NFC Market Size To Reach USD 54,521 Million By 2028

The global NFC market size was valued at USD 15,531 million in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 54,521 million by 2028, registering a CAGR of 14.8% from 2021 to 2028.

The expansion of the NFC market is projected to be fueled by the growing trend of mobile commerce. Mobile commerce is a rapidly growing technology sector that has grown at an unparalleled rate over the last decade.

NFC technology is now used by smartphone users to make payments. Furthermore, with technology like NFC enabling PoS systems, mobile devices have become a significant means of data transfer. Various financial institutions are working with mobile app developers to create apps that will allow customers to conduct business transactions.

Because of the increased need for contactless solutions, the COVID-19 epidemic has accelerated the growth pace of the near-field communication market. Furthermore, factors such as the increasing usage of NFC technology in smart packaging for healthcare and the increase in demand for NFC in emerging medical applications as a result of the pandemic have provided lucrative potential prospects for the industry.

The surge in focus toward providing improved customer experience is expected to further boost the NFC market growth. Companies can keep their customers by offering NFC-enabled contactless payments and a diverse range of other apps that can help them enhance their workflow and customer experience. Furthermore, novel applications of NFC, such as smart posters, NFC-enabled smart automobiles, and smart sensors, have acquired popularity among consumers, particularly among the young and technically minded, allowing established firms to expand into new areas. Aside from payments and device-to-device sharing, NFC technology is being used for boarding passes and security access by airlines, as well as keyless entry for businesses, buildings, and cars, providing the NFC industry with growth potential.

British Standards Institute unveils NFC digital ID system for construction products

The British Standards Institute (BSI) has launched a digital object identification (DOI) system that enables users to access information about individual building products and verify their origin and identity at every stage of the supply chain and construction process by scanning an NFC/RFID tag or QR code.

The BSI Identify system issues manufacturers with a universal persistent identification number (UPIN) for every product specified for a construction project that links it to a unique digital product identity held on a BSI registry.

The UPIN can then be incorporated into the NFC/RFID tag or QR code attached to the product.

UCI invention lets people pay for purchases with a high-five

Imagine your car starting the moment you get in because it recognizes the jacket you’re wearing. Consider the value of a hospital gown that continuously measures and transmits a patient’s vital signs. These are just two applications made possible by a new body area network-enabling fabric invented by engineers at the University of California, Irvine.

In a paper published recently in Nature Electronics, researchers in UCI’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering detail how they integrated advanced metamaterials into flexible textiles to create a system capable of battery-free communication between articles of clothing and nearby devices.

The near-field communications protocol has enabled the growth in applications such as wireless device charging and powering of battery-free sensors, but a drawback of NFC has been its limited range of only a couple of inches. The UCI researchers extended the signal reach to more than 4 feet using passive magnetic metamaterials based on etched foils of copper and aluminum.

Because signals travel in the UCI-invented system via magnetic induction – versus the continuous hard-wire connections that had been state-of-the-art in smart fabrics – it’s possible to coordinate separate pieces of clothing. In athletic gear, pants can measure leg movements while communicating with tops that track heart rate and other stats.

Hamaton Unveils Program-By-Phone TPMS Sensor

Automotive Technology Co. Ltd. is set to debut its U-Pro Hybrid NFC in early 2022.

The company says this is the first universal sensor to adopt Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology in the North American automotive aftermarket.

The sensor comes with an app, cthat will enable users to configure and program the sensor with just a tap of their smartphone.

Users can either create a new ID or manually enter an existing original equipment sensor ID.

NFC Forum unveils Wayfinding Mark

The NFC Forum has launched a series of graphics incorporating a Wayfinding Mark that can be displayed on NFC connected products, labels, devices and other locations in order to show consumers exactly where and how to tap with their NFC-enabled device.

Marks that simply indicate the existence of a technology are not sufficient for NFC. To be successful, we must guide users to a tapping location, the NFC Forum explains.

he Wayfinding Marks come in four variations — Directional, Simplified, Charging and Instructional — and can be displayed in sizes ranging from 5mm to 14mm upwards and a variety of colourways.

RFID Reduces Garment-Sorting Times at Casino

The Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana opened its doors this spring with an RFID-based system that manages the uniforms and linens used by its staff. The solution, provided by InvoTech Systems, leverages UHF-RFID to identify items as they are allocated to personnel, then are returned for laundering, and received back from the laundry service. 

