Tech groups support RFID

Eight US technology trade groups, with members such as Microsoft, Verizon Communications and Motorola, have formed an ad hoc council to promote the use of RFID technology, reports CRM Buyer.

Although RFID has been touted as key technology for reducing costs in supply chains by increasing visibility of goods, privacy groups have raised concerns that tags can be tracked without authorisation. Many companies also still consider RFID too costly.

The newly formed RFID Technology Council will support the US Senate RFID Caucus, which was established last year to promote better understanding of RFID and its potential benefits.

Horizon Lines has developed an RFID solution to provide shipment visibility through all stages of transit for ocean liners, says TUV Product Service.

The solution is being piloted in Alaska and used to provide real-time visibility for Horizon Lines' shipments across the Pacific North-West.

Horizon Lines says RFID offers significant advantages to shippers that seek greater visibility of their deliveries and more efficiency in supply chain operations.

The US Department of Defence (DOD) will expand the roll-out of RFID implementations at its distribution centres (DCs) around the world.

The project is aimed at enabling the use of passive RFID tags broadly within the military supply chain outside the US. This includes DCs in Korea, Japan, Guam, Hawaii, Germany and Italy.

This initiative follows the successful implementation of RFID in 71 DC buildings within the US in 2006.

The Zoological Society of London will use RFID to gather information on the behaviour of wasps, reports IT Week.

Scientists have fitted over 400 wasps with tags and placed sensors at the entrance of 33 nests, to record their movements in real-time. The RFI-enabled cards issued for use on London's trains and buses inspired the wasp-spotting project.

The researchers hope to determine whether worker wasps tend only home colonies or enter other nests as well to help raise the young.