RFID in Japan

According to Nikkei, Fujitsu Software Technologies developed a device that integrates an active RFID tag and a GPS receiver. It will likely cost about 20,000 JPY (about $170) each. The GPS component of the tag first detects its location with the accuracy of 3-5m and then sends out the location data along with its unique ID to an RFID reader. It uses the 429MHz frequency band and the communication range is about 200m. These tags could be used to track cars in a large car dealer shop, etc.

via nikkei with a photo

Hitachi will soon release a new version of Air Location (see the entry "Hitachi releases WiFi Tags", a positioning system using WiFi RFID tags.

The combined features enable thorough and precise management of people entering a building and information about the position of individuals within. In emergencies, the emergency message function allows users to send a message to the control center, automatically informing disaster relief officials of their whereabouts.

via JCN Network < RFIDNews

Hitachi announced on Septermber 29 that they will start shipping their new RFID tags called "mu-Chip Hibiki," mu-Chip Hibiki's price can be as low as 5-yen each, when ordered in volume.

First mu-Chip Hibiki tags will be shipped on November 30, 2006. They will be included in an evaluation kit that includes a reader, an antenna, software tools, and 500 mu-chip hibiki tags. The kit will cost 1,047,900 yen (about US$9000).

They are not perfectly EPC UHF Gen2 compliant at the moment but they will be by the end of next summer.

via nikkei

Related news: Supermarket chain ECO's is planning to use these mu-chip hibiki tags to track 15,000 shopping carts -- Their main objective being prevention of shopping cart thefts.

via nikkei

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.

Shelly is a card for protecting RFID cards from skimming attacks. You just cover your RFID train pass (e.g., SUICA) or payment card (e.g., Edy) with this Shelly card and it disables the RFID's wireless communication. Sanrio recenlty licensed the use of Hello Kitty for Shelly cards and here's what happened:

http://www.shelly-shop.com/

via Nikkei, July 25

via Keitai watch (the first five photos show the device).

If you remember, KDDI was testing RFID readers for mobile phones - it was more than a year ago. Recently, the company demoed RFID reader attachment for mobile phones at Wireless Japan 2006. It can be attached on the back of a mobile phone (the size: 106 x 50 x 16mm) and reads Hitachi's mu-Chip tags. The attachment communicates with a mobile phone via Bluetooth -- information captured from RFID tags is sent to the phone via Serial Port Profile. The reader can be controlled by using a BREW application that runs on a mobile phone. Anyway, what sounds exciting is that the company may release this RFID reader attachment soon, probably this fall.

Ubiquitous ID Center/ YRP Ubiquitous Networking Lab and HItachi, Ltd. unveiled UWB Dice, small active RFID tags using UWB-based wireless communication. There are two types: the smaller one (1cm3) that can be connected to external sensor devices and the larger one that can contain sensor devices inside the package. Their battery life is quite long: 9 years when the tags are activated once in 5 minutes. They can communicate data faster than existing active tags and they can be used to recognize positions of things with the accuracy of 30cm. About 1000 of them can be recognized by a reader deivice. The price: somewhere between a dollar/tag and tens of dollars/tag. The frequency band for these UWB tags (500MHz band) cannot be used in Japan at this moment but it will likely be legalized this fall.

via nikkei (photos)