Market Pay lets merchants accept contactless payments on NFC devices

Market Pay is enabling merchants to use a standard Android NFC smartphone or tablet to accept contactless payments at the point of sale without needing any additional hardware.

The French in-store and online payments specialist’s software point of sale (sPOS) PayWish solution uses Dejamobile’s ReadyToTap Payments for Merchants technology to let users turn their Android device into a terminal that can accept both PIN-authenticated and PIN-free payments above and below contactless transaction limits.

Customers can pay contactless with their card, digital wallet or wearables. The checkout experience is similar to what is currently experienced in shops.

Eys3D raises $7M for AI edge sensor technology

Eys3D Microelectronics, a company producing chips and sensors for autonomous operations including security, touchless control, autonomous vehicles, and smart retail, announced that it’s raised $7 million in a series A round led by strategic partners Arm IoT Capital, WI Harper Group, and Marubun Corporation.

The company says that the funding will allow it to grow its product development and research efforts, including into 3D depth-sensing cameras and vision sensor integration solutions that enable new capabilities in object recognition, distance measurement, and more.

The 3D and machine vision market is expected to double in value from $1.35 billion in 2020 to $2.65 billion in 2027, a compound annual growth rate of 10.2%. That’s attributable to the pandemic, which has accelerated the adoption of automation.

Manx Telecom Launches OV, a Global IoT Connectivity Brand

 

Mobile Network Operator (MNO) Manx Telecom has relaunched its Global Solutions division under a new brand, OV, to serve the growing global IoT market along with its established global mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE) and travel SIM business.

The name OV is derived from ‘Of Vannin’, the ancient word for the Isle of Man where Manx Telecom is based. Global Solutions was set up 10 years ago to build partnerships in markets outside of the Island leveraging Manx Telecom’s world-class network infrastructure and roaming relationships with 600+ mobile operators in 170 countries.

Following rapid expansion due to the continued growth in demand for IoT cellular connectivity, OV already has partnerships with network providers worldwide, with over 5 million OV SIMs connecting IoT solutions. They can be used in smart devices in any areas requiring processes, controls, and automation to be delivered remotely. These include wearables for health tracking, connected cars, smart traffic management and connected medical devices in the healthcare sector, amongst others.

With access to multiple networks in each country for resilient services, OV SIMS can be combined with the ability to deliver voice services, which is especially useful in situations such as healthcare and wellbeing where there may be a need to speak to the IoT user.

Offering a flexible multi-tenant architecture, and enabling customers to partner with an unlimited number of distributors or resellers, OV’s intelligent management platform is secure, scalable and offers full visibility and easy configuration of all SIM profiles including usage and costs. OV also provides partners with a comprehensive range of MVNE and mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) connectivity services. The GSMA forecasts the IoT market will expand to 25 billion connected devices by 2025.

Mobile peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfer market is expected to grow with a CAGR of more than 18%

The mobile peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfer market is expected to grow with a CAGR of more than 18% from 2021 to 2029.

Over the past decade, a significant increase in the use of smartphone across the globe has been witnessed. The number of smartphones has increased from 1.57 Bn in 2014 to 2.53 Bn in 2018. This growth is credited to the increasing disposable income of the population across the global along with the emergence of the low cost smartphone manufacturers in the Asia region. Moreover, the increasing use of internet services has also derived the adoption of smartphone.

Moreover, the emergence of the fintech players has paved the way for the development of the mobile peer to peer money transfer market. As the competition among the market players is fueling and the customer are becoming more empowered, the need for more customer centric product also rises.

The market is categorized on the basis of technology into Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, mobile apps and text based payment solutions. NFC technology is estimated to grow substantially during the forecast period. The growth of the market is driven by the rapid integration of the NFC tags and readers in the smartphone for the short range communication. As the competition among the smartphone manufacturers is increasing, the players are leveraging on the R&D activities to enhance the features of their product. Furthermore, the increasing adoption of the non-contact payment solution across the globe is further augmenting the demand for the NFC technology.

European Initiative for the Internet of Things

A new consortium is preparing to ramp up production of Geonav IoT, a seamless indoor/outdoor positioning solution for sports applications, asset tracking and aiding drone traffic management.

As a core IoI technology, GNSS enables the key positioning capability for personnel and asset location and tracking, for new applications such as sports and military training, and in emerging markets such as drone-based transport and delivery. However, GNSS performance is still limited in unfavorable

Thales and ChipCraft are joined by Hertz Systems, charged with industrial-scale production, and by Drone Consultants Ireland, and Telespazio France.

