Passive RFID Readers: Market Trends and Forecasts

ISO 14443, ISO 18000-6, EPCglobal Gen 2, and EPCglobal LLRP

The market for passive RFID readers – devices that encode data into passive tags and interrogate those tags to retrieve the information – is changing significantly. New applications such as national ID cards and product authentication have moved to the fore, enabled by significant advances in the technology and the associated standards. Integration levels are advancing, with RFID-specific reader ICs displacing general-purpose components in a growing segment of the market. These ongoing changes require RFID product providers to rethink their approach to the market and to provide end users of the technology with significant new deployment opportunities. ABI Research conducted an extensive study of this market in the first quarter of 2008. This report, the result of that study, describes market dynamics for passive readers and reader-specific ICs, identifies key issues facing reader manufacturers and end users, and provides five year market forecasts for passive RFID readers and reader-specific ICs. The forecasts, both in units and in revenue, are segmented by frequency, by application, and by geographic region.

What Questions Does This Report Answer?

What is passive RFID?
What are the types and characteristics of available passive RFID readers?
What market forces are driving the evolution of passive RFID readers?

Who Needs This Report?

Manufacturers of passive RFID Reader ICs, packaged readers, or reader modules
Services providers who recommend and deploy passive RFID readers
End users
RFID hardware vendors
Independent software vendors

