Oyster Bay, NY - March 18 - RFID supply chain mandates launched by a few big retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target are now well documented and understood. But many other retailers are finding problems and frustration when they try to apply RFID in the same way.

Why? According to ABI Research analyst Sara Shah, "There's no cookie-cutter approach to RFID." In a new study, the research firm finds a disconnection: RFID manufacturers -- many of them relatively new companies -- don't understand retail; and many retailers don't understand how RFID can benefit them. This leaves them frustrated and slows down market adoption.

"Wal-Mart's approach is creative," said Shah. "It's very worthwhile for them, which is why they're pushing forward on schedule. Other retailers follow, thinking that Wal-Mart's business case will apply just as well to them. But it may not work, because every business and every supply chain is different."

So, many retailers turn to their usual consulting companies -- often one of the largest half-dozen. But big consultants are rarely early adopters of new technologies, says ABI; they're often content to let ideas mature before getting involved.

Beyond supply chain management, nobody knows how many ways RFID can be used; known applications include security & "backdoor theft" prevention, contactless payments, advertising and promotions. Shah advises retailers to consider smaller consulting firms, where they'll find people who can find new ways to use RFID. Unfortunately, she adds, many of those small creative integrators lack the resources to execute system-wide rollouts for large clients.

For their part, RFID vendors need to educate themselves about retailing, and to develop solutions to retailers' problems, not just one-size-fits-all products.

AUSTIN, TX -- Low-cost assembly of RFID chips and antennas may be the most critical roadblock to reaching a five-cent RFID tag. With this in mind, TechSearch International has created a workshop to address assembly issues associated with RFID tag manufacturing. 

Low-Cost RFID IC Packaging and Assembly: Roadblock on the Highway to a 5-cent RFID Tag, will be held March 29-30 in Austin, TX.  The workshop will provide a forum for experts on all aspects of RFID IC packaging and assembly to present their work. 
 
Rick Koskella, Sun Microsystem, will give the opening presentation -- RFID Scorecard: Accomplishments and Issues --  based on the experiences from Sun's RFID test center in Texas. Dr. Gitanjali Swamy will present a cost model for RFID.  Presentations from semiconductor makers and inlay manufacturers include speakers from Philips, Texas Instruments, Celis Semiconductor, Alien Technology, Symbol Technologies and KSW Microtech. 
 
Equipment makers, including Muhlbauer and Toray Engineering, will share their experiences in the RFID tag assembly area.  A presentation on printed electronics will be given by Dr. Dan Gamota, Motorola.  Presentations will also highlight RFID activities in Japan and China. Dr. Frank Bachner of TechSearch will moderate a panel discussing the key challenges to lowering RFID inlay and tag assembly cost. 

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong-based Trans Global Logistics is advising air freight shippers to plan for an extra couple of days' transit time from Asia gateways beginning in mid-March. The reason? Air freight volumes - fueled by high-tech and electronics shipments - are aniticpated to surge as the "mini peak season" takes shape.

According to the company, recent canceled flights out of Hong Kong will add to a backlog of freight. And although air lift serving Shanghai has increased since last year, growing demand from shippers is creating a tight space situation. Carriers are expected to increase rates up to 25% this month.With business activity in India picking up, transit times are expected to be three to four days longer than last month. Carriers are generally only committing confirmed transit times for Express service.  

Looking ahead, president Robert Mooney stated that another surge in the price fo crude oil may cause airlines to pass along these costs through higher fuel surchaces (FSC). Hong Kong carriers have already announced a return to $0.36/Kg FSC, effective March 22.

Limassol, Cyprus - ASBIS (asbis.com), a supplier of computer components to the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) emerging markets, has signed an Authorized Distributorship Contract with Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. (Foxconn.com).
 
The company is now authorized to distribute all Foxconn brand products, including motherboards, chassis and coolers. The agreement covers all territories of ASBIS' current operation.
 
The partnership will promote the sales of Foxconn products throughout 26 countries with distribution centers located in Holland, the Czech Republic, United Arab Emirates and Finland. Foxconn will provide a three-year warranty for motherboards and two-year warranty for chassis, power supply, coolers and card readers.