Nov/Dec 2004

Data capture specialist Intermec says its RFID-enabled equipment is the first to comply with the new European standard for RFID systems operating at UHF frequencies.

As widely predicted in the world of RFID (radio frequency identification), the Europe-wide standard was agreed in late autumn. Systems can now operate at up to 2 watts - half the figure common in the US, but much higher than the half-watt figure that had been the previous norm here. It is seen as opening the way to much better interoperability worldwide.

The announcement from ETSI (the European Telecommunications Standards Institute) more or less coincided with confirmation by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations that it would make the frequency band associated with this standard available in the 46 member-countries it represents.

Intermec's IF4 and IF5 RFID readers are said to be compliant with ETSI radio standards for operation in Europe, both under the lower power 0.5W erp (EN300 220) standard and the newly established 2.0W erp (EN302 208) RFID standard, which permits higher RF power.

 

Intermec sees the development as an important spur to faster RFID take-up. According to vice president Scott Medford: "Intermec's commitment to global interoperability means global trading partners can access the benefits of RFID across territorial and frequency boundaries."