[12982] in cryptography@c2.net mail archive
Benetton backs off RFID deployment
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Alexander Gantman)
Tue Apr 8 15:49:47 2003
X-Original-To: cryptography@wasabisystems.com
X-Original-To: cryptography@wasabisystems.com
Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2003 11:59:30 -0700
To: cryptography@wasabisystems.com
From: Alexander Gantman <agantman@qualcomm.com>
http://www.eet.com/semi/news/OEG20030405S0001
Benetton backs off RFID deployment
By EE Times Staff
EE Times
April 5, 2003 (11:28 a.m. EST)
SAN FRANCISCO=97The use of RFID chips in clothing to discourage theft took=
it=20
on the chin Friday (April 4) when a major international clothing chain said=
=20
it is not using the devices in its products.
The Italian company Benetton said in a release that it "is currently=20
analyzing RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology to evaluate its=
=20
technical characteristics and ... no feasibility studies have yet been=20
undertaken with a view to the possible industrial introduction of this=20
technology."
The surprise announcement came just two weeks after Philips announced that=
=20
it would embed its RFID chips into the labels of every new garment bearing=
=20
Benetton's Sisley brand name. The semiconductor maker estimated it would=20
ship 15 million RFID chips, based on its I.Code integrated circuits, for=20
that application.
Philips' I.Code technology includes a CMOS-based SLI line, which operates=20
at 13.56 MHz and offers read distances of up to about five feet, and an HSL=
=20
line that operates at 2.46 GHz and has a read distance of almost 10 feet.
Philips said in a March 11 announcement that Benetton is using the=20
I.Code-based labels to track its garments throughout its supply chain. As=20
part of the initiative, all garment boxes are also to be fitted with=20
I.Code-based labels. They are then tracked using I.Code- compatible readers=
=20
and wireless-LAN netpads.
Benetton is apparently bowing to customer concerns that the embedded ags=20
could be used to track the movements of people other than thieves. It said=
=20
it "reserves the right" to use the technology in the future.
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