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RFID Tag: WhereNet Active RFID Real-Time Locating
System Tag: ISO and WiFi Capability
May 25, 2007
WhereNet Corp., a Zebra Technologies company
and one of the leader in wireless solutions for tracking and managing enterprise assets, announced recently general availability
of the multimode WhereTag IV active RFID asset tag. Supporting both ISO 24730 and IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi)-based real-time locating
system (RTLS) applications, the WhereTag IV works with WhereNet's integrated wireless architecture for real-time location,
messaging, telemetry, and workforce communication applications, providing constant asset visibility with the degree of location
accuracy matched to the enterprise customer's specific business requirements.
"Due to the way radio waves
propagate and given the inherent trade-offs associated with various location technologies, WhereNet's multimode active
RFID tags represent a natural evolution in the company's product portfolio," said Michael Liard, RFID research director
at ABI Research. "Depending on the application and environment, end users are realizing that multiple tracking technologies
are required for optimal asset management."
"With every new product introduction, we further bolster
our position as a 'one-stop shop' for wireless location solutions, offering the optimum technologies that match the
application requirements of our customers," said Dan Doles, vice president and general manager for WhereNet. "The
multimode capability of the WhereTag IV aligns with our corporate strategy to deliver solutions that specifically address
unique business problems across the enterprise or the supply chain, and provide a rapid return on investment."
Ubiquitous Asset Coverage from Carpeted Offices to Rugged Industrial Environments
Whether tracking personnel
in a high-security office building, defibrillators in a hospital, work-in-process in an assembly operation, or containers
in a marine terminal, the WhereTag IV asset tag has universal applicability for any enterprise challenged with reducing inventory
and labor costs while increasing throughput, security, and customer service.
Customers can use the WhereTag IV
ISO 24730 mode for high-precision applications in indoor or outdoor environments, and the IEEE 802.11 mode for applications
requiring lower precision in more stable, "radio frequency (RF) friendly" environments.
Enterprises
such as automotive and aerospace manufacturers, marine terminal and rail operators, and distribution facilities use ISO 24730
RTLS applications to address the following business requirements and environment constraints:
Dynamic RF, high-multipath,
harsh industrial environment -- Need for location accuracy of 5 to 10 feet -- Need to track a large number of assets -- Operate
in a long locate range: 300+ feet indoors and 3,000+ feet outdoors -- Requirement for extended battery life
WhereTag
IV can also operate in 802.11 mode to support applications in environments characterized by any of the following factors:
Stable RF environment (indoor carpeted areas) -- Lower precision locate (within 30-50 feet) -- Low-cost presence
detection in stable environments -- Dense 802.11 infrastructure
When used in multimode, WhereTag IV's capabilities
allow assets to roam seamlessly through multiple location technologies providing constant asset visibility with varying degrees
of location accuracy matched to application requirements.
Expanded Cisco Relationship
The WhereTag
IV multimode asset tag leverages WhereNet's fully integrated RTLS architecture, which combines WhereNet's time difference
of arrival (TDOA) technology to locate asset tags in ISO 24730 mode, and the Cisco Wireless Location Appliance part of the
Cisco Unified Wireless Network, which locates tags in IEEE 802.11 mode.
Through an open application programming
interface (API) and in accordance with the Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX) tag program, the WhereTag IV transmitter is compatible
with the Cisco 2700 Series Wireless Location Appliance. By adding the Cisco Unified Wireless Network with the Cisco Wireless
Location Appliance and the Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS) to its RTLS architecture, WhereNet offers a seamless solution
as its robust Visibility Software Server(TM) (VSS) gathers data from the multimode WhereTag IV and filters the appropriate
information as required by the specific application software.
"Location-based active RFID applications have
been proven to automate business processes and deliver strong returns on investments in a variety of environments," said
Ben Gibson, director Mobility Solutions, Cisco. "Given the prevalence of Wi-Fi installations around the world, it's
natural for us to team with technology providers to deliver location-based applications for enterprise customers. Furthermore,
with the advent of ISO 24730 multimode tags, we anticipate accelerated adoption of real-time location system-based applications
as they become a de facto standard for companies driven to continually optimize business processes."
Pricing
and Availability
Pricing for WhereNet's real-time locating system and associated applications is based on
the configuration requirements of the customer's system and the size of the installation; a small WhereNet system begins
at $50,000. Pricing for the WhereTag IV product is $55.00 each. WhereTag IV will be available in August 2007 from WhereNet.
About WhereNet Corp.
WhereNet is a registered trademark and WhereTag and Visibility Software Server are trademarks
of WhereNet Corp. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of their respective
owners.
Source: RFID Solutions Online
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