Motorola Launches RFID Reader

LAS VEGAS—The Enterprise Mobility business of Motorola Inc. introduced the Motorola XR450, an industrial-class, fixed radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader.

The reader features bi- and mono-static antenna ports on one platform, according to Motorola. “This new two-in-one solution provides an ideal high-performance RFID reader for both item-level tracking and more demanding supply chain applications,” the company says. Customers can select between using four bi-static ports that require dual antennas or four mono-static ports that require one antenna for transmitting or receiving tag data.

Mono-static ports are ideal for real-time item-level tracking, application processing and management, such as in postal tracking or reading pallets of goods at retail stores, says Motorola. Businesses can use bi-static ports for challenging RF environments.

The XR450 also includes new management software and security features, such as SSH and SSL support to protect information as it moves across external network interfaces. Custom applications can be built and hosted on the device.

The XR450 RFID reader is certified to run on both Microsoft Biz Talk Server 2006 R2 and IBM Premises Websphere 6.0 and 6.1. It also supports Microsoft.NET Compact Framework 2.0 for hosting customer applications directly on the reader.

"From the retail store to airline baggage carousels and within closed-loop warehouse environments, Motorola’s versatile XR450 fixed RFID reader is an ideal platform to gain inventory visibility and recognize business process efficiencies across the entire supply chain,” says Joe White, vice president of business development and marketing for RFID at Motorola’s Enterprise Mobility business.

The new Motorola XR450 fixed RFID reader is expected to ship beginning in July 2008.