Brazilian Postal Agency Tracks Packages via RFID

Brazil has launched operations to improve processes and offer new postal services around the world with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

Correios Brazil is implementing the use of smart tags in correspondence and especially in product boxes—a growing demand in e-commerce.

Readers are installed at the cargo entry and exit gates of Correios's main operational units throughout Brazil. Parcels and packages are transported in a unitized manner inside cargo containers that hold hundreds of packages, depending on their individual dimensions and weights.

Global Internet of Things (IoT) Connectivity Market to Reach $13.8 Billion by 2026

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Internet of Things (IoT) Connectivity estimated at US$4.9 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$13.8 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 18.5% over the analysis period.

The Internet of Things (IoT) Connectivity market in the U.S. is estimated at US$1.6 Billion in the year 2021.

China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$2.1 Billion by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 17.7% over the analysis period.

Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 16.5% and 15.8% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 13.5% CAGR.

At 9.8% CAGR RFID Reader Market to Reach $22.46 Bn by 2026

 

The handheld RFID readers segment contributed to more than three-fifths of the global RFID reader market share in 2018, and is expected to dominate throughout the forecast period.

This is due rise in adoption of RFID tag and increase in need for mobility for RFID readers. In addition, the surge in demand for handheld RFID readers in automotive and manufacturing industry fuels the growth of the segment.

On the other hand, the fixed RFID reader segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 22.6% from 2019 to 2026. This is attributed to the factors such as supply asset management, utilization and work-in-process (WIP) tracking, chain efficiency, improve in maintenance tracking, and drive efficient logistics.

Based on type, the ultra-high frequency (UHF) (860 MHz to 960 MHz) segment accounted for more than two-fifths of the global RFID reader market revenue in 2018, and is anticipated to retain its dominance during 2019–2026. Simultaneously, the high frequency (13.56 MHz) segment is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR of 14.7% by the end of 2026. This is due to the increase in demand for the high frequency RFID reader, because of its features like patient flow tracking, ticketing, tracking library books, and data transfer applications.

Battery-free Sensors Market worth $109 million by 2026

According to the new market research report Battery-free Sensors Market the global Battery-Free Sensors Market size is projected to grow from USD 32 million in 2021 to USD 109 million by 2026; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 27.6% from 2021 to 2026.

With rapid technological advancements, battery-free sensors are increasingly adopted in IoT applications to improve production efficiency and reduce operational and maintenance costs in the wake of COVID-19. Additionally, the ongoing miniaturization of medical and electronic devices and the growing implementation of automated condition monitoring solutions in smart factories are expected to boost the growth of the battery-free sensors market during the forecast period.

Temperature sensors segment held the largest size of the market in 2020. Battery-free sensors are at the initial phase of commercialization. At present, only a few companies are providing battery-free sensors. Among other sensors, temperature sensors are the most common sensors offered by these manufacturers. Temperature sensors account for the largest share due to the high deployment of these sensors by the manufacturing and process industries, such as oil & gas, food & beverages, and automotive industries, in hard-to-reach or remote machinery to monitor the machine condition. The data gathered by these temperature sensors enable effective predictive maintenance programs in industrial plants to avoid costly downtime. These sensors are also maintenance-free, making them preferable for various industrial operations.

Automotive segment is expected to hold the largest share in the battery-free sensors market during the forecast period. Automobile companies across the world are emphasizing on automating and upgrading their assembly lines. Automobile manufacturers adopt battery-free sensors at a significant rate owing to their advantages, such as prediction and prevention of equipment failure by improvising the performance and efficiency of assets and equipment at reduced maintenance costs. Battery-free sensors enable predictive maintenance and help efficient handling of assembly operations in the automotive industry. Hence, the automotive industry is expected to capture the largest market share throughout the forecast period. Automobile original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and players within the mobility industry are among the worst hit by the COVID-19pandemic. Automobile OEMs increasingly rely on just-in-time manufacturing, which is presently affecting their production capabilities and overall exports owing to supply chain disruptions.