1.1. Introduction
1.2. Market Overview
1.3. Key Trends and Issues
1.3.1. LF and HF Continue to Dominate the Market
1.3.2. UHF ISO 18000-6C/EPCglobal Gen 2 Is Now Proven
1.3.3. Increased Embedding of Readers
1.3.4. Innovation Continues
1.4. Key Market Forecasts
1.5. Conclusion
2.1. Fundamental Concepts
2.1.1. RFID Transponders
2.1.2. RFID Tags
2.1.3. RFID Readers
2.1.3.1. Reader/Tag Interaction Components
2.1.3.2. Reader/Software Interaction Components
2.1.3.3. Reader ICs
2.1.3.4. Control Logic
2.1.3.5. Application Processors
2.1.4. RFID Software
2.1.4.1. Device Operation Software
2.1.4.2. Edge Logic Software
2.1.4.3. Data Integration Software
2.1.4.4. Data Repository Software
2.1.4.5. Analytical Software
2.1.5. RFID Integration Services
2.2. Frequency of Operation
2.2.1. Microwave
2.2.2. LF
2.2.3. HF
2.2.4. UHF
2.3. Hybrid Active/Passive RFID
2.3.1. Read Range Extension
2.3.2. Sensing and Monitoring
2.3.3. Dual Operation
2.3.4. Energy Scavenging
2.4. Form Factors
2.5. Antennas
2.5.1. Polarization
2.5.2. Near Field vs. Far Field
2.5.3. Cabled vs. Integrated
2.5.4. Phased-Array Antennas
3.1. Application Segmentation
3.1.1. Security/Access Control
3.1.2. Asset Management/Tracking
3.1.3. Cargo Tracking and Cargo Security
3.1.4. RTLS (Real-Time Location Systems)
3.1.5. Supply Chain Management
3.1.6. Point-of-Sale/Contactless Payment
3.1.7. Vehicle Immobilization
3.1.8. Baggage Handling
3.1.9. Automatic Vehicle Identification
3.2. Application Area Market Dynamics
3.2.1. Mature Applications
3.2.1.1. Security/Access Control
3.2.1.2. Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI)
3.2.1.3. Vehicle Immobilization
3.2.2. Established Applications
3.2.2.1. Baggage Handling
3.2.2.2. Asset Tracking
3.2.2.3. RTLS
3.2.2.3.1. Outdoors
3.2.2.3.2. Indoors
3.2.2.4. Animal Identification
3.2.2.5. POS/Contactless Payment
3.2.3. Emerging Applications
3.2.3.1. Supply Chain Management
4.1. Aerospace and Defense
4.2. Automotive
4.3. Commercial Services
4.4. Diverse Manufacturing (Non-CPG)
4.5. Government (Non-Military)
4.6. Healthcare/Life Sciences
4.7. Retail CPG
4.8. Retail In-Store
4.9. Transportation and Logistics
4.10. Other
5.1. Hardware and RF Standards
5.1.1. ISO
5.1.1.1. LF Standards
5.1.1.2. HF Standards
5.1.1.3. UHF Standards
5.1.2. EPCglobal
5.1.2.1. Class 0
5.1.2.2. Class 1, Gen 1
5.1.2.3. Class 1, Gen 2
5.1.2.4. HF Gen 2
5.1.3. China
5.1.4. Vendor-Proprietary Implementations
5.2. Software Standards
5.2.1. EPCglobal Reader Protocol
5.2.2. EPCglobal Low-Level Reader Protocol
5.2.3. Vendor-Specific Software Interfaces
5.2.3.1. Microsoft DLPI
5.2.3.2. IBM WebSphere
5.3. Standard Conformance Certification
5.4. On-Reader Application Logic
5.4.1. Rationale
5.4.2. Tradeoffs
5.4.3. Programming Environments
5.5. National Regulatory Differences
5.5.1. Frequency Allocation
5.5.2. Operational Restrictions
5.6. Technology and Distribution Partnerships
6.1. Standardized/High-Volume ICs
6.2. Mobility
6.3. Read Rates
6.4. Write Performance
6.5. False Read Elimination
6.5.1. Antenna Tuning and Shielding
6.5.2. RSSI and/or TOA
6.5.3. Cross-Reader Aliasing
6.6. RF Interference Mitigation
6.7. Open Standard vs. Proprietary/Differentiated
6.7.1. Standards-Based Solutions
6.7.2. Integrated Tag/Reader Solutions
6.8. Innovation on Industry Standards
6.8.1. Improved Read Rates and Read Range
6.8.2. UHF Readability on Metals and Liquids
6.8.3. Battery-Assisted Passive
6.8.4. Sensor Tags
6.8.5. Dual Operation
6.8.6. EAS and Similar Flag Bits
6.8.7. Large Memory
6.8.8. Secure/Encrypted
6.8.9. Directionality Sensing
6.8.10. Position or Distance Sensing
6.8.11. Two-Way Communications
6.8.12. Encoding Performance Enhancements
7.1. Readers
7.1.1. Frequency Range
7.1.1.1. LF
7.1.1.2. HF
7.1.1.2.1. ISO Standard HF
7.1.1.2.2. EPCglobal HF Gen 2
7.1.1.2.3. Proprietary
7.1.1.3. UHF
7.1.1.4. Microwave
7.2. Antennas
7.2.1. Operational Target
7.2.2. Packaging
7.3. Geographic Regions
8.1. Reader IC Manufacturers
8.1.1. Atmel
8.1.2. austriamicrosystems
8.1.3. Intel
8.1.4. Texas Instruments
8.1.5. WJ Communications
8.2. Reader and Reader Module Manufacturers
8.2.1. Alien Technology
8.2.2. CAEN RFID
8.2.3. EB
8.2.4. FEIG ELECTRONIC
8.2.5. Impinj
8.2.6. Intermec
8.2.7. Kenetics Group
8.2.8. LXE
8.2.9. Motorola
8.2.10. Omron Electronics
8.2.11. Psion Teklogix
8.2.12. Siemens
8.2.13. Sirit
8.2.14. Tagsys RFID
8.2.15. ThingMagic
8.2.16. Tyco Electronics
8.3. Antenna Providers
8.3.1. ADT Security
8.3.2. FEIG ELECTRONIC
8.3.3. Vue Technology
8.3.4. Phased-Array Antenna Providers
9.1. Overall Market
9.2. Forecasts by Geographic Region
9.3. Forecasts by Operating Frequency
9.4. Forecasts by Vertical Market
9.5. Forecasts by Form Factor

Product Information

Related Research

Related Press Release

Passive RFID Readers: Market Trends and Forecasts

ISO 14443, ISO 18000-6, EPCglobal Gen 2, and EPCglobal LLRP