Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

I’d like to discuss the matter of radio frequency identification(RFID). For those of you who aren’t familiar with RFID, here is an explanation from Wikipedia:

“Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the use of an object (typically referred to as an RFID tag) applied to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification and tracking using radio waves. Some tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader.”

RFID has a large number of uses and I only see them expanding. Currently RFID tags are being used in applications including but not limited to: transportation payments,  transportation and logistics, human implants, product tracking, biometric passports, libraries, animal identification, mobile payments, asset tracking etc…

After doing some research, I’m even more keen on this idea then ever. What got me thinking about RFID tags?  Thought came to me while in the lengthy check-out line of a  major big box retailer. The shopping experience and selection is grand but the check out procedure is slow and cumbersome. Instead of having a cashier scan each item, I envisioned a scenario where each item had a RFID tag and customers just push cart through a gate which automatically tallies the cost of all items.  How much time would this save?  The more I think about RFID, the more uses and scenarios come to mind.

Some  larger companies that have involvement in this space include: UPS, TYC, TXN, JAVA, SAP, R, MCK, IBM, INTC, INFY, CSCO, BAX, BRC, MMM, AVY, VRSN.

Other companies in this space:  PHG, TQNT, NCR, IN, MANH, IP, CKP, ATML, ZBRA, IN and ALAN

For further information on these companies and their involvement in the RFID industry please read this list of RFID related stocks.

On a side note for you conspiracy theorists, if you believe in the Illuminati, then you’ve probably heard the idea that eventually, we’ll all have RFID chips in us that contain every bit of data required for us to exist in society. In the event you displease those in power, they simply delete the file from your chip, effectively erasing your existence. Why not cash in along the way?

If the RFID industry interests you, I suggest you read the RFID Journal.

Below are a few stocks related to RFID that I looked up in The PPT, I have a lot of research to do.

Manhattan Associates Inc (MANH)
The company is a developer and provider of supply chain solutions that help organizations optimize the effectiveness, efficiency, and strategic advantages of their supply chains.

Atmel Corp (ATML)
The Company designs, develops, manufactures and markets a range of high-performance logic, radio frequency and nonvolatile memory integrated circuits using complementary metal-oxide semiconductor and other technologies.

Zebra Technologies Corp (ZBRA)
The Company designs, manufactures, sells & supports a range of direct thermal & thermal transfer label printers, radio frequency identification printer/encoders, dye sublimation card printers, & related accessories & support software.

Intermec Inc (IN)
The Company designs, develops, integrates, sells, resells and services wired and wireless automated identification and data collection products and provides related services.

I like this space and plan on allocating 10% of my portfolio in the coming months.

If you enjoy the content at iBankCoin, please follow us on Twitter