VeriSign and Nokia team to bring RFID to consumers — MobileMonday Global: Industry News

^{Nokia 5140 RFID phone coming in a year} VeriSign and Nokia team to bring RFID to consumers

6 Nov 2004 at 04:08 GMT Timo Poropudas

In March, Nokia introduced the Nokia RFID Kit that includes the Nokia 5140 phone with alternate RFID casing.

The Nokia 5140 is geared toward supply chain functions, but within next few years the RFID functions could be used also by consumers, according to Gerhard Romen, head of global market development at the Nokia Ventures Organization.

Nokia partnered with VeriSign a year ago to begin tailoring the RFID phone to the consumer market. Taking RFID out to the supply chain requires a standardized way of uniquely identifying items within the supply chain. The most promising future identification system is EPCs, according to Shawn Molodow, director of business development for VeriSign's Naming and Directory Services.

Delivering product information to mobile phones using EPCs is an opportunity for retailers and manufacturers to extend RFID can also benefit consumers besides the supply chain.

The phones can be used for one-touch warranty registration at stores and to deliver product information, coupons, and promotions to consumers.

VeriSign manages the EPC codes and operates the EPC Network on behalf of EPCglobal Inc., a joint venture between EAN International and the Uniform Code Council that develops EPC standards.

The EPC Network is made up of the Object Naming Service, the EPC Information Services, and the EPC Discovery Service, and each one enables the sharing of detailed, real-time product information.

The goal is to have Nokia's RFID-enabled phone read the EPCs in tags on store shelves and connect them with VeriSign's Object Naming Service through the phone's Internet browser.

RFID technology is primarily designed for distribution, but what makes VeriSign and Nokia's initiative unique is the fact that they're focused on bringing RFID to consumers, says Molodow.

"VeriSign, as a leading provider of Internet infrastructure, and Nokia, as a leading mobile solution provider, are working closely together to develop the market and ecosystem for consumer-based RFID solutions," he says.

Although the technology already exists, Nokia and VeriSign have yet to recruit developers and third-party vendors to create applications that would enable the collaboration between retailers, manufacturers, and consumers. At last week’s CTIA Wireless conference in San Francisco, VeriSign demonstrated how Nokia phones can be used in conjunction with EPCs, and Molodow says fully operational phones will be available to enterprises in the next 6 to12 months and to consumers in 12 to 18 months.