There are more than 60 radio-frequency identification (RFID) technologies in common use worldwide, along with mobile technologies based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or Near-Field Communication (NFC). In addition, there are a wide array of communication standards and protocols, connection types, and interface options for access applications. For access applications, common RFID technologies include MIFARE, DESFire, iCLASS  and LEGIC, but dozens of others are used regionally. At the same time, NFC mobile credentials (such as those held in the Google or Apple Wallet) are increasingly popular with both end users and organizations.

This diversity creates challenges for OEMs, integrators and organizations. OEMs embedding RFID readers into products such as printers, physical access control (PAC) systems, EV charging infrastructure or production machinery need solutions that will work across all market areas in which they sell and operate. They also need flexibility to support various interface and protocol requirements for various product lines or customer applications. Yet, many readers are limited to a narrow set of communication standards, frequencies, or interfaces, and lack the strong software package needed to customize for specific applications. This limits market opportunities or forces OEMs to stock multiple versions of their products, creating inventory management challenges and driving up costs.

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SOURCE Elatec