Wireless ID Tags Gain Microsoft Support

Microsoft will join AutoID Inc., a not-for-profit organization working on new technologies for labeling physical items, such as merchandise, with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. Microsoft hopes that by participating in the development of standards for a proposed Electronic Product Code (EPC) Network, the company will be better positioned to take advantage of new technologies for identifying, tracking, and managing physical products that could be crucial in supply-chain management and other software categories.

RFID Technology

RFID tags are tiny (150 microns or less) identification chips with miniature antennae that can be attached to or embedded in all kinds of products, from rail cars to soda cans. Depending on their type and purpose, the tags can be used in a wide range of applications, from preventing shoplifting to ensuring that a washing machine does not damage a delicate clothing item. Their initial application will most likely be in supply-chain management, helping business to control inventory and improve the speed and accuracy of shipping and invoicing.