The latest deployment marks the tenth Hard Rock Casino property to install the InvoTech Uniform System. Since its deployment this past May, the system has helped the facility to ensure garments are received, laundered, and made available in a timely manner. 

The System also identifies any problems that may occur throughout the process, as well as the need to remove damaged garments, add items that are needed, or address cleaner or employee delinquencies. The RFID technology enables 100 percent control of the company's uniform inventory, while eliminating the need to hand-count or individually scan items, says Morgan Umali, InvoTech Systems' Sales Manager.

More than 700 UK railway stations to get contactless ticketing

Passengers travelling on train services in England will soon be able to make contactless fare payments with their debit or credit card at more than 700 railway stations across the North and Midlands.

'Over the next three years we will install contactless tap-in and tap-out ticketing across the commuter networks of the Midlands and North – to unlock integration with bus and tram networks, and do away with queues at ticket windows and excess fares offices,' the government says.

The plan to introduce digital ticketing across the entire UK rail network for all types of journey was originally unveiled in May.

Scotch & Soda Rolls Out RFID Across 100-Plus Stores

Dutch fashion company Scotch & Soda has adopted a radio frequency identification solution that tracks every garment and accessory it sells. The system, centered around Nedap's iD Cloud platform, consists of passive UHF RFID tags attached to all merchandise, as well as handheld RFID readers in stores and cloud-based Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) management software.

The technology is being rolled out across Europe and North America, where it is expected to be live in stores for inventory-management purposes by the end of this year.

The retailer was new to RFID technology, having previously tracked inventory manually by scanning barcodes and visually counting products.

Rising Popularity of RFID Labels Favors Growth in RFID in Pharmaceutical Market

The recent move of the pharmaceutical sector towards enhancing the verification of the legitimacy of drugs and medications has promoted and created new development and growth opportunities in the global RFID in pharmaceutical market.

Furthermore, increasing utilization of RFID technology across various end use industries has also motivated the development in the global RFID in pharmaceutical market. Players and manufacturers in the global RFID in pharmaceutical market are aiding pharmaceutical companies in analyzing the capacity and feasibility of using RFID solutions for shipments of drugs and medications.

Rising popularity of RFID labels is favoring the expansion of the global RFID in pharmaceutical market in coming years. Furthermore, increasing need for authentication of the drug supply is creating multitudes of new and lucrative opportunities for the players and manufacturers operating in the global RFID in pharmaceutical market in coming years. Moreover, there are multiple development opportunities for the vendors in the global RFID in pharmaceutical market from various emerging economies such as Gulf Cooperation Council countries, India, and Brazil. Administrative authorities in these countries are implementing strict regulations and standards pertaining to dependable medications and quality control.

Tile to be acquired by Life360 tracking platform

Tile, a popular company focused on tracking devices is about to be acquired by another tracking company Life360.

According to the announcement, Tile is being acquired for $205 million and the purchase is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

Tile was founded in 2012 and it offers a variety of tracking devices that work similarly to AirTag. While Apple’s accessory is only available in one design, Tile has trackers that fit different types of use.

Global Industry 4.0 to Reach $219.8 Billion by 2026

The global market for Industry 4.0 estimated at US$90.6 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$219.8 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 16.5%, according to new research.

Internet of Things, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 17.3% CAGR and reach US$68.2 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Industrial Robotics segment is readjusted to a revised 18.7% CAGR for the next 7-year period.

i4.0 is a concept in which manufacturing facilities are fitted with state-of-the-art sensors and wireless technologies which visualize and display the entire manufacturing process. These sensors and wireless technologies are integrated with various technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), the IoT, machine learning and cloud computing.

The integrated use of these technologies by an i4.0-enabled manufacturing environment enables the manufacturers to make well informed business decisions and improve their production efficiency. By optimizing technology and material usage, as well as asset performance, an i4.0-enabled manufacturing environment enhances the profitability of businesses.

Factors spurring the projected growth within the worldwide market for i4.0 technologies include the increasing implementation of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT); the increasing demand for efficient and cost effective manufacturing processes from a wide range of industries; and the significant increase in the demand for automation systems for enhancing the quality of finished goods.

Additionally, the increasing trend of automating manufacturing facilities, together with the increasing demand for energy-efficient machinery and processes, together with the IoT-enabled sensors` integrated computing capabilities, are also projected to fuel the growth of the worldwide market for i4.0 technologies.

