Leading RFID product supplier SIRIT Technologies has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Federal Signal. One of the stated reasons for this acquisition was to enhance Federal Systems’ leadership in the supply of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), which increasingly use RFID technology to automatically identify vehicles. Click here to read the press release.

Working in close collaboration with retailers, EPCglobal has developed and published easy-to-read guidelines for the utilization of passive RFID as an alternative to proprietary electronic article surveillance (EAS) loss prevention systems. The guidelines only deal with “RFID EAS” at points of egress / entry and point of sale (PoS). Click here to access a copy of EPCglobal’s report.

The University of Arkansas RFID Research Center continues its thread of research into the benefits of item tagging of apparel in stores, and has released a report concerning a recent project conducted with Bloomingdale’s. Click here to download a copy of the white paper, which discuss the potential to achieve improved inventory accuracy, leading to fewer out of stocks and lower safety stock levels.

A white paper entitled “Chaos in the Retail Cosmos” recently published by industry analysts Venture Research Group (VDC), highlights the imperative need for retailers to achieve greatly improved visibility of the location of inventory on their sales floor. ITCS can enable the visibility which VDC highlights. Click here to download a complimentary copy of the white paper from VDC’s website.

The University of Arkansas RFID Research Center has published a new white paper describing its latest findings on the improvement in retail inventory management that can be achieved though the utilization of item level RFID tagging. Click here to access the Center’s website and download a copy of this white paper.

Tyco International announces that they have acquired data capture software provider Vue Technology. Vue has established itself as a leading provider of sophisticated software for managing data associated with serialized items, especially in retail, granting retailers and their suppliers real-time inventory visibility. The acquisition of Vue richly augments Sensormatic’s product portfolio, and matches well with Checkpoint’s recent acquisition of OATSystems. Click here to read Tyco’s press release.

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).