Pebble, a sensor that uses real-time data to manage city parking

Sidewalk Labs has announced the launch of Pebble, a vehicle sensor that’s designed to help manage parking in cities by providing real-time parking and curb availability data.

Small spherical sensors are stuck to the ground on parking spaces to note the absence or presence of a vehicle. Then solar-powered gateway hardware uses IoT to connect the sensor to the cloud through the cellular network. The data is then viewed and analyzed by real estate developers, parking operators or municipal agencies via a dashboard.

Pebble doesn’t use cameras or collect identifying information about a person or vehicle, and is touting a “privacy preserving” approach.

BSN Launches New RFID M700 Inlays

BSN, a member of the Baoshen group, announced the launch of its new range of M700 RFID Inlays. These inlays will take advantage of the increased functionality of the Impinj M730 and M750 chip-sets and provide a major upgrade in RFID label read range and sensitivity.

Available in 3 sizes, 50 * 30 mm, 70*14mm, and 42*16mm, the inlays offer an increase in sensitivity ratings to -24 dBm. This dBm rating produces a greater read range from a smaller label footprint.

A smaller chip size enables more dies per wafer, producing a lower carbon footprint in the Semi-Conductor Foundry production.

BSN is also taking advantage of the unique Loss Prevention capabilities of the Impinj M700 chips. 

Clipper rolls out support for Google Pay for transit fares

Android users can now upload their Clipper transit card to Google Pay, reload their card balance and pay for their fares on 24 transit systems across the San Francisco Bay Area with their smartphone.

Transit riders who use cash to load their Clipper cards will need to use a BART, Golden Gate Ferry, Muni or VTA ticket machine; select Caltrain ticket machines; a Clipper Customer Service Center; or a Clipper retailer to add value to Google Pay.

Clipper launched the service for Apple Pay users in April.

Pressure Sensor Market Value Anticipated To Reach US$ 24.5 Billion By 2027

The Global Pressure Sensor Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 8.8% from 2020 to 2027 and reach the market value of over US$ 24.5 Bn by 2027, according to new research.

A pressure sensor is a device used to sense pressure and convert it into an electric signal. These pressure sensors can alternatively be called pressure transmitters, pressure transducers, pressure indicators, pressure senders, piezometers, and manometers, among others. These are available in various designs, technology, performance, application suitability, and cost.

By technology, the market is divided across piezoresistive, capacitive, resonant, electromagnetic, optical, others. Additionally, pressure sensors have applications across automotive on-vehicle, medical devices, HVAC, process controls, test & measurement, and others. The end-user industry includes automotive, medical, industrial, utility, aviation, oil & gas, marine, consumer electronics, and others.

Based on the application, the automotive on-vehicle segment is leading the market with maximum revenue share and the segment is also projected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period from 2020 to 2027. The segment is accounted for the maximum revenue share owing to its high demand and usage across the globe.

Smart Parking Market worth $ 16.74 Billion

The Global Smart Parking Market was valued at USD 6.59 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 16.74 Billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 12.36% from 2021 to 2028, according to new research.

Increasing number of automobiles on the streets worldwide, rising congestion of automobiles on the street resulting in complex traffic conditions, increasing attractiveness of the market because of the high rate of adoption of the internet of things (Iot) technology drives the growth of the Smart Parking Market. On the other hand high cost of implementation of internet of things (Iot) infrastructure, high configuration complexities, and low internet infrastructure in the developing regions will act as restraint for the growth of the market. However the increasing adoption of smart cars in the future and the continuous advancements in technology is expected to propel the future growth of the market.

Ticketing agency lets fans buy tickets via NFC App Clips

Ticketek has launched an App Clip that enables iPhone users attending sports or other live events in Australia to purchase digital tickets by tapping an NFC tag or scanning a QR code displayed outside venues without needing to download the firm’s app.

Fans can launch the Ticketek App Clip on their iPhone outside Ticketek venues by scanning a designated QR code or tapping an NFC tag, then securely purchase tickets in just two taps using Apple Pay.

Ticketek launched its App Clip at Sydney Cricket Ground earlier this month.

Dutch ABN Amro adopts Google Pay

Customers of ABN Amro in the Netherlands can now use their Android devices to make payments with Google Pay from within the Dutch bank’s mobile app.

It is the first major bank in the Netherlands to add support for the service, enabling customers to activate Google Pay in the app.