Australian liquor store chain adds NFC shelf labels

Consumers purchasing beer, wine and spirits at outlets operated by Dan Murphy’s in Australia can now get product information and read customer reviews about specific products by tapping an NFC shelf label with their smartphone.

The electronic shelf labels (ESL) also enable staff to adjust the prices of individual items without having to change a physical price ticket.

Dan Murphy’s has introduced the NFC shelf labels as part of a national rollout of a 'new flagship design concept' beginning with five outlets in the cities of Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.

Automatic RFID at 10 more locations in Delhi

 

In a bid to decongest traffic and decrease pollution, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) plans to install automatic radio frequency identification (RFID) devices at ten more locations where toll and environment cess is currently collected through handheld devices.

The areas are Noida Major, Loni Main, Dhansa border, Kondli, New Seemapuri, New Kondli, Chandan Nagar, Prahladpur, Jharoda and Bajghera, said a senior official.

At the moment, the South MCD has automatic RFID devices at 13 locations where an estimated 80 per cent of commercial vehicles enter the capital and have to pay the toll and environment compensation charges (ECC).

Startup aims to detect eye and body movement using sensors embedded in paper

 

A new company out of the University of Washington launched technology to sense human gestures, body functions and eye movement.   

Somalytics has developed ultrathin, flexible sensors that are built from tiny carbon nanotubes embedded in paper. The sensors attach to glasses to directly measure movement of the eye.

The sensors operate from a distance of up to 20 centimeters and are good at distinguishing movement from people instead of other objects.

The sensors have the potential for a host of uses, such as health applications that require measuring heart rate and other body functions.

eBay UK adds NFC-enabled authenticity guarantee for pre-owned luxury watches

 

UK consumers who purchase pre-owned luxury watches from eBay can now authenticate their purchase via an NFC chip embedded in a certification card issued with the watch.

The NFC-enabled card allows a purchaser to link to information about the watch and a guarantee of authenticity showing that it has been inspected and checked by a third-party verification service prior to delivery.

The auction site originally launched its Authenticity Guarantee programme in the US for watches priced US$2,000 dollars and above and has now rolled it out for UK purchasers of watches costing £2,000 (US$2,717) and above.

New technology provides brands full visibility of the entire manufacturing process to establish a zero-waste operational system

In face of the rising climate risks, Security Matters has pioneered a solution to effectively track and trace materials whether solid, liquid or gas empowering businesses to create a resource-saving and sustainable supply chain.

SMX's proprietary biotracking and tracing technology provides full visibility to the entire manufacturing process – from raw materials, parts to finished goods – helping the world transition into a circular economy, a zero-waste industrial system that maximizes the value from the natural resources.

The special marker technology, which has been further developed by the project partners for use in natural rubber, is intended to contribute to even greater transparency and traceability along the entire value chain of tires and technical rubber products from Continental in the future.

Provided with special security features, the use of marker substances enables the invisible labeling of natural rubber with information on its exact geographical origin. With the aid of special reading devices and specially developed software, the information on the natural rubber can be read out and its origin can be precisely assigned at any time.

64% of IT execs prefer a simplified path to IoT deployment

According to a new report by Oracle, 64% of enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) decision-makers would opt for an 'off-the-shelf' IoT solution over a custom-built offering, indicating a market shift in the way enterprises are viewing IoT adoption.

Overall, the report shows that enterprise IoT adoption is heading into a new phase, and IoT decision-makers are looking for bundled and commercial off-the-shelf solutions, with data analytics to generate actionable insights to improve key business functions.

Another key highlight from the report is that almost 90% of projects were described by the respondents as 'fundamental' or 'very important' to their core business, and just over half of all projects are visible to their customers.

The 800 survey respondents represent some of the most sophisticated deployers and deployments of IoT, based on requirements to integrate IoT data from one of a set of pre-defined advanced use cases.

Toposens launches ECHO ONE DK guidance for AGV, robot, and other industrial applications

Munich-based high-tech company Toposens GmbH is officially releasing its new Ultrasonic Echolocation Sensor for 3D Collision Avoidance.

The industrial grade sensor development kit, called ECHO ONE DK, is the next level development based on the company’s proven 3D ultrasonic technology, which mimics a bat’s echolocation techniques.

