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Sun Microsystems

Sun Microsystems, the computer hardware and software maker, opened an RFID test center in Dallas, Texas. The facility allows Wal-Mart suppliers to assess RFID solutions and systems so they can ensure compliance with Wal-Mart's technological requirements, which center on identifying, tracking and tracing cases and pallets using RFID tags that carry Electronic Product Codes (EPCs). Although the retailer met with its top suppliers in early November, 2004 to provide details on what they will need to do, many questions remained unanswered. "A lot of companies have indicated that they need to learn more about the requirements and build cost-effective systems," says Julie Sarbaker, director of the auto-ID business unit for Sun Microsystems. "They understand that it is essential to get things right, but they do not have the technical expertise or resources to tackle the task internally." Sun offers RFID middleware based on its open Java Enterprise System and is developing auto-ID products to cater to tier one suppliers as well as others that need to ramp up RFID capabilities. Its RFID test center offers consulting expertise and runs simulations for actual systems. To ratchet up its technical expertise, Sun is working with several RFID equipment suppliers, including Matrics, Tyco and Applied Wireless Identification Group (AWID). It also has Wal-Mart's full cooperation for the project. Sun's RFID test center will support all of the same types of tags and readers that Wal-Mart requires its suppliers to adopt. Companies submit the tags, readers and other RFID hardware and software they are considering for deployment, and the Sun test center will install and test them and evaluate how well they would function in Wal-Mart facilities. "Companies gain insight into which tags to use and which devices provide the best-read range and penetration range for pallets," says Sean Clark, who helped set up Sun's test center and serves as an auto-ID product architect at Sun. Although prices will vary depending on the nature of the project, Sarbaker estimates that the total fee for most companies will generally fall below $100,000.

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