Quick Response (QR) codes could stick around at restaurants

Link shortening service Bitly told CNBC that it saw a 750% increase in the number of QR code downloads since the start of the pandemic.

Restaurants in the United States and elsewhere in particular addressed the pandemic by replacing menus with digital menus accessible via a QR code that could be scanned with a smartphone.

Now, restaurants will probably keep using these menus. They can more easily update their menus if the price of goods changes due to elements such as inflation, fluctuations in food and commodity prices, and other variables. It also cuts down on paper use.

New firmware version for AirTag item trackers

Apple is beginning to roll out a new version of firmware to its AirTag item trackers. It comes two months after the previous release, which made improvements to anti-stalking features for the item trackers.

Today’s new release 1.0.291 features build number 1A291a.

It’s unclear what’s new in this updated AirTag firmware version. Apple has confirmed that it is working on an Android app that will detect AirTags and other Find My-enabled accessories.

Klein ISD Launches SMART ID Card System

Klein Independent School District in Texas will begin using a new ID card system for the 2021-2022 school year featuring SMART cards that will offer new benefits to students, faculty, and parents.

The cards’ scanning capabilities will include payment for school meals and quick access to checking out library books. Students who ride the bus to and from school will be required to scan their cards to enter and exit school buses.

Global Subscriber Identity Module (SIM): Market to Reach 8.6 Billion SIM Cards by 2027

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) estimated at 7.1 Number of SIM Cards in Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of 8.6 Number of SIM Cards in Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 2.8% over the period 2020-2027, according to a new report.

The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) market in the U.S. is estimated at 1.9 Number of SIM Cards in Billion in the year 2020. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of 1.7 Number of SIM Cards in Billion by the year 2027 trailing a CAGR of 5.1% over the analysis period 2020 to 2027.

Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 0.7% and 2.1% respectively over the 2020-2027 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 1.3% CAGR.

Podcast: An IoT networking bonanza

Elon Musk’s SpaceX satellite broadband company is getting into the IoT with the acquisition of Swarm, a smallsat IoT connectivity provider. We talk about that deal, plus what it means that Helium scored $111 million in funding led by Andreessen Horowitz.

HID Global Acquires Omni-ID

HID Global announced that it has acquired Omni-ID, a leading manufacturer of RFID tags and industrial IoT hardware devices for passive and active tagging, tracking, monitoring and alerting applications. The acquisition extends HID’s market leadership in RFID technology and strengthens its presence in India and China.

Omni-ID provides passive, rugged long-range RAIN RFID ultra-high frequency (UHF) tags and labels in several form factors for an array of identification requirements.

The company focuses on organizations in the industrial, oil & gas, transportation and other markets seeking rugged UHF RFID solutions for use in challenging environmental conditions (high heat, wind, dirt, explosive and other difficult scenarios).

Additionally, Omni-ID brings passive UHF temperature sensing to the HID identification technologies portfolio and fortifies HID’s deep expertise and capabilities in custom RFID design and personalization.

Active tags and solutions from Omni-ID are implemented with embedded technologies and protocols such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), LoRaWAN, GPS, Quuppa and Wirepas, which complement the HID Location Services offerings.

San Diego switches to account-based contactless transit ticketing

San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) is rolling out an account-based contactless ticketing system that will let passengers pay their public transit fares with a physical or digital transit card and have those fares capped to a maximum of the price of a daily or monthly pass.

MTS’s account-based Pronto fare payment system will replace its existing Compass transit card and will also be available on services run by the North County Transit District (NCTD) in the northern part of the San Diego region.

To promote the new system, MTS is letting passengers with a Pronto card or the Pronto mobile app ride for free on all services during the month of September.

Goodix Technology Releases NB-IoT SoC Solution

Goodix Technology released its first NB-IoT system-on-chip (SoC) solution -- the GR851x series that fully supports 3GPP Rel-14 and Rel-15 standards.