Unlike existing sensor technologies that can be negatively impacted by lighting conditions or moisture (such as fog), Toposens’ ECHO ONE DK uses echolocation to generate robust, real-time 3D echo location data to guide autonomous systems across a variety of applications. The performance of this 3D ultrasonic sensor is particularly robust in harsh environments (featuring the IP67 protection rating), as it is dirt tolerant and not affected by dust, smoke and mist.

The company, which has also opened an office in Silicon Valley, has a simple goal: Next-Level Robotic Safety. Offering solutions to shortcomings of existing, typically optical range-finding technologies through best-in-class 3D object detection (such as detecting forklifts forks in 3D space), makes the ECHO ONE DK the perfect go-to technology for the development of reliable 3D collision avoidance.

The ECHO ONE DK features 3D multi-object detection of complex and transparent objects in an ultra-short operating range from 20cm up to 3m. It offers an ultra-wide Field-of-View of up to 180° in ultra-short range and up to 110° at 3m.  Its low power consumption of 2.2 W supports a longer robot uptime, and it is fully certified according to CE, FCC and IP67 regulation. For an easy integration, this DK comes with a CAN and USB interface and the following software packages: Toposens Sensor Library (C++-Library), ROS Implementation Package, Cross-Platform Toposens 3D Visualizer.

Identiv Introduces uCreate NFC Mobile Application Platform and Software Development Kit

Identiv announced the uCreate NFC platform and uCreate NFC Software Development Kit (SDK), supporting mobile application developers creating near-field communication (NFC) solutions and enabling NFC through a wide range of Internet of Things (IoT) use cases.

Designed for programmers familiar with app development but new to NFC coding, the uCreate SDK provides the source code supporting the first steps of NFC mobile app development. "It is our mission to make NFC technologies more accessible to a broader range of developers, many of whom have limited or no experience with this type of technology," said Identiv COO Dr. Manfred Mueller, Ph.D, Chemistry.

Identiv's collection of high-performance NFC tags power use cases including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics, transit, supply chain management, smart home, smart packaging, fashion, retail, cosmetics, wine and spirits, gaming, toys, and more. The kit is compatible with most digital platforms and is designed to enhance and simplify user experiences through secure interactions.

r-pac International partners with American Securities

r-pac International and American Securities LLC, a U.S. private equity firm, announced a strategic partnership that includes an investment from affiliates of American Securities to support the continued growth and global expansion of r-pac. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in New York, New York, and founded in 1987, r-pac specializes in designing and manufacturing packaging and trims for apparel, footwear, accessories, electronics, home bed and bath, home décor, beauty, patio, and garden, among other product categories.

In addition, the Company produces RFID-enabled tags, stickers, and labels, and provides related tracking software utilized by retailers and brands to achieve near 100% in-store inventory accuracy and complete SKU-level supply chain visibility for its products.

Primo1D Raises 15M Euros for Industrial-Scale Deployment

Primo1D announced a new funding round of 15 million euros from major French capital funds.

Primo1D's E-Thread tag provides a unique, high-durability and plastic-free RFID solution for product identification, authentication, and traceability. E-Thread is integrated by customers into their products during their manufacturing processes: it thus inseparable and functional throughout a product’s lifecycle. E-Thread ensures a genuine electronic identification and a durable link between the tagged item and the cloud, where RFID-based data can be stored, managed and shared via the Internet of Things (IoT). It responds to the digitization challenges of complex supply chains, Industry 4.0 and new sustainable business models such as the circular economy.

As industries shift towards ‘smarter’ operations, the global UHF segment of the RFID chip market, according to RAIN Alliance Market Research, is undergoing very strong growth (CAGR 30%) with more than 20 billion components consumed each year. While large-scale textile distribution is the biggest contributor to this growth, many other industries such as automotive, transport and healthcare are joining in.

RFID-based Medical Tray Solution Now Mobile

Healthcare and pharmaceutical distribution company AmerisourceBergen has released an app-based version of its Medication Tray Solution to help hospitals more easily manage their pharmaceutical products wherever they may be within a facility. 

The updated version of the solution, with the app, coincides with the company's adoption of  RAIN Alliance standards to ensure that each UHF RFID tag has a unique, standards-based ID beginning with a company identification number (CIN).

The Alliance recently introduced the new  ISO numbering system to simplify the encoding of RFID tags and reduce what it calls tag clutter, the stray reads from various tags used by different companies for a variety of purposes. Adoption of the RAIN standard, AmerisourceBergen explains, enables greater consistency and ease of use for its customers in the healthcare market.

