-frequency RFID sniffer. To create a paper RFID sniffer, you start by printing the image out on a thick piece of paper, like card stock. You then apply foil tape where indicated to serve as traces in this makeshift PCB, and start soldering on the components as described in the text.

Maersk to use NFC to track the status of refrigerated shipping containers

Shipping giant Maersk is to introduce a new service that will enable refrigerated container (reefer) operators to efficiently monitor the status of their goods-in-transit wherever they are in the world, using an NFC-enabled tracking system that supports GPS location, temperature readings and alarms, optional G-shock recording and the potential to automate a range of government approvals. “Available to the market in 2019, Sekstant Global Guidance will provide reporting data to container operators wherever the reefers are located in the world,” Maersk explains. “Drawing on many years of involvement in reefer connectivity, Sekstant provides container operators with accurate data at any point along the transportation chain.

FEIG Electronics Introduces Mobile RFID/Barcode Hybrid Solution for Airport Baggage Handling

FEIG Electronics, a leading global supplier of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers and antennas with 50 years of experience, today announced its ECCO+ RFID/Barcode Scanner from its PANMOBIL mobile product line is approved by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for airport baggage tracking.

According to the SITA Baggage Report 2017, for every 1,000 passengers, exactly 5.73 pieces of baggage were lost. This corresponded to 26 million pieces of baggage being reported missing in airports throughout the world. Ninety-five percent of this baggage was located within 48 hours and returned to its owners with a delay, 5 percent were regarded as having been completely lost. The affected airlines were required to spend $2.1 billion US dollars to reunite passengers with their lost baggage or to pay compensation for baggage that could no longer be found.

What are the benefits of QR code enrollment?

IT can enroll devices into MDM using a QR code, which is a more attainable option as support expands. Discover the benefits of this process, including improved workflow and ease of use.
  
Device enrollment is a sticking point for IT pros, especially those who work in larger organizations with a lot of devices. A QR code scan is not considered an automated device enrollment method, but it's still a simple way to achieve effective enrollment to a mobile device management (MDM) server. And as support from device manufacturers broadens, QR code enrollment is becoming a more viable method for IT admins.

Avery Dennison Provides RFID System for Food Management

As the food supply chain evolves, the need for technology to help suppliers and grocers manage inventory has increased. Avery Dennison has been providing intelligence in the supply chain with item-level RFID, as well as offering on-demand labeling to drive food safety and freshness, through a solution known as Freshmarx. The company is now driving the adoption of RFID to automate data capture as food is prepared, packaged, stored, transported and sold to customers. The technology is intended to address the demands of the modern food market, such as allowing omnichannel management and traceability of waste and food donations.

Mobile payments now account for 6% of all UK card transactions

The percentage of payments made with a mobile phone in UK stores has jumped from 1.3% in Q3 2016 to 5.6% in Q3 2018, an analysis of 190m card transactions has shown. Compared to this time last year, the volume of contactless mobile payments has increased by 60%. For payments under the £30 contactless payments limit, the number of transactions accounted for by mobile payments increased from 1.8% in Q3 2016, to 4.6% in Q3 2017 and then 7% in Q3 2018, the analysis by Cardlytics found.

Walmart equips staff in 3,000+ stores with mobile POS devices

Walmart is expanding its Check Out with Me service to all its 3,000+ Supercenters across the US “just in time for the holidays”. The move follows a successful rollout of mobile POS devices at the retailer’s US garden centres earlier this year. “Check Out with Me is expanding to every Supercenter by Black Friday,” the retailer says. “Walmart is positioning associates in the busiest areas of its stores, like the garden center, electronics or in action alley, so customers can bypass regular checkout lines and pay for everything right in the department they are shopping. (Photo: Mike Mozart).

Hong Kong is adding QR code payments to its subway stations

A new dispatch from our “QR Codes Are Very Much Alive In Asia” reporting program: Hong Kong’s subway system will soon allow its commuters to pay by scanning QR codes thanks to a deal with Alibaba that was announced this week. The partnership — which is with Alibaba’s Ant Financial  affiliate — will see scan-to-pay enabled at 91 MTR metro stations starting in mid-2020. Commuters will simply use Ant’s Alipay app to scan a code at the turnstile and then go on with their trip as usual. They’ll be able to top up their balance inside the app, as well as through traditional methods.

MEMS 2.0: IoT Pressure Sensors

Mems air pressure sensors are accurate enough to be used in a variety of applications. One way to use them would be to measure your bike tire pressure and have them send a notification if the pressure gets to low. Another use case—this time for farmers—is to spread mems air pressure sensors through a field in combination with humidity and temperature sensors. This sensor suite could be used to gather weather data that a higher order machine learning algorithm could leverage to predict local weather with extreme accuracy. Weather analysis has many applications beyond farming too. For example, weather influences air and sea travel. Knowing when extreme weather will happen can allow for preventive care of infrastructure.

