If you are shipping relatively small quantities of product under a mandate for Wal-Mart, U.S. Department of Defense or other organization, and you need a fast solution for obtaining RFID smart labels, then an innovative new website might be just right for you.

Paragon Data Systems has set up the site, called ParagonRFID.com for ordering smart labels online. That means if you don't have the equipment to generate smart labels, you can go to this website, set up an account, enter the information, and generate the required labels. You pay by credit card, and the labels are shipped to you. The site notes:

At the moment we are using Alien Technologies EPC Class 1 Generation (Gen) 1 96 Bit tags converted into a smart label, accepted by both the retailers and the DoD. Our standard formats are for 4"w x 6"l and 4"w x 2"l thermal transfer smart labels. We are able to produce smart labels as small as 4"w x 1".

The labels start out really pricey -- $10 each if you are ordering onesy-twosy. But if you order in quantities of 500 or more, the price comes down to $2.50 each. Still pretty expensive, but if you factor in the cost of not having to acquire your own equipment, and you are shipping small quantities, perhaps it makes economic sense.

Also, for a company requiring an immediate solution, this may fill the need.

The site has a neat little Flash video on the home page that walks you through the ordering process.