Checkpoint Systems announces their agreement to acquire leading RFID software provider OATSystems. The announcement states Checkpoint’s rationale as positioning the company to help retailers and their suppliers migrate to a common standard EPC RFID platform from EAS, enabling retailers to gain improved inventory visibility, further reduce shrink and enhance on-shelf merchandise availability for consumers. Click here to read Checkpoint’s press release.

A Feasibility Study just released by the University of Arkansas, conducted on behalf of VICS and the CSCMP reports on the feasibility of using passive UHF RFID for apparel and footwear item identification and inventory management. Results show near 100% read reliability under a variety of practical scenarios.

Zebra Technologies acquires ultra-wide band (UWB) RTLS technology company Multispectral Solutions, Inc. augmenting their recent acquisitions which are amalgamated under Zebra’s Enterprise Solutions division. Terms of the cash deal were not disclosed.

IBM (NYSE: IBM) and OATSystems announced that Airbus has selected them to provide a software solution for a multi-million dollar, multi-year RFID project that will help streamline Airbus' supply chain and manufacturing operations and significantly reduce its aircraft production and maintenance costs.

Aberdeen Group has released “The Truth Behind the Hype”, in which this research group provides insightful comments on RFID adoption in retail, and explains how RFID is being used to deliver increased customer satisfaction and inventory accuracy.

ABI Research forecasts strong and sustained market growth for RFID systems. Starting from a base of more than US$3.8 billion in revenue in 2007, worldwide RFID markets are expected to reach US$8.4 billion in 2012, according to a new study from ABI Research. The 2007 figure represents a 24% growth over 2006, and the curve to 2012 indicates a compound annual

growth rate of 21%.

AMR Research states its belief that RFID has “reached its tipping point – and no-one noticed”, observing that end-users are looking beyond compliance driven requirements, to attacking inefficiencies which they have not been able to correct using other technologies.

The University of Arkansas RFID Research Center has published two reports (November 2005 and June 2006) on the improvements achieved in reducing retail out-of-stocks through the application of RFID systems.

A study commissioned by Wal-Mart highlights the value of using RFID to improve accuracy of perpetual inventory (PI).