Zebra, ThingMagic Integration To Enable Mobile RFID Deployment

Zebra Technologies, a provider of specialty printing and automatic identification solutions and ThingMagic, a developer of RFID technology, have announced the integration of ThingMagic M5e-Compact embedded RFID reader module into Zebra’s RP4T mobile RFID printer. Leveraging ThingMagic’s RFID reader module performance and form factor, the Zebra RP4T printer is suitable for producing long-lasting RFID tags and labels and identifying and tracking business-critical assets across a variety of markets including government, healthcare, manufacturing, mobile field service, and transportation and logistics.

ThingMagic’s M5e-Compact was specifically designed for mobile, portable and handheld RFID applications that require economy of power and space. The M5e-Compact is EPC global Generation 2 DRM compliant, and is optimised for Generation 2 RFID tags. Based on ThingMagic’s Mercury5e embedded reader module, the M5e-Compact consumes one third of the power and is half the size (56 mm L x 36 mm W x 5 mm H) of the Mercury5e, enabling a variety of RFID applications for asset tracking, warehouse and inventory management, location awareness, and other use-cases that require a customisable yet small RFID reader solution.

“Rising demand for point-of-application RFID print encoding has driven the development of the Zebra RP4T printer and we are confident that the M5e-Compact RFID reader module will enhance Zebra’s RFID solution,” said Carolyn Ricci, senior product manager, RFID, Zebra Technologies.

In addition to enabling printing of EPC-compliant, passive UHF RFID Class 1, Generation 2 labels at any location, the Zebra RP4T printer offers capabilities for enhanced connectivity including Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11g wireless connectivity options, and WPA2 security for enhanced data protection and user authentication.