Microsoft upbeat on radio frequency identification biz

Hyderabad, Sept. 20: For Microsoft Corporation, the domain of radio frequency identification is the next big business opportunity.

It is of special significance to a small group of developers at the Microsoft India Development Centre here who conceptualised the Microsoft’s RFID foray about three years ago. Making out a case for RFID, they incubated and developed the entire product and solutions set for the global market.

Microsoft now works with over 100 global partners — hardware, software vendors and system integrators — to offer what was described as the most comprehensive set of solutions spanning a small business establishment to a large dispersed global enterprise.

With the cost of RFID tags coming down from about $3 three years ago to about 5 cents now and readers from about $2,500 to about $300-400, and efforts to streamline supply chain processes, the market is poised for an upswing, said Mr Srini Koppolu, Corporate Vice-President and Managing Director, Microsoft India Development Centre.

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