Google Pay went live in the Netherlands and nine other European countries with support for cards issued by mobile-first services and fintechs including Bunq, Curve, Monese, N26, Revolut and Viva Wallet in November 2020.

Long Island University Campus Goes Touch-Free with Mobile Access NFC

Students at Long Island University (LIU) are taking advantage of a mobile-access and payment solution this year that spares them from handling ID cards or touching screens or other surfaces.

The MyLIU Mobile Card system provides them with access to services on campus, ranging from library book checkout to meal purchases and dorm entrance, via the tap of their smartphone.

The solution consists of Near Field Communication (NFC) readers that read and forward data from users' phones, as well as Transact's app that manages the collected read data for each transaction, while enabling Google Pay and Apple Pay transactions.

Digi-Key Electronics Announces New Distribution Partnership with Mini-Circuits

Digi-Key Electronics announced that it has secured a global distribution partnership with Mini-Circuits to offer their industry-leading MMIC product line up of 50 GHz, LTCC filters, baluns and couplers, and patented reflectionless filters.

Mini-Circuits offers radio frequency (RF), microwave and millimeter-wave components and systems, products which are used widely in commercial, industrial, and military applications including: cellular wireless, aerospace, satellite, Mil-Spec, CATV/Broadband, RFID, test instrumentation, diagnostic imaging and many more.

Digi-Key Electronics offer more than 11.8 million components, with over 2.6 million in stock and available for immediate shipment, from over 1,700 quality name-brand manufacturers.

Industrial Sensors Market To Reach USD 35.47 Billion By 2027

 

The global Industrial Sensors Market is expected to reach USD 35.47 billion by 2027 from USD 18.81 billion in 2019, growing at a CAGR of 9.77% from 2020 to 2027.

Major factors driving the growth of the industrial sensors market are: The surge in penetration of the Internet of Things (IoT) in industrial sector for predictive maintenance in order to improve machine uptime, optimize equipment for productivity and cost reduction. Also the increase in trend of Industry 4.0 & industrial automation, where sensors help monitor and provide critical information about various parameters such as pressure, temperature, flow, gas, position, and humidity, etc.

Customers will benefit from solutions that combine sensor technology with computing power to increase productivity. Thus the increasing acceptance of the internet of things is expected to drive the growth of industrial sensors market size.

Furthermore, because of their ability to optimize operating equipment productivity and effectiveness while also improving machine uptime, sensors have become a valuable tool in the manufacturing sector as the industry moves toward Industry 4.0 and factory automation. Sensing technology is expected to remain the cornerstone for data collection as the demand for industrial automation grows, transforming manufacturing floors into cost-effective, connected, and reliable facilities. This evolution towards industry 4.0 is expected to drive the growth of industrial sensors market size.

New standard to simplify IoT device onboarding

The Fido Alliance has developed a new open standard that will make it easier to connect internet-of-things (IoT) devices to cloud-based and on-premise device management platforms.

Called the Fido Device Onboard (FDO) protocol, the standard specifies a set of protocol interactions and message formats to facilitate device onboarding – the process of installing secrets and configuration data onto a device so that the device can connect and interact securely with an IoT platform.

The Fido Alliance said the new standard – developed together with Intel, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm and Arm – will address the challenges of security, cost and complexity associated with large-scale IoT deployments.

Uptown Columbus creates new locator maps with QR codes

The town of Columbus is using a new creative way to assist visitors maneuver through uptown. Visitors can now scan a QR code on their smart devices. 

The new method makes it a little easier for travelers to find restaurants and other attractions. The new codes will be placed on the map signs around town.

Smaller Chips Open Door to New RFID Applications

Researchers at North Carolina State University have made what is believed to be the smallest state-of-the-art RFID chip, which should drive down the cost of RFID tags. In addition, the chip’s design makes it possible to embed RFID tags into high value chips, such as computer chips, boosting supply chain security for high-end technologies.

“As far as we can tell, it’s the world’s smallest Gen2-compatible RFID chip,” says Paul Franzon, corresponding author of a paper on the work and Cirrus Logic Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State.

Gen2 RFID chips are state of the art and are already in widespread use. One of the things that sets these new RFID chips apart is their size. They measure 125 micrometers (μm) by 245μm. Manufacturers were able to make smaller RFID chips using earlier technologies, but Franzon and his collaborators have not been able to identify smaller RFID chips that are compatible with the current Gen2 technology.

