From all the trees that have been killed to publish media reports on the Wal-Mart mandate and similar retailer initiatives, you might have the impression that RFID was in widespread use in retail today.

In reality, it is a different story. The status of retailer efforts is still limited -- mostly pilots and restricted roll-outs -- as this status report on the major retailer RFID initiatives shows:

Albertsons: Case- and pallet-level RFID in Texas, pilot tagging by a small group of suppliers.

Best Buy: Case- and pallet-level RFID. Pilot tagging with major suppliers next year, rollout in 2007.

Marks & Spencer: Tagging men's suits in nine stores. Tagging mandate for suppliers. Trial expanding to 53 stores and other clothing departments starting in 2006.

Metro: Future Store. Case- and pallet-level tagging. Extending RFID implement to other stores and suppliers.

Target: Case- and pallet-level tagging in Texas. Working with small group of suppliers prior to 2007 rollout.

Tesco: Item-level tagging of DVDs. Doing DVD tracking in two stores, plans to include eight more stores.

Wal-Mart: Live in 104 Wal-Mart stores, 36 Sam's Clubs, and 3 distribution centers in Texas. Working with first group of mandated suppliers.

Rather surprising when you see the retailers' efforts laid out in a list like this, is it not?

The source is AMR Research, via a Line 56 roundup of RFID news.