My first post in 07. I had been absent and bogged down with a ton of projects. Finally getting a chance to catch up after quite a while I must say.

I saw the keynote address by Steve Jobs on iPhone on the Internet. The iPhone is truly revolutionary, multiple counts in breakthroughs. Except for a few unfathomable questions in my mind, it is still a must “BUY” - at least for me. Hopefully by then, some of the technology capabilities in my wish list will be built in when it is shipped to Asia in 08.

What I find most puzzling is - why did he not build 3G capabilities into it?! The other thing is, I can imagine with its cult status building into a frenzy, RFID may just go mainstream into widespread consumer usage if it had been considered for the device. I did not hear Jobs once mentioned the word “RFID”.

Imagine waving out iPhone to get on the transit. Firstly, that is one less card out of that bulky wallet crying out for space. And of course, you get to enjoy that egotistical experience of flashing the WOW-toy every once more often.

Varying RFID standards could be the issue. In places like Hong Kong, Singapore, China (Shen Zhen), India, Bangkok-Thailand Metro, RFID in transits are using Sony Felica hardware. This technology is different from other RFID hardware standards that follow ISO 15693. It is probably too risky to assume any one standard such as Felica to be the defacto in mass market adoption albeit it is by far the only large scale mass usage that affects nations of people. Check out the article by Andy Kowl - RFID - Are we there yet?

Well I am not qualified to answer any of this, however should mainstream consumer-RFID happens there is another reason to make iPhone2

ADDED ON JAN 18
I just saw a video on CNN.com titled “iPhone is so yesterday” which is exactly what I talked about on my last post. In the case of the Japanese, they use their cellphones to buy magazines, beverage fix from the vending machine, pay for transit charges and all that which makes iPhone almost Stone Age. Jobs, in his address commented that the “killer app is making calls”. Well that is like 10 years old, everybody knows that.

Today the key emerging technology enablers such as 3G, RFID, WIMAX are increasingly changing the way we live, play and work. Seriously though WIFI is what I would term as “grandpa” technology. It falls short in enabling capabilities to pinpoint objects/people within a context that would have otherwise roll our a brand new range of applications as did RFID.

As I know it, RFID started its journey into handsets as early as 2005 with NEC introducing “near-field” technology into its mobile phones. RFID technology in particular is making waves in the niche market of transportation from as far as Europe to major cities in Asia. The form factor ranges from credit card size EZ-Cards to mobile handsets. It is a proven success. The new waves of killer mobile applications are actually emerging.

Increasingly as the mobile smart device becomes a centre-piece in the mobile culture, it seems imperative that it includes emerging (key) technology enablers built in - 3G, RFID, WIMAX … It radically changes the way we connect with each other, access information, make mobile payments, mobile bank transactions, entertainment etc..

iPhone is a definite leader in device user interactions, and thats probably enough for some to head to the stores. But having a grandpa technology on iPhone doesn’t exactly sound all that exciting for me.

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Mobile Phones are definitely the biggest phenomenon since the PC era. They form an integrate part of our lifestyle, whether for business or private. That said, it is not surprising that in 04 Nokia launched phones with built in RFID technology. At another website, I read recently that ABI Research predicted RFID is increasingly gaining traction in phones. The estimated number is somewhere in the region of 50% of all manufactured phones by 2009. A few days ago, I was asked to suggest some RFID ideas for the hopitality industry. Yearly I do abit of traveling, so the idea was formed on that basis that I can enjoy its benefits some day.

This may happen some day in a future not far away. From the comfort of my home, I logon the Internet and make a room reservation over the Internet. When performing payment, RFID scanner in my computer negotiates payment information stored in the RFIDed mobile phone. This causes a payment signature to be sent to the hotel’s designated payment gateway. Upon completion of payment, the hotel Internet server sends a SMS to my mobile phone containing Hotel Access Code information. The resident RFID module installed in the mobile phone accepts and stores the access code. Up till here, my hotel reservation is settled. Although it sounds complicated, but all I really need to do is click “OK” for payment, and a second “OK” for receiving the Hotel Access Code SMS. Way cool. So you may ask, what is so good about having RFIDed phone to get around the hotel? In one of my travels, I flew for 20 hours halfway around the world and on arrival at the hotel I had to wait almost an hour to finally get to my room! If I can just suggest this scenario with RFID. On reaching the hotel, instead of going up to the service counter get in the queue and wait to be checked in, I can walk straight for the elevator. Placing my mobile phone over a RFID scanner in the elevator, the system validates the access signature stored in my phone and takes me to the right floor (level) where my room is located. At the door of my room, I will only need to wave my RFIDed phone like a magic wand and BINGO the door opens for me. The wonderful thing is I DONT HAVE TO WAIT, minimum delays to get much needed sleep! On the hotel backend system, the RFID enabled system detects the hotel access code on my mobile phone and checks me in automatically as a new visitor. The building wide RFID enabled system continues to provide me immediate access to all the other services provided. This means I can use my RFIDed phone to access other amenities like the gym, pool, business lounges etc - almost without any hotel assistance or anyone to validate if I am a “real” customer.

Using RFID, hotel services can be enhanced and geared towards providing highly personalized experience for the visitor instead of clogging its capacity with routine impersonal tasks. Streamlining operational processes using RFID technology can further enhance and shorten time to respond customer’s needs. This can include waiting to access certain services as mentioned, or assigning the closest “tagged” hotel personnel to attend to the customer. Case in point, early this year I went on a vacation at a nearby resort in Bali. In order to gain access to Internet services, I had to register myself and show proof that I was truly a patron of the resort at the Business Service Centre. That did not take much out of me, but I thought it could have been faster to get me what I need. If RFID was in place, I could simply walk to a free Internet station, wave my RFIDed phone over the keyboard which automatically validates “I AM A PATRON” access and logins me into the Internet immediately.

Love it or hate it, RFID is making its rounds into every room of human existence. From backend processes, to mid level processes to interacting with customers direct. The further the international community advances towards a common RFID platform, language and sets of protocols enabling different RFID devices to intelligently communicate with each other, the greater the level of innovation for meaningful technology for us. These will be interesting to watch…

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