“The size of an RFID tag is largely determined by the size of its antenna – not the RFID chip,” Franzon says. “But the chip is the expensive part.”

The smaller the chip, the more chips you can get from a single silicon wafer. And the more chips you can get from the silicon wafer, the less expensive they are.

“In practical terms, this means that we can manufacture RFID tags for less than one cent each if we’re manufacturing them in volume,” Franzon says.

That makes it more feasible for manufacturers, distributors or retailers to use RFID tags to track lower-cost items. For example, the tags could be used to track all of the products in a grocery store without requiring employees to scan items individually.

The paper, “A 125μm×245μm Mainly Digital UHF EPC Gen2 Compatible RFID tag in 55nm CMOS process,” was presented April 29 at the IEEE International Conference on RFID. The paper was co-authored by Wenxu Zhao, who worked on the project as a Ph.D. student at NC State; and Shepherd Pitts, who worked on the project while a research assistant professor at NC State.

The work was done with support from the National Science Foundation, under grant 1422172; and from NC State’s Chancellor’s Innovation Fund.

Brazil launches fund to invest in Internet of Things startups

Brazilian public and private sector actors have announced the launch of a $45 million venture capital fund focused on early stage investments in companies active in the Internet of Things (IoT) and connectivity space.

The fund was created by the Brazilian Development Fund (BNDES) and Qualcomm Ventures following a tendering process in 2019 to find a company to structure and run the vehicle.

In addition to the two organizations leading the initiative, Brazilian bank Banco do Brasil and Telefônica Ventures, the VC arm of telecoms firm Vivo, have also joined the pool of backers.

The fund will support up to 30 startups in Series A rounds over the next 10 years and it expects to close 7 deals in 2021.

AirTag rival Chipolo One Spot with keyring hole now available

The Chipolo ONE Spot is now available to pre-order, offering a small price benefit, and a built-in keyring hole, over AirTag, its fellow Find My device from Apple.

Apple's AirTags require the separate purchase of an accessory in order to be attached to a ring.

Then Chipolo is selling the new tracker for slightly less than Apple. A single Chipolo ONE Spot costs $28, instead of Apple's $29.

Zyter Introduces Smart Factories IoT Solution

Zyter, Inc., a digital health and IoT-enablement platform, announced the launch of Zyter Smart Factories, an end-to-end intelligent solution that connects factory floor machinery, workers, and building systems using the latest Internet of Things (IoT) technology devices on Zyter’s digital transformation platform.

Zyter Smart Factories is a component of the Zyter SmartSpaces IoT platform. The Zyter SmartSpaces Platform breaks down silos of information by integrating and consolidating data from IoT devices and applications in a seamless interface.

Zyter Smart Factories gives manufacturers a 360-degree view of what is happening across the entire factory floor using a network of connected devices and sensors, including safety equipment worn by workers. IoT sensors send alerts and notifications on worker safety issues, authorization breaches, machinery utilization, and asset monitoring to the Zyter Smart Factories dashboard. Zyter Smart Factories translates this data to analytics to help manufacturers understand factory productivity and safety metrics, as well as gain insight into other metrics related to factory management, operations and efficiency improvements.

Zyter delivers a wide range of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions spanning buildings, stadiums, campuses, and even cities. As the foundation for the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program, the Zyter SmartSpaces platform supports solutions for multiple markets including healthcare, education, logistics, retail, travel, and construction.

Munich first European airport to launch PayPal QR codes for cash-free purchases

Munich is now the first European airport to launch PayPal QR codes for mobile, cash-free purchases in all of its shops and Eurotrade retail subsidiaries.

Running 41 shops, the retail subsidiary of Munich Airport covers entities in news, watches, jewelry, and fashion brands.

Customers can now shop contactless using their smartphones without cash or card readers by using QR (quick response) codes.

The QR codes will be streamlined into existing checkout systems that are secured.

BIXOLON Launches New RFID Label Printers to the European Market

BIXOLON Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of BIXOLON Co. Ltd, a leading global Mobile, Label and POS printer manufacturer, announced the addition of the XT5-40NR and XD5-40tR to its growing RFID label printer line-up.

Built upon the foundations of the existing label printer models, these RFID solutions offer intuitive designs and are packed with value added features which are ideal for a range of labelling applications.

BIXOLON’s industrial grade printing solutions feature UHF RFID printing and encoding capabilities. Incorporating LCD displays which present intuitive menus, alongside simple calibration functions to read RFID tag locations. BIXOLON’s RFID range supports extremely close-spaced RFID inlay encoding (minimum pitch of 0.6inch /16mm) to reduce media waste.

