RFID in Japan

via textually.org

The providers of four major electronic money systems in Japan have agreed to adopt a common reader/writer terminal from next year. The agreement should open the way for wider acceptance of the systems and improve convenience for users. Infoworld reports.

via RFID News

Tokyo-based KDDI Corporation and Hitachi Ltd. today announced the launch of the Muchip Reader, which both companies tout as the "world's smallest sized muchip RFID tag" for Bluetooth-enabled handsets.

RFID Gazette reports:

The Sultanate of Oman will be receiving 2.5M smart ID cards from Gemalto for the country's national ID card program. It's the first program of it's kind in the Middle East and will begin at the end of the year.

Chiyoda Maintenance developed a system to easily check "if everyone is here" using RFID. Imagine an excursion with your colleagues. "Alright, it's free time. Go play enjoy whatever you want. Just come back in 30 minutes, okay?" 30 minutes later, "is everyone here?" but what if you've got 400 colleagues travelling with you?

As you might have already guessed, the system uses RFID tags carried by people and a handheld device that reads the tags and shows a list of people who are missing. The read range is about 7-10 meters and takes about 5 sec to check 20 people but the system somehow supports as many as 400 people.

The company, Chiyoda Mainteneace -- their main business is actually to provide services for nuclear facilities.

via nikkei local edition, septermber 14.

ChinaTechNews reports:

RFID China Alliance is interested in this technology:

IP-XTM provides for FreeFlow Spotting of tags in all frequency bands, which means it can enable an RFID tag to be read or authenticated even while it is rapidly moving through sorting or continuous manufacturing processes or attached to a person, container, or vehicle moving at a speed of up to 240 kilometers an hour.

Universal Studio Japan (USJ) will soon introduce RFID (phone) tickets -- as early as later this year. Visitors buy entrance tickets on the internet and, when they visit USJ, they can just wave their RFID-chipped cell phones to get in. This way, they will likely be able to get in a lot faster than people with regular tickets. The system is compatible with Sony's mobile felica technology. NEC and USJ will co-develop the system.

via Nikkei Shimbun, September 7, 2006.

via ChinaTechNews

CCW Research's recent report states that China's public security sector will drive the development of RFID in China.

via picturephoning.com

Fujitsu has just unveiled a new type of ¡Èinvisible¡É barcode, called FP (Fine Picture) code, which allows data to be embedded directly into color print photographs. [ Pink Tentacle via deli.cio.us/regine]