Fecon introduces QR codes

Fecon announced that they have begun imprinting each piece of equipment with a QR code unique to that particular item, allowing customers one-click access to parts and instructions for that specific equipment.

Scanning the QR code takes customers to Fecon Connect, which displays their interactive parts manual and operations manual. The interactive parts manual displays component groups and allows users to search for parts from exploded views and then click on the appropriate part.

An easy-to-understand operations manual guides users through all aspects of running the equipment, including simple instructions on how to replace teeth, or check belt tension.

ST adds privacy features and Augmented NDEF to Type 2 NFC tags

STMicroelectronics’ ST25TN512 and ST25TN01K NFC Forum Type 2 tag ICs deliver a new balance of cost and performance for high-volume use cases like consumer engagement, product information and brand protection.

Also suitable for smart-city applications and access control, the ST25TN512/01K NFC tag ICs support multiple user-protection and privacy mechanisms including a 7-bit unique chip-identifier code, TruST25 digital signature, NFC Forum T2T permanent write locks at block level and a configurable kill mode that permanently deactivates the tag.

Certified to NFC Forum Type 2 specifications, the ST25TN512 and ST25TN01K leverage ISO 14443 standards and can be used with NFC-compatible mobiles or a dedicated short-range reader. The embedded device memory includes up to 208 bytes (1664 bits) dedicated to user content.

Support for messages in NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) allows triggering native actions on a smartphone without needing a dedicated app, such as launching a web browser or starting Bluetooth pairing. Augmented NDEF (ANDEF) additionally enables reading dynamic information such as custom messages and unique tap codes without explicitly updating the EEPROM.

Produced by a new in-house best-in-class manufacturing process that delivers better performance, ST’s ST25TN512/01K NFC tag ICs contain an internal tuning capacitance of 50pF, which is a widely used value that allows plug-and-play integration by inlay manufacturers.

The tags harvest energy from the 13.56MHz RF transmitter field and hence require only an antenna to complete the design. Additional benefits include a wide operating temperature range of -40°C to +85°C and long data retention. The ICs can be supplied either in sawn and bumped wafer format or housed in a convenient DFN5 package.

Both the ST25TN512 and ST25TN01K are in volume production, priced from $0.065 for orders of 1000 pieces.

MTA’s Rutgers Tube outfitted with IOT-based emergency lighting

Clear-Vu Lighting designed and installed clearNET, the first IOT-based wireless monitoring and control system for emergency lighting and other mission critical life safety assets in subway tunnels on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Rutgers Tube project, the F-Line between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The clearNET system enables capabilities previously unattainable in transit environments, significantly improving the safety for passengers, workers and first responders, while also realizing energy savings and improving operational efficiencies for transit agencies.

On the Rutgers Tube project, the clearNET + MTLx system generated combined capital and operating savings of $2,744,113 between materials, electricity, maintenance labor and efficiencies tied to the work light function. In addition to the benefits tied to the clearNET system, the illumination levels produced by the MTLx light fixture in the Rutgers tube will be four times the standard level throughout the legacy New York City Transit tunnel system for improved visibility.

Hengbao Dual-Use Smart Card Secured by IDEX Biometrics Approved for Certification by China UnionPay

IDEX Biometrics ASA announced that the latest biometric smart card from their solution partner Hengbao Corporation Ltd has been approved for certification by China UnionPay (CUP).

The new card which incorporates IDEX Biometrics’ sensor and biometric software solution passed all required testing by China’s Bank Card Test Center (BCTC), confirming compliance with China UnionPay requirements and international interoperability standards.

BCTC is the independent agency responsible for compliance testing on behalf of China UnionPay. The certification enables Hengbao to proceed with its manufacturing and distribution plans with major card issuers in China. This innovative card will enable multi-use applications, securing global payments and new functionalities such as access control and personal identification – all in one card.

China UnionPay is the largest payment network in the world, with 9.4 billion cards in circulation. IDEX Biometrics’ card solutions have been certified by the top three global payment networks, VISA, MasterCard, and China UnionPay. Combined, these three networks process 90% of all global card payments, according to RBR.

Colorado launches Smart Health QR code and vaccine status functionality within myColorado app

The state of Colorado announced new functionalities within the myVaccine Record portion of the myColorado app, allowing users to verify and share their vaccination status using a SMART Health Card, an internationally recognized standard.