BIXOLON’s XT5-40NR is a powerful, optimum performance 4-inch (114mm) Thermal Transfer Industrial RFID label printer. Presenting fast data processing while printing at speeds of up to 14ips (365mm/sec) with 203 / 300 / 600 dpi print resolution options. The XT5-40NR supports USB, Bluetooth, WLAN, Parallel, Serial, Ethernet (the industry’s fastest 1Gbit/sec) and two USB Host interface options. With an optional Auto Cutter, Peeler, Rewinder and Rewinder+Peeler plus a built in 4.3 inch full colour touch display.

The XD5-40tR is a 4-inch (118mm) Thermal Transfer desktop label printer with UHF RFID encode and print capabilities. Presenting an all-in-one interface as standard; USB + USB Host + Serial + Ethernet, with optional Bluetooth (MFi certified) or dual-band WLAN. The desktop label solution provides print speeds of up to 6ips (152mm/sec) with 203 / 300dpi print resolution options. Alongside a field installable Auto Cutter, Peeler and external paper supply, the XD5-40tR features an adjustable paper guide and media roll diameter space of up to 127mm. With suitability for both ½-inch (74m) and 1-inch (300m) core ribbons.

Unlocking herbaria biodiversity using a QR code

 

Despite the relative ease with which DNA can now be sequenced in large quantities, scientists must first extract that DNA from an organism, often relying on vast numbers of specimens in museums and herbaria, or collections of plant specimens. With more than 250,000 species in the plant kingdom alone, the acquisition and documentation of specimen material is the most time-consuming and error-prone process in large studies.

In a paper published in Applications in Plant Sciences, U.S. National Science Foundation-funded researchers automated the collecting process by using a combination of unique object identifiers, QR codes and citizen science.

A unique object identifier is assigned and physically attached to each herbarium voucher, and the specimen is photographed with the identifier clearly visible.

By itself, this digitization of specimen information with unique object identifiers will be a valuable tool for researchers and will ultimately complement the effort underway in museums around the world to digitize collections. But the researchers took the next step.

QR codes were assigned to each specimen to further streamline data collection. This meant that when extracting and amplifying DNA in the lab, the researchers no longer had to manually enter specimen data into spreadsheets. Instead, that information was automatically populated when the biologists scanned a QR code.

Global Smart Card Market to Reach $15.56 Billion by 2027

The global smart card market was pegged at $10.19 billion in 2019, and is estimated to reach $15.57 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2020 to 2027, according to new research.

Increase in demand for contactless smart card, ongoing technological advancements, and surge in adoption in the banking and financial sector have boosted the growth of the global smart card market. However, high cost of incorporating chip cards hinders the market growth. On the contrary, high demand from the Asia-Pacific region is estimated to open lucrative opportunities for the market players in the future.

On the basis of end use, the telecommunication segment held the lion’s share in 2019, accounting for half of the global market. However, the transportation segment is projected to register the highest CAGR of 9.0% during the forecast period.

Consumer Appetite for Digital Payments Takes Off

As the world went into pandemic lockdown in 2020, consumers shifted their spending habits to embrace contactless tap-and-go payments and online shopping. As stores closed and social distancing took hold, retailers worldwide moved their businesses online, embraced e-commerce and explored the potential of new ways to pay.

More than a year later, research from Mastercard shows that the adoption of new payment technologies is rising, and consumer appetite for new, fast and flexible digital experiences continues to grow.

The Mastercard New Payments Index, conducted across 18 markets around the world, shows 93% of people will consider using at least one emerging payment method, such as cryptocurrency, biometrics, contactless, or QR code, in the next year. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%) agree they have tried a new payment method they would not have tried under normal circumstances, but the pandemic has galvanized people to try flexible new payment options to get what they want, when they want it. With this interest and consumer demand also comes a greater expectation for businesses to provide multiple ways to shop and pay. In fact, more than half of consumers say they would avoid businesses that do not accept electronic payments of any kind.

Contactless technology was the digital catalyst to explore new payment options because of its fast, secure and touch-free experience. Between the first quarter of 2020 and the same period in 2021, more than 100 markets saw contactless as a share of total in-person transactions grow by at least 50 percent. 3 A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, contactless is showing its staying power and dynamism – in the first quarter of 2021 alone, Mastercard saw 1 billion more contactless transactions as compared to the same period of 2020, with particular momentum in emerging contactless markets like the U.S. and Brazil, where contactless penetration in the two markets combined grew by nearly 3x year-over-year. 3 All signs point to a continued growth path for contactless, with nearly 7 in 10 consumers anticipating using a contactless card this year.

