Zebra's Downloadable Gen 2 Firmware Upgrade
Zebra Technologies offers a free EPCglobal Gen 2 firmware upgrade for its RFID smart label printer/encoders. Firmware can be downloaded and installed from Zebra that expands RFID capabilities to include Gen 2 smart label printing/encoding. The upgrade is done without the need of a service call or replacing hardware, including the reader. Users are now able to add Gen 2 support on existing Zebra printer/encoders and still continue to use Gen 1 and other protocols.
Zebra is the first company to provide publicly downloadable firmware to support Gen 2, according to the company. It is available for Zebra's RXi series of printer/encoders, the RPAX4 series print engine, and European R4Mplus printer/encoders.
"Zebra's firmware solution provides outstanding convenience for users. We've removed concerns about transitioning to Gen 2, and eliminated the time and expense often associated with upgrading to new protocols," says Bob Cornick, Zebra's Vice President and General Manager of RFID "Zebra's multi-protocol printer/encoders protect our customers' RFID investments by making it practical to adopt the powerful Gen 2 standards while leveraging their legacy equipment."
Sun Microsystems' staff at the SunRFID Test Center in Carrollton, TX, have downloaded the firmware upgrade and given it good reviews, saying it enables a smooth transition to producing Gen 2 compliant smart labels. The firmware upgrade can be found at www.zebra.com/ firmware, along with downloadable installation instructions.
Select Reader Service 153
Weber Has XML-Enabled Printing Systems from Zebra
Weber Marketing Systems (www.webermarketing.com) is now authorized from Zebra Technologies to provide a complete range of label printers and RFID printer/encoders that are enable for Extensive Markup Language (XML). XML is a popular method for business-to-business and application-to-application transactions. The XML-enabled printing systems simplify the integration of label printing into many ERP systems. These printers can eliminate print servers and middleware by providing a direct connection to ERP, WMS, and similar business process applications.
Weber provides a range of labeling systems available with Zebra XML-enabled printing capabilities, such as narrow- and wide-Web thermal label printers, RFID label printer/ encoders, and Weber's exclusive RFID label RFID printer/encoder/applicator.
"We are extremely pleased to receive Zebra's authorization to offer its XML-enables systems," says Ann Marie Phaneuf, Weber's Marketing Director. "It will make it possible for us to offer our customers an excellent alternative in label printing that does not require additional hardware or middleware."
Select Reader Service 154
SATO e Series Printers Are XML-Enabled and Certified for Integration
SATO (www.sato.co.jp/english) and EPC/RFID solutions announce that SATO's e Series printers now include SATO XML-enabled 3.0 printing capability, providing an easy-to-manage interface for printing RFID and barcode labels from the SAP® Auto-ID Infrastructure component of the SAP NetWeaver® platform. This new ability to simultaneously encode this data in an RFID tag and print the barcode label without the need for middleware could produce savings in time and money for end-users.
SAP NetWeaver is a comprehensive integration and application platform that works with existing IT infrastructures to enable and manage change. SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure is the key component of SAP NetWeaver that provides the capabilities to integrate all automated communication and sensing devices.
"With a simplified enterprise system architecture and less printing support requirements, the direct print solution will result in cost and efficiency gains for many users," says Vic Barczyk, SATO's VP of RFID Business Development. "SATO will continue to work with its business partners and end users to offer solutions that fit the users' environments and needs."
Select Reader Service 155
|