The SMART Health Card is a free, digital version of COVID-19 vaccination records. It allows Coloradans to share proof of vaccination using a secure QR code.

"Fully Vaccinated" will display if a user has two valid Moderna or Pfizer vaccinations or one valid Johnson & Johnson vaccination. "Partially Vaccinated" will display if a user has one valid Moderna or one valid Pfizer vaccination. No personal data is collected about the user of the app. While this functionality will display some personal data about the person showing their SMART Health Card to verify their COVID-19 vaccination status, no personally identifiable information scanned from the SMART Health Cards will be shared.

Coloradans can download their SMART Health Card QR code in the myColorado app at any time. Once a myVaccine Record has been created, residents do not need internet connectivity to share their vaccination status. Apple iOS users will be able to import the SmartHealth Card into their Apple wallet if they have iOS 15.1+.

Boise rolls out transit wallet, smartcard and mobile app for contactless ticketing

Passengers using bus services in Boise and the Treasure Valley region (Idaho) can now purchase and store tickets and passes in a preloaded transit wallet and then pay their fares by either tapping a contactless smartcard or scanning a QR code.

To use the service, passengers can either purchase a City Go smartcard or download the system’s Umo Mobility app before loading funds into their City Go Wallet account or purchasing a transit pass.

The app also features an all-in-one service that includes trip planning, real-time bus route information, and rideshare options through Lyft and Uber.

Hospital Launches RFID-Enabled Print-on-Demand Patient Bracelet

A hospital in Switzerland is deploying a UHF RFID-enabled patient wristband for the past several months, a hospital in Switzerland is deploying the technology to identify patients and view their movements through its surgical area.

The system consists of an RFID-enabled wristband that was developed and is being released commercially by SATO. The bracelet can be printed and encoded onsite as a patient is admitted, the company reports, and it can then track that individual's location via a built-in RFID tag.

SATO has declined to name the Swiss hospital, which it says was the first adopter during the early phase of the deployment.

Amazon unveils Alexa-enabled air quality sensor

Amazon has unveiled an Alexa-enabled air quality sensor. The $70 monitor alerts you to a range of harmful allergens and dust in your home. It can also pick up on the presence of carbon dioxide, and has built-in temperature and humidity controls.

If Alexa detects poor air quality, you can get notifications on your phone or even announcements on Echo devices.

Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor doesn't have a speaker or microphone, and Alexa isn't built in. For voice control, use a compatible Alexa-enabled device, like an Echo (sold separately), or the Alexa app.

Sofar Ocean Plans Expansion Of Its Worldwide Network Of Sensors

Sofar has secured a $39 million Series B syndicate round with Union Square Ventures and the Foundry Group. The company has developed and launched a free-floating, global Spotter sensor network of thousands of solar-powered buoys across all five oceans, racking up more than 5 million hours and delivering more than 100,000 unique data points every day.

The Spotters take real-time measurements of weather, wave energy, wind, surface currents, sea temperatures and more.

The CEO says ocean intelligence is a new and emerging sector, and as a result, is still somewhat undefined. “We know more about the moon or Mars than we know about the ocean, even though it makes up about 70% of Earth,” the CEO says.

Podcast: Explaining the IoT’s latest $11B deal

The industrial automation world got a jolt of news with Emerson combining some of its industrial IoT software businesses with AspenTech in an $11 billion transaction. We explain why the deal matters and what it means, before hopping over to discuss Best Buy’s acquisition of Current Health.

Sensor Networks Help Fight Floods

Two multidisciplinary teams at NYU's Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP), have developed sensor networks that provide near-real-time data acquisition and analysis of flooding and noise pollution, giving New York a distinct edge in collecting data to help combat these challenging problems.

With the support of a 2015 National Science Foundation grant, the Sounds Of New York City (SONYC) project was founded to build and deploy noise sensors, working in collaboration with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, the city agency tasked with enforcing the noise code.

The sensor networks for urban monitoring was also used by the FloodNet project, a consortium comprised of researchers at NYU and the City University of New York (CUNY) and city agency personnel at the NYC Mayor's Office of Climate Resiliency (MOCR) and Office of the Chief Technology Officer, including NYU CUSP professors Andrea Silverman, Elizabeth Henaff, Tega Brain, and Mydlarz.