Integrating an ultra-low power OpenCPU application system, it delivers stability and high security, providing a competitive cellular IoT solution for diverse application scenarios, such as smart cities, consumer electronics, industry 4.0, and smart agriculture.

With the emergence of evermore innovative applications, NB-IoT is primed for future growth. According to the latest white paper from Counterpoint Research, over 1.2 billion NB-IoT connections are expected globally by 2025, accounting for around one third of all cellular IoT connections.

GoDaddy Payments Adds Online Pay Links and Virtual Terminal

GoDaddy announced the launch of new Pay Links and Virtual Terminal features within GoDaddy Payments, enabling small business owners to take online and remote payments without the requirement of a website or an online store.

Small businesses without websites are often left out of ecommerce solutions, despite consumers' increasing preference for paying online. With Pay Links and Virtual Terminal, small businesses without a heavy web presence can continue to attract and serve their customers with a customizable and affordable online payment solution that suits their unique needs—whether that's a local pizza parlor, flower shop, photographer or craftsperson selling their goods on Facebook or Instagram.

Pay Links enable small businesses to create a link to a secure checkout page, share it with their customers across email, social media, text or generate a designated QR code and get paid within minutes. Businesses can customize their Pay Links with product images and a logo, so customers have a seamless brand experience.

Virtual Terminal turns any device with a web browser into a payment terminal, enabling small business owners to take payments over the phone. As part of GoDaddy Payments, both Pay Links and Virtual Terminal accept all major credit and debit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover for a low transaction fee with no long-term contracts, no monthly minimums or any hidden fees.

50,000 Vermonters to receive new driver’s licenses after barcode errors

Almost 50,000 Vermonters are getting new driver’s licenses after several newly printed cards were rejected by federal transportation scanning machines.

The error did not impact people’s ability to travel, a DMV official said, but it slowed down the process of passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at airports.

The issue arose due to a problem with 2D barcodes located on the back of the license, which are read by TSA’s Credential Authentication Technology machines.

New York Schools Take Concrete Actions to Protect Students with Real Vaccination ID

As COVID-19 cases fueled by the delta variant continue to rise across the country, colleges and universities are looking for responsible, reliable methods to safely welcome students back to campus. 

In New York State, many schools are taking matters into their own hands. Several colleges, including St. Joseph's College, are now mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for all on-campus students enrolled in the 2021 fall semester, while signing with infectious disease screening company CastleBranch to help demonstrate vaccination or waiver status with Real Vaccination ID.

To help implement a vaccine mandate, several NY-based schools, including St. Joseph's College, have signed with Real Vaccination ID, which provides both physical and digital proof of an individual's vaccination or waiver status regardless of residency, and keeps an individual's personal, private and medical data safe from unauthorized disclosure.

A discreet card the size of a standard driver's license, each card is paired with a QR code and unique access code that can be used, with permission of the cardholder, to electronically verify the individual's identity, vaccination status, and view validated primary-source vaccination documents.

For those who can't receive the vaccine for medical or closely held religious beliefs, CastleBranch created the Real Vaccination ID Waiver card, which communicates vaccine exemption status using the same technology.

Nearly 1,000 U.S. Healthcare Facilities Adopt Terso Solutions Technology

Terso Solutions has announced the deployment of its RAIN Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) solutions in nearly 1,000 U.S. healthcare facilities.

This level of integration within medical centers, VA hospitals and Ambulatory Surgery Centers reflects the continued need for technology that helps streamline operations and provides visibility into supply chains across the healthcare industry.
RAIN RFID is a well-established wireless technology that connects billions of items to the Internet of Things, providing visibility and process automation that enables digital transformation.

Terso works in partnership with Impinj, a RAIN RFID provider and Internet of Things expert, in an effort to meet market demands for improving the supply chain across healthcare.

