RFID For Dummies®

Chapter 18

Ten (Or So) Equipment Vendors

In This Chapter

Hardware vendors for readers and antennas

Specialty tag application companies

A note on service levels

W hen you’re looking for a partner or trying to get started with a technology, the toughest part is often either getting hold of the gear, particularly tags, or finding someone who is reputable. In this chapter, I show you some of the more reputable equipment companies and offer a bit of street knowledge about each one.

If you work with a vendor and don’t get good service from the start, go to someone else as soon as possible. The companies best able to keep their customers happy are the ones with staying power. When you order hardware, tags, or services, demand a written service level agreement (SLA) with penalties for noncompliance. Although Chapter 17 focuses on outsourcing, many of the guidelines for finding a good outsourcing partner apply to RFID equipment vendors, too.

Alien Technology

Alien Technology Corporation, 18220 Butterfield Blvd., Morgan Hill, CA 95037; www.alientechnology.com; phone [phone]