Ultimately, the data and knowledge gained through FloodNet can be used by local residents, researchers, and city agencies to address flood risks. In fact, New York City acknowledged the importance of flood sensor data in its inaugural Extreme Weather Response Task Force report, listing sensor deployment as an initiative in its action plan for improving the City's response to future extreme precipitation events.

Entertainment venues roll out contactless digital cloakroom ticketing

Concert-goers attending events at entertainment venues across North America will soon be able to check in and check out coats, bags and other items at the cloakroom with a tap of their NFC-enabled Apple or Android device.

Customers can add a digital ticket, ChexPass, to Apple Wallet or Google Pay by scanning a QR code at the cloakroom entrance and then tapping it on an NFC reader.

If an item is not retrieved, its owner will receive a text message alerting them that they have left it behind.

The system has been launched in partnership with Live Nation Entertainment, Big Night Entertainment Group, The Bowery Presents, IMP Concerts and House of Blues. It will initially be available at venues including Webster Hall and Terminal 5 in New York City, The Anthem in Washington DC and House of Blues locations across the US.

Identiv Reports Third Quarter 2021 Results

Identiv reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021, demonstrating sustained growth in the broad adoption of RFID devices, and continued strong demand from the federal market.

Revenue for the third quarter of 2021 was $29.1 million, an increase of 17% from $24.9 million in the third quarter of 2020.

Revenues in the Identity segment grew 21% year-over-year to $18.7 million from $15.4 million, primarily due to higher sales of RFID products. Revenues in the Premises segment grew 10% year-over-year to $10.4 million from $9.4 million.

GAAP gross margin was 38% in the third quarter of 2021, compared to 37% in the prior quarter and 40% in the third quarter of 2020.

GAAP operating expenses, including research and development, selling and marketing, and general and administrative were $9.1 million in the third quarter of 2021, compared to $8.9 million in the third quarter of 2020.

The company expanded its growing list of RFID customers with new design wins and use cases, especially in health care and medical devices, while our transformational RFID projects progressed.

Rodent Recon Powered by Skyhawk Now Available

ICA Product Development (PPD) introduces its latest IoT solution powered by the Skyhawk platform, Rodent Recon. Rodent Recon solves the problem of monitoring rodent control traps with a remote, cost-effective and easy-to-deploy solution.

Pest control alerts are delivered to the user via the phone app, empowering technicians to help customers quickly solve their rodent issues.

he solution consists of targeted pest control sensors, a hub/gateway, a smartphone application and an enterprise portal for overall rodent control management. The sensors detect rodent trap or pest bait station activity and communicate this to the hub via a local RF signal. The electronic pest control hub has an integrated cellular connection and relays sensor activities to the smartphone application. The enterprise portal enables large companies to manage thousands of pest control hubs and sensors for their field service teams and can integrate with other business process software providing valuable data on rodent control trap activity.

Flowfinity Releases M1 Industrial IoT Controller for Seamless Workflow Automation

Flowfinity Wireless Inc., a no-code platform for business process automation, announced the release of the Flowfinity M1, an industrial IoT Controller pre-configured to integrate seamlessly with Flowfinity Actions mobile data collection and workflow automation platform.

By releasing IoT hardware that's compatible with their existing workflow automation software, Flowfinity has made it easy for any organization to connect physical assets to digital workflows and databases for 24/7 data collection and condition monitoring.

Designed with a generous allocation of digital and analog input and output ports to support a wide variety of use cases, the M1 Controller is well suited for deployment in various industrial, manufacturing, fabrication, laboratory, and utility settings.

The M1 Controller leverages these sensor inputs to monitor asset performance and status, triggering alerts and corrective action if an asset experiences downtime or operational issues. The device, and attached sensors, are also capable of environmental monitoring, recording everything from ambient temperature to humidity and pressure.

The unit also features four built in relays and support for external relays which allow you to configure the execution of control actions at the edge. In addition, status tower lights can be connected to indicate the state of a process, workflow, or asset visually on the floor.

Spireon launches trailer tracking suite, cargo sensor

Spireon has introduced the next generation of the FL Flex suite of products and IntelliScan cargo sensor under its FleetLocateproduct line.

The updated line of Flex devices are faster to install with more power options, are wireless sensor-capable, and have an integrated cargo sensor.

Built on Spireon’s IntelliScan sensing technology, the new volumetric-capable sensor enables trailer managers to see not only if the trailer is loaded or unloaded with 99% accuracy, but what percent of trailer floor space is still available for loading, according to the company.