Nametag Announces New, Universal Vaccine Verification Platform: Covidproof.com

Nametag  – the fast, safe, everywhere ID – launched a new offering called Covidproof.com. Powered by the same technology that helps keep your digital information safe by verifying people, not passwords, Covidproof.com is a US-based platform that allows users to prove their vaccination status quickly and easily to businesses upon entry, right from their phones.

A user simply logs in with their Nametag profile, which is connected to their government-issued ID, and then follows a series of self-attestation prompts to list their vaccination status, along with uploading a photo of their vaccine card.

This process generates a QR code and a unique URL users can either show to restaurants, gyms, theaters, and other indoor spaces upon arrival, or send along to the venue in advance that proves they have received their vaccine and are safe and compliant to enter.

Giant Eagle Becomes First U.S. Grocery and Convenience Store Chain to Accept PayPal and Venmo In Store

Giant Eagle announced that PayPal and Venmo are now accepted forms of payment at each of the company's 474 supermarket and GetGo locations.

Giant Eagle and GetGo become the first grocery and convenience store chains in the U.S. to offer customers the ability to utilize PayPal and Venmo payments at the register.

Customers simply open either the PayPal or Venmo mobile app and click the Scan button and selecting the 'show to pay' option. PayPal customers will be able to pay using stored debit or credit cards, bank accounts, PayPal balance, or PayPal Credit. With Venmo QR Codes, customers can pay using their stored debit or credit cards, bank account, Venmo balance or Venmo Credit Card for eligible customers.

GUARDIAN RFID Announces SPARTAN 3

GUARDIAN RFID announces the launch of SPARTAN 3, the latest in the SPARTAN series of ultra-rugged Android devices made for prisons and corrections professionals.

A Snapdragon octa-core CPU powers the SPARTAN 3 experience and delivers long battery life and fast Wi-Fi speeds as well as powerful, on-device artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.

Mobile Command XR, set to debut later this year, embeds a number of AI-powered capabilities into the next-generation of GUARDIAN RFID software to provide hyper-vigilance and performance insights never seen before.

Google announces new USB-C Titan Security Key with NFC

Google has announced some changes to its lineup of Titan Security Keys on the Google Store. Google now offer only two types of Titan Security Keys: a USB-A and a USB-C version. Both of these keys have Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality, which allows you to use it with most mobile devices by simply tapping it on the back of your mobile device in order to sign in securely.

In 2018, Google introduced the Titan Security Key as a direct defense against credential phishing. Phishing occurs when an attacker tries to trick you into giving them your username and password, and it remains one of the easiest and most successful ways of breaching accounts online.

Bergamo rolls out account-based contactless ticketing

Passengers on buses, trams and funicular railway services in the northern Italian city of Bergamo can now make contactless payments using their credit or debit card or from a digital wallet on their NFC-enabled mobile device.

Bus and funicular railway operator Azienda Trasporti Bergamo (ATB) and tram operator Tramvie Elettriche Bergasmasche (TEB) have rolled out the account-based ticketing service on all their vehicles.

The contactless payment system on ATB and TEB vehicles uses account-based ticketing, which means the ticket is not stored on a device or other media, such as a smartphone or smart card, but in the cloud.

Metalcraft Subsidiary to Design and Manufacture RFID Inlays

Metalcraft has opened a new subsidiary in Ames, Iowa, known as Inlay Innovation by Metalcraft. The company's goal was to provide custom inlay manufacturing so its clients could purchase customized labels, with inlays designed and manufactured in the United States by the spinoff company for specific applications.

The facility has already begun developing, testing and building inlays specific to customers' orders, RFID Journal reports.

Metalcraft was launched in 1950 to provide property-identification solutions, initially with printed labels and then using barcoded labels.

PureAire Introduces New Carbon Dioxide Monitor

PureAire Monitoring Systems introduces a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Monitor to the company's full line of Oxygen Deficiency Monitors and Combustible/Toxic Gas Detectors.  

