EPCglobal eyes China

Although China has been considering its own national RFID standard for years, a report from ABI Research says EPCglobal`s Gen 2 UHF RFID standard is gaining ground rapidly.

Engineering Times says while the Chinese government has remained silent on the topic of an RFID standard, EPCglobal has been marketing its standard aggressively in the region. EPCglobal is emphasising the fact that because most of China`s products are exported overseas, its manufacturers will need to comply with an international spec.

The ABI report says despite China`s continued efforts to develop its own product numbering system and build and maintain its own product database, Chinese manufacturers are leaning toward the EPCglobal system. The report says that by giving manufacturers financial, technological and implementation support, EPCglobal is making EPC the de facto standard.

German chip maker Infineon Technologies is to supply chips for the new US electronic passports to be issued in coming weeks as well as similar passports planned for Germany, Norway and Sweden, reports CIO.com.

The plan to issue RFID-enabled passports in the US is going ahead despite lingering privacy and security concerns. The chip in each new passport issued from October will contain personal data, such as the bearer`s name, date of birth and digital photo.

Infineon says the new passports are designed with multiple security levels, including encryption, protective shields, and basic access control. This security feature requires the border control inspector to pass the document over a scanner with a range of only 10cm.

A US forensics company has begun selling metal mesh bags that it claims will stop identity thieves from accessing the new RFID-enabled e-passports.

TG Daily says Paraben is selling a nickel, copper and silver mesh bag to act as a Faraday cage to block incoming and outgoing RFID transmissions.

The passport bag is similar to Paraben`s previous wireless bag to protect information on mobile phones.

Makers of RFID chips that can be implanted in humans are asking the Pentagon to consider sticking them under the skin of 1.4 million US soldiers instead of the traditional "dog tags" hung around the neck, reports The Inquirer.

The report says VeriChip may well get its potentially controversial proposal accepted because the former secretary of the health department, Tommy Thompson, is a member of the company`s board.

Thompson is on record as saying the RFID chips are safe and that no one would be forced to accept an implant against his or her will.

Sweden`s Malmberget mine is using an RFID-enabled mining safety system to improve the safety of workers, reports Ferret.com.

All workers are equipped with active RFID tags, which are recognised and registered when within the reading range access points at strategic locations in the mine. In this way, high density spotting of worker locations enables central tracking information for use in emergencies.

In addition to displaying the whereabouts of personnel the system also brings other benefits, such as ensuring 100% shift clearances and access control.