3M Expands RFID Marker System for Underground Facilities

3M (www.3m.com) is expanding its product family of RFID-enabled electronic utility markers with the release of new markers designed for near surface and deeply buried applications. These new markers join the existing RFID ball and disk markers to address a broad range of permanent marking needs for utilities and other assets.

The 3M RFID Marker System, first of its kind in the industry, provides positive identification of marked facilities, making it more valuable for locating and maintenance than conventional passive marker locating.

3M RFID marker locating technology enhances management of underground facilities for telecommunications as well as natural gas, water, sewer, CATV, and electric power utilities. It can pinpoint both conventional passive markers and new 3M RFID markers on all of the established utility marker frequencies. It also provides efficient cable/pipe locating and fault location.

3M's Marker Locator System includes handheld 3M Dynatel 2200M Series locator units, which offer compatibility with industry standard GPS/GIS field data collection devices for real-time mapping of marker placement and enhanced asset and resource management.

Unlike conventional markers, the new 3M system can differentiate every marked underground feature, even distinguishing between the facilities of competitors having adjacent markers tuned to the same frequency. Software configuration functionality built into the 3M Dynatel Locator System provides ease of use even for inexperienced workers because each locator can be programmed to include only those marker frequencies required by the operator.

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Handheld Mobile Computer by Socket Communications

Socket Communications, Inc. (www.socketmobile.com) announces that its SoMo 650 handheld mobile computer, designed specifically for the business mobility market, is now shipping to customers. Individuals within this market require a device that is more portable and cost-effective than an industrial-grade computer, but more suitable for a business environment than a consumer PDA or Smartphone. The SoMo 650 is lightweight and durable and is optimized for a wide range of business applications, including field automation, inventory management, patient care, merchandising, asset management, and mobile point-of-sale.

The SoMo 650 features the following:

• Lightweight, PDA-like form-factor making it ideal for customer-facing mobile workers.
• A three-to-five year life cycle, enabling customers to gain significant return on their investment.
• Windows Mobile 5.0 Professional operating system to ensure the highest level of mobile application compatibility and user familiarity with the computing environment.
• Robust features for business mobility deployments, including business-class WiFi (and fast roaming for dependable wireless connectivity) and Bluetooth, a 624 MHz processor, a large, bright QVGA display, robust program and storage memory for running multiple applications, and a high-capacity battery for users who are mobile all day.
• Programmable action buttons on the side for ease-of-use when deploying industry-specific mobile applications.
• Pre-integration with a wide range of peripherals and information systems, such as scanning, RFID, communications and interface devices, ensuring fast and easy deployment.

The SoMo 650 has been trialed by nurses at St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. "We are strong believers that mobile computing is a necessity to bring safety to the patient's bedside. The lightweight design of the SoMo 650 enables the nurse to carry the device to the bedside and use it for every medication administration eliminating the risk of errors," says Rich Schaeffer, CIO at St. Clair Hospital.

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NCR Partners with AIDC Solutions

NCR Corporation (www.ncr.com) has appointed AIDC Solutions Ltd as its first Pan-European channel partner for NCR's automatic identification and data collection (AIDC) solutions. Under the agreement, AIDC Solutions Ltd. will resell the NCR TransitionWorks™ software portfolio to businesses in the consumer goods manufacturing, distribution, and retailing industries.

The NCR TransitionWorks software development platform enables users to design, deploy and manage business solutions that leverage RFID, barcode scanning, biometrics, and other automatic identification technologies. It simplifies the infrastructure required to enter, capture, and cleanse data and update all pertinent systems across LAN, WAN, WiFi, and mobile networks. AIDC Solutions Ltd. is launching the newest version of the product into Europe. NCR TransitionWorks 5.2 includes new device integration and graphical process modeling functionality.

AIDC Solutions Ltd is reselling NCR AIDC software directly in the UK. It has an established network of reseller partners in Europe but is looking to expand its representation in France, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Poland, and the Czech Republic.