| Toronto, ON, July, 2006 - The EPC Tag Class | | | | from the sup-ply chain: instead Generations 1 and |
| Structure is often misunderstood. 'Class' is not the | | | | 2 will coexist for 6 to12 months while the |
| same as 'Generation'. Class describes a tags basic | | | | Generation 2 learning curve ramps up. Depending |
| functionality for example whether it has memory | | | | on Generation 2 price and perfor-mance, and |
| or a battery. Generation refers to a tag | | | | market conditions, this 'Generation 1 Shadow' |
| specification's major release or ver-sion number. | | | | could last until early 2007, when Generation 1 tags |
| The full name for what is popularly called EPC | | | | finally disappear from the supply chain. Tag |
| Generation 2 is actually EPC Class 1 Generation 2, | | | | technology will continue to evolve; around the |
| indicating that the specification refers to the | | | | time Generation 2 becomes established around |
| second major release of a specification for a tag | | | | 2006/7, end users and technology vendors |
| with write-once memory. | | | | expect work to begin on developing a 'Generation |
| The full EPC Class Structure is: | | | | 3' system with further improvements to |
| Figure: EPC Class Structure | | | | Generation 2 technology. |
| The Class 0 designation was added to the | | | | Our company GAO RFID Inc. currently does not |
| Generation 1 system long after the Class 1 | | | | offer any GEN 2 tags yet, but as we can foresee |
| specification was created, as part of the process | | | | GEN 2 tags will dominate the supply chain market. |
| described in 1.i above. Class 1 tags, of which | | | | GEN 2 tags have the same potential as the active |
| 'Generation 2' is an example, contain a write once | | | | tags as the next generation of RFID technology. |
| memory for storing an Electronic Product Code. | | | | To learn more, please visit |
| Class 2 tags add additional memory that can be | | | | About GAO RFID Inc |
| changed fre-quently, for storing additional data | | | | GAO RFID Inc., a member of GAO Group, was |
| ?for example from an onboard sensor. Class 3 | | | | spun out from GAO Tek (formerly GAO |
| tags add batteries for longer read ranges and | | | | Engineering) in July, 2006 as a result of its fast |
| higher reliability, but are fundamentally passive | | | | growing RFID business and its further heavy |
| backscatter tags. Class 4 tags are essentially | | | | investment in this exciting market. GAO RFID has |
| active tags that can communicate with other | | | | established itself as one of world¡¯s |
| Class 4 tags as well as readers. Class 5 tags are | | | | most influential suppliers of RFID products, |
| not really tags at all - they are essentially wireless | | | | particularly RFID tags, labels, and readers. GAO |
| networked readers. | | | | emphasizes on product quality. Read More... |
| High volume, general availability of Generation 2 | | | | Contact |
| tags is expected some time in this moment. | | | | GAO RFID Inc. |
| However, Generation 1 tags will not disappear | | | | |