Company sues Apple over NFC technologies

Irish patent-holding company Aire Technology has filed a lawsuit against Apple over alleged infringement of patents relating to NFC and digital wallet technologies with the US District Court for the Western District of Texas.

The lawsuit asserts that Apple products that support NFC and/or mobile payment applications, such as Apple Pay infringe at least one claim of three US patents.

Aire Technology is seeking damages of the three patents and is also requesting a trial by jury of any issues so triable by right.

CCLEC launches online registration for RFID stickers for vehicles

The Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) in the Philippines has launched an online registration for the issuance of radio frequency identification (RFID) stickers for vehicles that would be used as a cashless form of payment when using the expressway.

CCLEC launched the RFID system on in preparation for the opening of the 8.9-kilometer Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) during the first quarter of 2021.

The CCLEX is releasing RFID stickers to vehicles for a faster transaction upon entering or leaving the toll booths located on the Cordova side of the expressway.

Mason will build IoT hardware so businesses don’t have to

Mason, a Seattle startup formed in 2015, started building tablets and handheld devices that ran Android, but it recently launched a wearable device for health monitoring or worker safety.

Mason’s wearable device can work as a watch or a sensor placed on a lanyard or other means of attachment. It can be used to track people via GPS, and it can gather biometric data including heart rate and temperature. The device also has a camera and runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chip, which is used in a variety of smart watches.

What’s notable about the Mason wearable and other Mason hardware is that they run Mason OS, a software platform that lets customers run and manage IoT applications on the Mason hardware in an enterprise-friendly manner. This means a developer can build an application or take an existing application and run it on a consistent version of hardware across an entire enterprise.

RFID Printer Market Predicted to Grow at a 5.65% CAGR by 2027

According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR), the Global RFID Printer Market is predicted to grow at a 5.65% CAGR in the forecast period (2020- 2027).

The growing demand for RFID printer from the healthcare sector for proper management of records and documents regarding patient will boost market growth over the forecast period.

However, the RFID printer market is fragmented and also competitive for the different international and domestic key players. These players have incorporated innovative strategies to remain at the vanguard and also suffice the burgeoning demand of the customers.

By price range, the USD 2,001-USD 4,000 segment will lead the market over the forecast period.

By printing technology, the thermal transfer segment will dominate the market over the forecast period. Thermal transfer is a digital printing technique where the ink material is applied to the tag by melting a portion of the ribbon.

By frequency, the high frequency (HF) segment will spearhead the market over the forecast period.

By application, the manufacturing segment will have the lions share in the market over the forecast period. Manufacturing facilities utilize RFID printers for marking serial numbers, date, time, tags, and QR codes on cases.

Opening of '2021 IoT KOREA ONLINE BUSINESS MEETING' by NIPA

Korea's National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) announced that it would hold a '2021 IoT KOREA ONLINE BUSINESS MEETING' for 3 days from November 2 to 4, 2021 to support the overseas expansion and exchange of Korean IoT companies.

This event was prepared to connect Korean IoT companies with international business partners as they are having difficulties in developing sales channels in the global markets due to COVID-19.

The online business meetings will be participated in by 20 Korean IoT companies that have a competitive edge. They will introduce goods and services in areas related to COVID-19 response and AI/5G, including security, safety, location control, smart factory, and materials.

Identiv Delivers NFC-Enabled Smart Packaging for OTACA Tequila

Identiv announced a collaboration with OTACA Tequila, expanding smart packaging innovations with near field communication (NFC)-enabled authentication, product provenance and transparency, customer loyalty, and brand awareness.

OTACA is the first tequila company to fully digitize its product offerings with NFC. The tap-and-go NFC model incorporates Identiv's experiential design into smart packaging, inviting the brand's loyal customers to engage, track, and authenticate their purchase. Consumers use their NFC-enabled Android or Apple iOS device to tap the tag and access OTACA's custom digital experience, including product authentication, the history of its founders, and the ability to place a new order.

The NFC tag is a printed, standard circular form factor and attaches to the top of the tequila bottle. Blockchain expert SUKU manages the consumer engagement platform. The decentralized, distributed qualities of blockchain processing ensure security, transparency, reliability, and authenticity. The NFC tag combined with blockchain technology strengthens the trustworthiness of the tequila's supply chain.