Interesting insights about the Generation 2 standard for RFID. This columnist in Frontline Solutions has some practical advice for buyers of RFID tags and readers, about what to include in RFP documents:

...I confidently state that ISO 18000-6c will be a milestone RFID standard -- the analogous equivalent of IEEE 802.11b. It will represent the first instance of a single, internationally accepted passive tag air interface and data structure standard that uses a single, internationally accepted frequency band. This takes us well along the way to achieving passive tag ubiquity. There are other standards required to achieve full ubiquity, but they either are an ISO standard already or are being prepared for ratification.

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It is in this context that the following is the most important sentence in any request for proposals going forward:

"The equipment proposed must be compliant with the ISO 18000-6c draft standard version as of September 2005, and the selected vendor must willingly commit to upgrade such equipment to incorporate any changes reflected in the ratified form of the standard."

It would be wise that the sentence that follows require the vendor to commit to act in good faith to support other ISO Standards necessary to facilitate gaining and preserving RFID infrastructure ubiquity across the worldwide supply chain.

Another RFP clause might include a requirement that, after the standard is ratified, the selected vendor will submit to ISO compliance and cross-vendor interoperability certification by an independent third party. This should not be EPCglobal. As a standards maker, that organization cannot be deemed an independent party. In addition, the revenue-generation businesses of its parent represent a potential conflict of interest.

All of the above recommendations are from a column by Thomas Polizzi today in Frontline Solutions. Well worth a read.