Cisco has introduced a new device that combines RFID and WiFi. Its purpose? To track the location of assets. According to EE Times as reprinted over at InformationWeek:

"The Wireless Location Appliance 2700 is a $14,995 1U box that integrates RFID tagging with 802.11 access points, providing ways for central managers to locate and control assets.

Cisco is initially targeting health-care networks to use the locator system to monitor hospital and clinic equipment. Ann Sun, senior manager of wireless and mobility solutions, said she anticipates growing interest from manufacturers along with public-safety applications and similar markets where asset tracking is important.

The system can be used in conjunction with voice-over-IP infrastructure, but works best when VoIP has been extended to a voice-over-Wi-Fi environment.

One location system is used for each central enterprise site where aggregation and network policy enforcement is required. Wi-Fi access points gather received signal strength indicators (RSSI) from 802.11 devices and tags, and Cisco Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP) controllers serve to aggregate RSSI information."

Privacy advocates already object to Cisco's new offering. Their objection is that it could be used to track people.

Of course, if an employer wants to track employees, it doesn't need to spring the $15K for Cisco's box. The employer probably has enough technology out there today to get a pretty good handle on what employees are doing.