The new Monitor is designed for continuous monitoring of carbon dioxide levels in a wide variety of applications, including restaurants and bars, schools, office buildings, and any other locations where carbon dioxide may be used, stored, or present.

PureAire's Carbon Dioxide Monitor continually measures CO2 levels from 0-50,000 parts per million (ppm). Air quality measurements are taken every 2 seconds and are visible on the Monitor's easy-to read backlit display. The Monitor can be linked to a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), a multi-channel controller, a remote display, or tied into building systems themselves.

PureAire's Carbon Dioxide Monitor features built-in LED visual and 90dB audible alarms. The Monitor responds in seconds to changes in carbon dioxide levels and will remain accurate over a wide range of temperature (0-50° Celsius) and humidity ( 0-95%RH) levels. The user-selectable alarm thresholds will activate the alarms when carbon dioxide reaches an unsafe level.

Auburn University launches mobile student IDs

Auburn University is going contactless. The university announced that its Tiger Card can now be added as a mobile student ID card to compatible iPhone, Apple Watch or Android devices.

Students will be able to use the mobile ID to access campus buildings, purchase meals and more.    

Once provisioned, users simply present an iPhone, Apple Watch or Android phone to NFC-enabled devices to pay for food, vending or laundry or open exterior and interior doors to campus buildings and residence halls.

Belgian railways trial ‘check in check out’ fare payments

Belgian railway operator SNCB is to pilot an automated app-based ticketing system that uses geolocation technology to track a passenger’s journey and then calculates the fare.

The system uses GPS data from the passenger’s smartphone to map the journey from start to finish. The passenger can then pay that fare through the SNCB FTQ Lab app.

The system uses a check-in/check-out system developed by Swiss technology provider Fairtiq that is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

Global Wearable Electronics Market to Reach $50 Billion by 2024

Wearable electronics market continues to grow led by the growing adoption of wearables in varied application markets. The expanding Internet penetration rates, increase mobile subscriber base and growing adoption of digital technologies are all favoring growth.

With an appropriate mobile app ecosystem being developed for wearable devices, consumers are displaying greater preference for such devices. Growth in smartphone users and increasing availability of apps compatible with wearables are also fostering growth.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Wearable Electronics is projected to reach US$50 Billion by 2024, registering a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.6% over the analysis period.

United States represents the largest regional market for Wearable Electronics, accounting for an estimated 37.8% share of the global total. The market is projected to reach US$23.7 Billion by the close of the analysis period.

China is expected to spearhead growth and emerge as the fastest growing regional market with a CAGR of 28.4% over the analysis period.

Socket Mobile Announces Upgrade For SocketScan S740 Universal Barcode Scanner

Socket Mobile is  releasing an updated version of the SocketScan S740. The S740 now comes with a variety of versatile new features and performance enhancements.

The S740 is a Universal Barcode Scanner able to read 1D and 2D barcodes. With version 21 upgrades, the S740 reads 1D, 2D, OCR A & B fonts, OCR USC, OCR passport, OCR MICR (E13B) fonts and DotCode, covering most travel identification documents, including passports, international IDs and micro QR codes on drivers' licenses.

Additionally, the upgrade improves smaller barcode scanning, providing an expanded scanning range of 2 to 19 inches. The universe of what the S740 can do has expanded at no additional cost to the end-user.

Like the rest of the SocketScan family, the S740 has a lightweight, ergonomic design and long-lasting batteries. The scanner is exceptionally easy to use, with intuitive notifications for battery level, Bluetooth connection, and scanning status. The S740 is designed to be software compatible with all applications, as well as Android, iOS and Windows devices.

The S740 is also an excellent choice for businesses offering duty-free purchases or other establishments that need to scan a passport to complete transactions. The S740 can scan UPCs on merchandise, QR codes for loyalty cards, OCR alphanumeric information on passports and IDs, plus the latest DotCode.

