Release Date

1Q 2010

Product Code

VM-URDM-101

Price

Login

INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE
ABI Research’s ongoing RFID market analysis reveals increased end-user demand for new passive UHF reader form factors — most notably handheld/snap-on readers — used to support applications across vertical markets. High reliability/performance, an ergonomic design, and ease-of-use are critical customer/partner requirements for today’s passive UHF handheld readers. Size, cost, power efficiency, battery life, software, and overall functionally are additional key considerations among customers (users and partners).

The handheld segment of the passive UHF reader market is fertile ground for innovation and increased global adoption. ABI Research believes much of the core innovation and volume over the last few years has been concentrated in the fixed reader segment (largely due the initial compliance opportunity and expected demand for portal readers). However, increased demand is helping drive strong innovation and new form factors that meet various price-performance application requirements. In addition, some application environments need ruggedized mobile RFID readers, thereby providing another area where vendors can achieve specific innovation and implementation success within the handheld segment.

More important, the opportunity for passive UHF handheld readers is global. As a result, vendors are developing offerings that meet specific regional requirements, including technical certifications and cultural/workforce considerations.

ABI Research has prepared this Vendor Matrix to give an unbiased rating of leading passive UHF (ISO 18000-6C/Gen2) handheld/snap-on RFID reader vendors on the basis of each company’s perceived "Innovation" and "Implementation." We have evaluated passive UHF handheld reader manufacturers by selecting multiple criteria related to product and company characteristics as metrics for the vendors' performance in these two areas.

Vendor and Product Scope
This analysis includes only vendors that directly design and deliver passive UHF handheld/snap-on RFID reader products. While ABI Research recognizes that Gen1 and ISO 18000-6B-compliant passive UHF readers have been deployed and continue to be marketed, only ISO 18000-6C/Gen2-compliant passive UHF handheld/snap-on RFID readers have been considered within this Vendor Matrix. However, multi-protocol-compliant readers are recognized/rewarded under applicable scoring criteria.

Reader chipsets, such as the R1000 from Impinj, are also excluded from the analysis. However, it should be noted that Impinj’s reader chipsets are being used by an expanding base of reader manufacturers (more than forty to date), including many of the vendors and specific handheld/snap-on offerings evaluated in this Vendor Matrix.

Reader module and compact flash card manufacturers and their OEM reader offerings that are/can be leveraged in the dedicated/finished handheld reader offerings of other vendors are also considered. One example is Sirit Inc.

Profiled vendors were selected based on our research as well as interviews with and feedback from industry participants, including tag vendors, passive UHF OEM reader module and chipset manufacturers, systems integrators, distributors/Value-Added Resellers (VARs), and end users.