Symbol is to embed IBM software in its scanners to help make RFID tag data easier to manage

Mobile infrastructure vendor Symbol Technologies has today announced plans to embed IBM middleware into some of its radio frequency identification (RFID) scanners to reduce network traffic and automate more of the management of data from RFID wireless tags.

Under the agreement, Symbol will embed IBM's WebSphere RFID Device Infrastructure (WRDI) middleware product into its own XR Series of fixed RFID readers. The company said this will create an "intelligent" reader that can better automate the process of managing data scanned from RFID tags.

Andy McBain of Symbol said that pushing RFID middleware functionality, such as data collection, filtering and even some analysis capabilities, into " intelligent readers" will allow firms to reduce network traffic and get relevant supply chain information into the hands of staff more quickly.

McBain said the company is also in talks with other RFID software providers to embed their technology in Symbol readers. He added that the new XR480 reader, launched at last week's Cebit trade fair, was designed to meet European ETSI 302-208 standards and better host middleware.

The latest announcement follows similar developments from IBM's RFID middleware rival Sun Microsystems, which earlier this month launched a new version of its Java System RFID Software. It said the update reduces the software’s footprint so it can be more easily embedded in readers.