In addition, for situations and environments requiring a sturdier barcode scanner, the DuraScan D740 will have the same variety of new features and performance enhancements as the S740.

Touchless QR codes open new doors for scammers

The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers that they need to be extra careful if they're sent a QR code.

One victim told the BBB Scam Tracker that they received a fraudulent letter about student loan consolidation. It contained a QR code that appeared to link to the official Studentaid.gov website.

The use of a QR code by scammers offers another way to steal personal information or get you to download malware onto your device. The scammers want you to scan the code with your phone’s camera. But you have no idea where the QR code could end up taking you or what the scammers might do next.

Brigade Electronics launches RFID ZoneSafe solution

Brigade Electronics has added ZoneSafe, a radio frequency identification (RFID) proximity warning system, to their range of vehicle safety systems. 

ZoneSafe uses RFID technology to create detection zones around vehicles, reducing the risk of injury or damage from collisions and near-miss occurrences with people and property.

ZoneSafe uses vehicle-mounted antennas that communicate with detection tags that can be worn by workers, set up in restricted areas, or placed on objects or property.

When a tag enters a detection zone, the vehicle operator will automatically receive a visual and audible alert via an in-cab control unit, which will allow them to take the necessary action.

Owing to the RFID technology, which does not require line of sight, tags will be detected regardless of obstructions, blind spots, adverse weather conditions or poor visibility.

New York Citi Bikes being swiped by joyriding scammers

Scammers in New York City are stealing Citi Bikes by switching the QR scan codes on two bicycles near each other at a docking station, then waiting for an unsuspecting cyclist to try to unlock a bike with his or her smartphone app, according to the New York Post.

The ripped-off ride is worth only $3 by itself. But a victimized customer could be on the hook for the $1,200 bike if it ends up lost or stolen.

Citi Bike says it is aware of the issue and, while it has not been widespread, has been actively working to address it in a number of ways, including upgraded QR decals.

WISeKey’s NFC CapSeal Connects High-End Wines and Liquors Brands to Their Digital Twin NFTs

WISeKey International Holding announced that its CapSeal NFC smart tag with opening detection technology permits objects, such as wine & spirits bottles, to create digital twins of their exclusive wines and liquors, which are required to mint NFTs. 

The combination of the physical product and its digital twin significantly boost the authentication and value of the NFT auctions.

Various wine and liquors brands have recently become interested in NFTs. The biggest name to get involved recently was Yao Family Wines of Napa, a premium winery owned by former NBA star Yao Ming, which auctioned a bottle of The Chop Cabernet Sauvignon in April alongside a “limited-edition NFT”.

Other wineries from France to Georgia are using NFTs as novel ways of marketing and promoting their wines. Flavien Darius Pommier, who owns Chateau Darius in St Emilion, is selling four NFTs for each vintage for around €100. For each NFT you get a piece of artwork, the opportunity to store your wine, and two physical bottles. This is all made possible by WISeKey’s patent-pending CapSeal smart tags which are fully compatible with NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) standard. These tags are based on the company’s CapSeal VaultIC154 NFC secure element.

When placed on a bottle of spirit or a bottle of lubricant oil, for instance, and tapped by an NFC phone, the chip is able to securely authenticate and track the bottle like an ePassport does. It offers the same certified security level. It also allows the brand to broadcast personalized messages to the phone-holder detecting whether the bottle has been opened or not.

Moscow Metro launches public biometric ticketing trial

Passengers using Moscow Metro’s Line 4 services can now join a public pilot scheme to test the transport network’s FacePay biometric contactless ticketing system.

The public trial follows testing by Moscow Metro staff and will initially involve a group of 1,000 passengers.

Those members will be able to pass through gates with a special black sticker with facial recognition and transfer to Moscow Central Circle and Moscow Central Diameters free of charge.

Avidity Science expands RFID capabilities with acquisition

Avidity Science, a Waterford-based company specializing in lab equipment and water purification systems for scientific research and health care facilities, has expanded its radio frequency identification offerings with the acquisition of UMG Inc. of Golden, Colorado.