Amazon reportedly wants its digital wallet in brick-and-mortar stores

Amazon wants its Amazon Pay digital wallet to be accepted in brick-and-mortar stores, and it's offering merchants incentives in order to make that happen, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to sources familiar with the matter, the company is currently focusing on gas stations, restaurants and other merchants that wouldn't see Amazon as a business rival, offering them lower payment-processing fees and marketing services to get them on board. If successful, Amazon would be able to expand its Pay service beyond online transactions, which it's primarily used for now.

Siemens introduces Simatic RF615R RFID reader

Siemens is extending its range of Simatic RF600 ultra-high frequency (UHF) devices to include an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader. The Simatic RF615R comes with a design of 133 x 155 x 45 millimeters, an internal, circularly polarized antenna and an additional external antenna connection. Using the connection for the additional external antenna, it is possible to set up a small-scale RFID gate. The device supports OPC UA as an IoT (Internet of Things) interface and communicates via the OPC UA AutoID Companion Specification V1.0 data model.

New wireless system from MIT uses RFID to sense potential food contamination

Researchers at MIT Media Lab, US, have developed a wireless system that leverages the cheap Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags already on hundreds of billions of products to sense potential food contamination –  with no hardware modifications needed. With the simple, scalable system, the researchers hope to bring food-safety detection to the general public. The researchers’ system, called RFIQ (Radio Frequency IQ), includes a reader that senses minute changes in wireless signals emitted from RFID tags when the signals interact with food. For this study, the team focused on baby formula and alcohol, but in the future, consumers might have their own reader and software to conduct food-safety sensing before buying virtually any product.

Lowe on track with RFID tracking

Lowe Rental first introduced smart barcodes and RFID (radio frequency identification) in 2016, deploying the technology at its headquarters in Lisburn, Northern Ireland and its operations in England, Scotland and Germany over the last two years. The system, supplied by UK company CoreRFID, will now be rolled introduced in its US depots in Las Vegas, Nevada and Fairburn, near Atlanta, Georgia. Lowe is also working with CoreRFID to extend the system to its distribution warehouses in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai and Dubai.

Italian Company Creates Wearable RFID Tracking Technology

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology systems were initially touted as the go-to for pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) waste and recycling collection programs. More and more, the technology also is being used to track containers and verify service. Asset tags typically are attached to waste and recycling containers and data is collected when the bins are full, alerting haulers to deploy a vehicle to empty the bins. A Lainate (Milan), Italy-based company is adding a new twist to RFID technology in the waste and recycling industry with its Discovery Mobile device. Partitalia srl, a smartcard and RFID tag manufacturer, has created this wearable device to track waste collection.

PLUS is starting its own RFID Public Pilot Test

RFID is a new way to pay for highway tolls and this will eventually replace the current SmartTAG. Apart from Touch ‘n Go, PLUS, the concessionaire for the Malaysian North-South Expressway is also kicking off its own RFID Public Pilot test in Penang and Kedah. According to their website, PLUS RFID uses an open payment system unlike Touch ‘n Go’s RFID that uses an eWallet. This means you can link your PLUS RFID to your bank account or preferred debit or credit card. As a result, you won’t have to worry about topping up a separate wallet as the toll charges will be deducted directly from your preferred mode of payment.

UnionPay rolls out mobile payment services in South Asia

Sri Lanka has become a new market where UnionPay is rolling out its mobile payment service. After the launch of UnionPay QuickPass service in the country this August, UnionPay QR code payment service will be accepted soon. Today, UnionPay International (UPI) announced its collaboration with Cargills Group, the largest Retail & FMCG group in Sri Lanka: the two parties have agreed to roll out UnionPay QR code payment service across the country commencing in the first half of next year, through the Cargills ecosystem, including supermarkets, restaurants and cinemas, and equip Cargills' e-wallet with UnionPay QR code payment function through the digital issuance of UnionPay cards, bringing UnionPay QR code payment service to local customers.

In line with global changes in consumers' payment habits, UnionPay has developed a portfolio of mobile payment products including the "UnionPay" mobile application, QR code payment service, NFC mobile payment, and In-app payment. UPI is accelerating the roll out of these mobile payment services outside mainland China, expanding the acceptance of these services to 42 countries and regions—driving up the volume of cross-border transactions made through the "UnionPay" app grew by 150%. To date, UnionPay mobile QuickPass service is accepted at 2 million POS terminals across over 30 countries and regions outside mainland China, and UnionPay QR code payment is accepted at about 60,000 merchants in 23 countries and regions outside the Chinese Mainland.

China is the largest trading partner and the second largest tourist source of Sri Lanka. To date, UnionPay is accepted at the majority of merchants and ATM terminals in tourist-oriented cities like Colombo, Kandy, Galle and Matale, and about 2,000 merchants such as restaurants, department stores, supermarkets support UnionPay mobile QuickPass too. The partnership between UPI and Cargills Group will realize the acceptance of UnionPay QR code payment at local retailers and daily consumption merchants, and will provide mobile payment offers for local customers to further enhance their payment experience.