Looking to the future, digital currencies, biometrics, contactless and QR codes are trending as emerging payments technologies as people’s comfort with them and understanding of them increases and the use of cash decreases. In fact, 71% of people say they expect to use cash less moving forward. The exploding interest in new payment technologies may encourage businesses to expand their options at checkout.

Verizon Business takes Internet of Things Connectivity Global

Enterprises can now benefit from Global Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity from Verizon Business for mobile assets in 170 countries worldwide with permanent roaming options in North America and Western Europe all on a single SIM. 

This global coverage enables organizations to manage a vast array of IoT devices including asset trackers, industrial gateways and sensors via ThingSpace, Verizon’s self-service IoT platform.

Faster, more secure, and more affordable cellular connectivity is paving the way for the tremendous growth of IoT devices. Industry analysts IDC estimate that 150K+ IoT devices will connect every minute by 2025.

Verizon’s IoT device connectivity operates via a best of breed partner ecosystem and is available globally to US multinational companies with fixed or mobile connectivity requirements. Organizations can deploy devices with permanent roaming across Canada, the UK and more than 10 European markets.

Adidas signs on to Avery Dennison's new atma.io platform

Adidas recently signed on to Avery Dennison's new atma.io platform, which can verify provenance using RFID and other sensors.

Adidas uses the platform for its Infinite Play program, initially piloted in the U.K., which  allows consumers to return some branded items for Adidas credit. Adidas then resells or recycles the products.

The company announced it will launch Infinite Play in the U.S. later in 2021 as part of its sustainability program and its plans to grow the direct-to-consumer business.

GoTab Rolls Out Contactless Ordering & Payment at Food Halls

A versatile cloud-based solution, restaurant commerce platform GoTab is putting its contactless ordering and payment technology to use at food halls, starting at Washington, DC's premier cultural destination Union Market that features local, regional and international vendors.

Visitors can skip the lines and order ahead of their visit to Union Market (for dine-in or takeout), or scan QR codes at the on-site tables to choose dishes at the various food counters within the venue.

Union Market businesses such as Fava Pot and Ramen by UZU have adopted Go Tab to easily customize the platform and adapt to their fast-paced operations.

Phyn Debuts New Smart Water Sensor

Phyn announced the addition of the Phyn Smart Water Sensor to their line-up of leak detection and water monitoring products.

Available in one, two and three-packs, this compact device safeguards homes against water damage by detecting leaks, changes in temperatures and potentially damaging humidity levels.

The Smart Water Sensor can be placed throughout a home and immediately alerts homeowners the moment an issue is detected, serving as an extra layer of protection ideal for hard-to-reach, leak-prone areas.

Phyn is also introducing two accessories that increase the area of protection of the Smart Water Sensor: the Phyn Water Sensor Extension Node and Phyn Water Sensor Cable. The Phyn Water Sensor Extension Node adds on to the Smart Water Sensor to help it detect leaks in narrow or tight-fitting spaces such as under a washing machine or refrigerator. The Phyn Water Sensor Cable extends the water detection area of the Smart Water Sensor by four feet, or up to 12 feet when three cables are combined, and sends an alert if any part of the cable gets wet. The Sensor Cable is perfect for running along the floorboards of a flood-prone basement or creating a loop around a water heater or under an appliance. With the addition of either of these accessories, the Smart Water Sensor continues to act as a temperature and humidity monitor and a leak detector, doubling the opportunity to protect a home from water damage.

1NCE increases bandwidth for cellular IoT device communication

1NCE, the world's first full-fledged operator of IoT network services, is increasing the maximum available data rates for cellular device communication on the Internet of Things for new and existing customers from 128 kbit/s to up to 1 Mbit/s.

With 1NCE, communication is possible via all common cellular network technologies such as 2G, 3G, 4G, NB-IoT and LTE-M. The increase in bandwidth benefits all 3G, 4G and especially LTE-M applications, which can fully utilize this bandwidth by specification.

By transmitting more data in less time, energy consumption of devices can be reduced. This is particularly beneficial for preserving the runtime of battery-operated devices. Over-the-Air Firmware updates can also be performed in a shorter amount of time.