UMG specializes in small microprocessor electronic products, including small implantable devices and telemetry data transfer in the biological research field.

The deal marks Avidity's sixth in the past four years, including four announced in October 2020: Bio Medic Data Systems, Hydropac, Lab Products Inc. and Harford Systems.

O-CITY and DSK Bank's team up to launch contactless payments in Bulgarian public transport

BPC's smart city payment division  O-CITY has partnered with DSK Bank in Bulgaria and its subsidiary DSK Mobile. Together the companies have accelerated Sofia's digital payment transformation in mass transit by enabling an open loop contactless EMV card to pay directly into the transport vehicle, which allows travelers across the capital to experience contactless payments.

Passengers can now pay using contactless Visa or Mastercard bank cards issued by any bank or fintech company across the world or respective NFC mobile wallet, in 3,900 validators installed across the capital's public ground transportation system including buses, trams, trolleybuses.

The project will see 450 stations across the metro system accept payments in a second phase. With Visa Mass Transit and Mastercard Pay As You Go solutions, a payment can be processed in milliseconds and reduces the need for cash, as the bank card can be used as a 'ticket' on public transport.

With a population of 1.3 million people and around 0.5 million guests daily, Sofia sees its residents and visitors getting a superior travel experience which will continue to be improved with the new payments system.

O-CITY ensures passengers can seamlessly and securely tap- to-pay with their bank card in public transport or any other means of payment, wallet, QR code and more. The rollout has come at a time when the pandemic has boosted the adoption of contactless payments everywhere in response to social distancing and contact-free precautions.

Turkish taxis drivers get contactless payments acceptance on Android phones

Turkish taxi firm Taxi 7×24 is piloting a software POS (sPOS) solution that enables drivers to convert an NFC device supporting Android 8.1 or above into a contactless payments terminal by downloading an app.

The app also enables drivers to transfer their earnings from the payments collected to a prepaid card that they can use to withdraw cash from ATMs or make card payments.

Taxi drivers who were able to receive payment by credit card were using traditional POS machines provided by banks. However, when a taxi driver wanted to buy a POS machine, there were too many procedures, documents and processes, Payneer Technology, the technology provider implementing the solution, says.

Plug-and-Play Solution for Tool Data Management

Balluff offers a simple plug-and-play solution to record and manage injection mold data. Using RFID, the new digital tool management system, Connected Mold-ID, provides tool data including details of the tool’s history, production cycles, and current status of the individual Mold-ID systems.

The autonomous system optimizes use of the molds while preventing mold failures and reducing unplanned downtime. The inspection intervals are always visible. Users are informed of each tool deployment and can be ready with format changes when needed.

All data is stored directly on the tool via the RFID data carrier as well as in the software. The software is accessible through any modern web browser.

Human error related to manual management of mold data can lead to interrupted production processes and information gaps. Connected Mold-ID meets the demand for fast process control and simple management. Connected Mold-ID increases the flexibility and efficiency of your production and provides transparency into the process – all factors of intelligent manufacturing and requirements of IIoT.

A Bluetooth Sensor Platform for faster product development and lower costs

Eindhoven-based Vention designs and builds embedded products by writing custom algorithms that run on custom-built electronics, often featuring wireless connectivity and sensor technology.

Wockel is the result of the experience Vention gathered in years of developing sensor-enhanced products for their customers.

By bringing together sensors, battery management, a microcontroller, and Bluetooth
communication in one place and linking it to a customized application, the Wockel enables
developers to almost immediately start collecting data for the validation of their product. After that, the knowledge gained can be combined with the Wockel platform to be incorporated into the final product.