Civic authority brings RFID to monitor waste collection

Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has introduced QR code Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag for improving door-to-door waste collection monitoring system and to address shortcomings such as sanitation staff skipping houses. According to the VMC officials, Vijayawada generates as many as 550 MT of municipal solid waste (MSD) per day from 59 divisions of the city. The VMC officials have distributed coloured bins to residents for segregating the waste; several residents and shopkeepers have been complaining about vehicles not turning up to collect waste in time. To overcome this, the civic body has proposed to fit a QR code RFID to every house to alert the collection squads and vehicles and inform them about the bins, which are uncleared.

Deutsche Bank unveils loyalty-first mobile wallet venture

Deutsche Bank is launching the Yunar app on November 6, 2018. Starting with a basic version as a free digital platform offering, it will make loyalty schemes easy to use. By adding other banking and non-banking services Yunar is intended to gradually become the mobile wallet in the customer’s pocket. Yunar will therefore be continually upgraded with new functions and products, taking into account what customers want and how they use the app from day to day.

The start-up behind the Yunar brand is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, with its own management, its own IT and an initial staff of around 80 people. The new company does not require a banking balance sheet, as is the case with many fintechs. Subject to the approval of the relevant regulatory authorities, it will hold a so-called ZAG licence – authorising it to provide payment services. It aims to accelerate the launch of digital innovations which go beyond the traditional banking business. In Germany Deutsche Bank’s Private & Commercial Bank has 20 million clients, of whom more than 10 million use the bank’s products and services via PC, tablet and smartphone.

Yunar is part of the Private & Commercial Bank’s new “Digital Ventures” unit, where the offerings for new client groups and markets will be bundled in future. One of its tasks is to rapidly develop the bank’s digital platform.

On the launch of Yunar, Markus Pertlwieser, Chief Digital Officer (CDO) of Deutsche Bank’s Private & Commercial Bank and Head of the Digital Ventures business, said: “This app will give a further boost to the expansion of our platform offering. Fresh ideas that make life easier for banking clients will be implemented faster in future, regardless of whether we act on our own or together with partners.”

The Yunar brand name is derived from “yuna”, the Celtic word for desire. At the same time, Yunar is also an allusion to the phrase “you know”. The brand name is thus intended to emphasise that Yunar knows what customers want and fulfils these desires.

The basic version of Yunar will enable users to manage their customer loyalty cards on their mobile phone. The app allows users to collect points for up to 200 loyalty schemes that are widely used in Germany, including Payback, DeutschlandCard, BahnBonus, Miles & More, Ikea, Douglas and Karstadt. For some of the schemes, the app will also be able to show previously collected points, which means users will no longer need to use their physical loyalty cards. Yunar will therefore satisfy the key criteria of the platform economy from the very beginning: It is free, available everywhere and relevant to users’ daily lives. Banking services such as mobile payments or multibank aggregation or even non-banking services such as digital identification may be added, ultimately making it a mobile wallet. This would be the first time that customers have one-stop access to all services related to their loyalty schemes, payments and bank account. If in future all the data from popular loyalty schemes were to be linked to the user’s payment information, this would make the offering unique. Yunar could then suggest which loyalty schemes the user should consider or also provide advice on how points that have been collected could be used.

By starting with loyalty schemes the new app can tap straight into a market with millions of potential users. Three-quarters of the German population are members of a loyalty scheme, while the majority of them (73 percent) have cards from more than three loyalty schemes. Markus Steiff, member of the Management Board of Yunar, said: “With Yunar we are truly relevant for customers in their daily lives. We are helping them to save money easily and conveniently and to be able to afford more. Yunar is smart, simple and convenient for users and a cornerstone of the bank’s platform business model.”

Pentagon spending Big on RFID tech

The U.S. military ships a lot of stuff around the globe—including ammunition, computer hardware, vehicles and other supplies—and the Pentagon is increasingly turning to radio-frequency identification to track its assets. Last month, the Pentagon exercised a final-year option on its RFID contract, which has a total ceiling value of $102 million. Around the same time, the Virginia-based contractor operating the contract, Savi, announced two major orders totaling 48,000 active RFID tags to unnamed Defense agencies.

L’Oréal releases wearable UV exposure tracker with NFC

Measuring your personal UV light exposure hasn’t historically been easy, as UV sensors aren’t built into typical wearables, smartphones, or other items people tend to carry around outside. That’s about to change thanks to L’Oréal, which today announced availability of My Skin Track UV — a wearable accessory that gathers personal UV exposure data to share with Android phones and iPhones, notably without requiring either Bluetooth or a battery. With its components inside a circular, shirt button-sized housing, My Skin Track UV will typically be clipped to a shirt in a position where it can measure both UVA and UVB rays.