As a technology partner of Deutsche Telekom, 1NCE represents the link between cellular telecommunication networks and modern cloud applications. Since 2020, 1NCE is listed as an Advanced Technology Partner of Amazon Web Services (AWS). Only recently analyst firm Gartner included 1NCE in the Magic Quadrant for Managed IoT Connectivity Services in which they annually list leading companies in various technological disciplines.

1NCE is available for free for 12 months exclusively at AWS Marketplace. The 1NCE IoT Flat Rate itself can be ordered via the 1NCE Online Shop or AWS Marketplace.

AirTag hacked for the first time by security researcher

 

The Apple AirTag has been released almost ten days ago. Now, a security researcher was able to hack the accessory, modifying its NFC URL for Lost Mode.

Stack Smashing tweeted that he was able to “break into the microcontroller of the AirTag” and modified elements of the item tracker software.

While the regular item tracker opens the Find My website, the modified item tracker opens a non-related URL, which could be used for phishing or anything else.

Sensor Market to Reach $345.77 Bn, Globally, by 2027

Rise in trend of Internet of Things (IoT), increase in demand for sensors in development of smart cities, advancement in sensors and its growing usage in smartphones, and other electronics devices, and emerging applications of radar in remote sensing fuel the growth of the global sensor market. On the other hand, the fact that sensors reduce the lifespan of devices restrains the growth to some extent. However, surge in adoption of wearable devices and emergence of innovative applications in the biomedical sector are anticipated to pave the way for lucrative opportunities in the industry.

Based on type, the radar sensor segment contributed to nearly one-fifth of the global sensor market share in 2019, and is expected to lead the trail by 2027. Increase in adoption of radar sensors for various applications and their safety & assistance features fuel the segment growth. The image sensor segment, on the other hand, would register the fastest CAGR of 10.6% throughout the forecast period. This is because these sensors are extensively used in industrial quality control applications.

Based on region, Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, held the major share in 2019, generating around half of the global sensor market. The same region would also exhibit the fastest CAGR of 9.9% from 2021 to 2028. This is attributed to the high-end technological advancements and a rise in the automotive standards in developing countries such as India, China, and Indonesia.

Mir payments system adds support for Apple Pay

Russia’s domestic payments system Mir is adding support for Apple Pay, enabling banks to let customers link a Mir payment card to Apple Wallet and use it to make mobile payments.

According to RBC, three Russian banks — Gazprombank, Promsvyazbank and VTB — have confirmed they will enable customers to connect their Mir cards to Apple Pay on or soon after the date the service goes live.

Google Pay is adding support for UPI payments over NFC

In India, Google Pay primarily revolves around sending money via UPI, the country's digital payment platform.

It was only last year that the India-exclusive version of the app got support for debit and credit card payments over NFC.

Now, Google is looking to further improve the mobile payment solution with NFC-initiated UPI payments.

Using NFC is surely more intuitive for initiating UPI payments, which currently require users to either type in a UPI ID or scan a QR code — both of which take more effort.

Sustainable RFID Tag Designed for Use in Microwave Ovens

Renewable materials company Stora Enso Intelligent Packaging has completed its portfolio of food and beverage RFID labels, known as the ECO RFID Food & Beverage Collection.

The ECO Meal tag is part of a family of four ECO products for food, along with the ECO Hanger, ECO Stripe and ECO Cap, that enable the RFID identification of food and drinks sold at self-service stores and traditional supermarkets.

Stora Enso makes products based on renewable materials, and it released its first ECO RFID tags in 2018 to enhance its intelligent packaging products.

T-Mobile takes on AirTag with new LTE-connected SyncUp item tracker

T-Mobile announced its own AirTag-like product called SyncUP TRACKER that helps keep track of the items that matter.

The SyncUP TRACKER uses T-Mobile’s LTE network so it can be found virtually anywhere and also giving near real-time tracking and virtual boundary alerts, even when hundreds of miles away.

The downside of SyncUP TRACKER is it only lasts up to seven days depending on usage. It has a 900 mAh rechargeable battery. The AirTag has a replaceable battery that lasts for a year.

A fast EtherCAT RFID interface for decentralized automation

The TBEC series has been added to the company’s range of RFID solutions for fast interfaces to EtherCAT networks.

The TBEC module (photo) in fully potted plastic housing comes with protection according to IP67/IP69K standards and can be used in an extended temperature range from –40 to 70°C.

Sensors, lights or other actuators can be connected to the eight universal DXP I/Os.