A prime example of Wockel, a bluetooth enabled, motion sensing wearable that detects Freeze
of Gait symptoms with Parkinson's patients and triggers a cue to snap them out of the freeze,
was developed by Cue2Walk and Vention. Using the Wockel platform, Cue2Walk was able to
start testing with their demonstrator products in a few weeks. Additional actuators were easily added on the extension interface of the Wockel and additional application code and the
algorithms of Cue2Walk were implemented. In the development of the final product all these
components are integrated to create a fully custom product.

Sportswear brand adds NFC zippers

Swedish sportswear brand Houdini has added an NFC-enabled zipper pull to its latest One Parka waterproof coat that lets consumers who purchase the garment connect with the brand and access use and care guides, support services and other digital features.

The zipper pull also enables the company to track the lifecycle of each individual garment via a cloud-based digital profile so that it can be connected, managed and stewarded across lifecycles.

The One Parka is the first product to feature a TouchLink NFC zipper pull developed by fastening manufacturer YKK that connects with technology provider EON’s Product Cloud platform.

Strasbourg rolls out interoperable NFC ticketing

Owners of Android NFC smartphones can now purchase, store and validate digital tickets and monthly or annual passes for buses, trams and other public transportation services in the French city of Strasbourg.

Transit operator Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS) has rolled out an interoperable mobile ticketing service on all its transit networks.

The service is the first to use the HCE Calypso Interoperable Application (HCIA) — a solution developed by the Calypso Networks Association (CNA) — that uses host card emulation (HCE) technology to secure transactions, and CNA’s Hoplink platform to enable interoperability with other Calypso-based ticketing systems.

Highly accurate laser distance sensor tracks targets up to 500 m away

The new AS2100 Accurate Distance Sensor is an improved replacement product for the now retired AR2000.

The AS2100 is designed to work well outdoors, in bright lights, and even on difficult hot or dark surfaces.

It can measure natural targets up to 100 m away and Acuity reflective targets up to 500 m away with an accuracy of ±1 mm.

The AS2100 has a Class 2, red, visible laser diode for simple aiming and setup. The spot size starts at 0.15 in and grows to only about 2 in at distances of 100 m. With a maximum measurement frequency of 250 Hz, these sensors excel in distance measurement applications with bright, dark, hot, and textured surfaces.

Parallels Toolbox 5.0 adds new barcode and image recognition tools

Parallels International GmbH unveiled a major update to its eclectic toolkit for Windows and Mac users with the release of Parallels Toolbox 5.0. The latest new release adds five additional tools to its roster, along with a handful of improvements and other enhancements.

Version 5.0 opens by adding two new barcode tools. First, Barcode Generator can be used to generate 13 different types of barcodes including QR codes and EAN-8/EAN-13 codes. QR codes can be generated simply by typing (or pasting) the content to encode. The code can then be saved as PNG image or copied to the clipboard.

The tool is accompanied by Barcode Reader, which is capable of scanning in QR codes and barcodes from the computer’s camera or via an image file.

IoT sensor startup Wiliot pulls in $200 million

Wiliot, an Internet of Things startup that’s developed low-cost Bluetooth sensors to better manage inventory and reduce waste across grocery, medicine, apparel and myriad other industries, has raised $200 million from SoftBank Vision Fund 2.

The funding round will help Wiliot, co-headquartered in Israel and San Diego, ramp up the rollout of its next generation sensors and new sensing as a service business model.

The company’s battery free sensor is the size of a postage stamp. It attaches to food packaging, vaccine vials, clothes, pill bottles and thousands of other products across the supply chain. The tags harvest power from surrounding Wi-Fi, cellular and Bluetooth radio signals.

New funding for satellite-enabled sensor connectivity solutions

Scottish startup R3-IoT is expanding to North America after raising early funds for connecting sensors and devices with satellite-enabled solutions.

R3-IoT’s gateways link up with nearby sensors and devices, using satellites in multiple orbits and cellular networks to transmit data through the cloud to customers — or to its software platform that translates the information into insights that inform business decisions.

The $4.3 million seed funding led by venture capital firm Space Capital puts R3-IoT on track to launch commercial services in November.