Cadillac Is Phasing Out NFC Mobile Device Pairing

GM will begin phasing out Near Field Communication (NFC) from Cadillac models during the 2022 model year, GM Authority has learned.

NFC, which is currently fitted as standard for 2021 model year Cadillac models, allows data to be transferred between two compatible electronic devices which are very close to each other but not physically touching.

The decision to phase out NFC during the 2022 model year suggests that it will not be used on any new Cadillac model in the future. This would include the 2022 Cadillac Blackwing models.

Allegion Expands Partnership With CBORD to Support Contactless Mobile IDs on Android Devices For Higher Education Campuses

Allegion U.S. together with CBORD, a higher education technology solutions provider, announced that they have expanded their offerings and now provide on-campus mobile credential solutions on Android phones.

Students, faculty and staff on participating campuses can now use their Android phones to conveniently, safely and securely access campus buildings and make purchases through Google Pay, while the universities benefit from operational efficiencies.

Allegion and CBORD first launched contactless mobile IDs for campuses in August 2019, for Apple devices. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Vermont and University of San Francisco were among the first schools to leverage the solution. The solution was well-received and will be extended to Android phones on more campuses throughout this year to reach an even larger population.

Once the CBORD credential is provisioned, users simply present their device to NFC-enabled readers to pay for food, vending or laundry, or access exterior and interior doors at campus buildings and residence halls. Schlage readers and locks also support the Transact NFC Android and the Apple iOS NFC mobile credentials. CBORD and Transact's Mobile Credentials for Google Pay leverage NXP Semiconductor's secure MIFARE 2GO cloud service, which enables use of the credentials  on all compatible Android NFC-enabled phones.

San Antonio Jail System Deploys RFID Inmate Tracking System

Bexar Co. Sheriff's Office has fully deployed GUARDIAN RFID's Inmate Tracking System for Bexar County's Adult Detention Center.

Bexar Co. Adult Detention Center is digitally transforming their inmate management objectives with the Command & Control platform from GUARDIAN RFID to automate its inmate tracking, and security rounds including face-to-face cell checks, and other activity logging in real-time. The objective is to provide its frontline staff with better tools to demonstrate continuous compliance with Texas Jail Standards and the Sandra Bland Act, while providing supervisors and command staff real-time operational awareness.

Bexar County corrections deputies are using SPARTAN, the ultra-rugged Android from GUARDIAN RFID, running Mobile Command software. The jail deployed hardened RFID tags strategically located throughout their facility to automate a wide range of data collection and reporting logged at the point of responsibility.

The GUARDIAN RFID Cloud platform, OnDemand, will also help Bexar Co. corrections facility gain real-time situational awareness, monitor security round performance, and access activity streams and reporting tools from anywhere, while working with its current, homegrown jail management system. GUARDIAN RFID will deploy two-way integration with Tyler Technologies' jail management system, Tyler Corrections, once live in 2023.

RFID Market Worth $ 19.47 Billion, Globally, by 2028

According to Verified Market Research, the Global RFID Market was valued at USD 9.22 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 19.47 Billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 9.79% from 2021 to 2028.

Increasing installation of RFID systems in manufacturing units to improve productivity is the main driving factors that propel the market growth. Manufacturing facilities need to monitor equipment condition and performance, defects in processes, and system failures, and ensure predictive maintenance of equipment and systems through the integration of specialized tools and adoption of quality management practices. The use of RFID technology for plant asset management helps manufacturers achieve this goal.

A combination of RFID tags and sensor solutions is an ideal solution for various locations in a manufacturing facility, such as conveyors, cameras, boilers, tanks, pipes, etc., to manage and maintain the quality and output of a manufacturing process. RFID tags are attached to movable assets in the industries such as tools, manufacturing equipment, and process components (e.g., doors, engine, wheels, mirrors, and other parts of an automobile) that are part of a final product to track them in the process. The use of RFID solutions not only helps track the parts but also helps understand the lifecycle of manufacturing equipment. The increase in penetration of these solution is projected to increase worldwide with the growth of the RFID market.

In the current scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies have faced a slowdown in operations due to the lockdown and restrictions on working norms from governments. Companies need to ensure adherence to social distancing mandates within the plant. Using RFID technology with industrial automation solutions, companies can revive faster than what was predicted during mid-2020. The benefits of RFID help manufacturers not only track the parts and equipment remotely but also help to identify if more than the stipulated number of people have gathered at a point.