Microsoft plugging RFID

Microsoft Corp, the world's software giant, is touting its latest radio frequency identification (RFID) device at the ongoing Taipei 2005 -- 18th Asian International Stamp Exhibition to help post offices and express delivery companies manage parcel tagging and tracking.

RFID, an identifying and tracking technology, allows tiny chips (tags) to communicate with detectors wirelessly and transmit information from a unique serial number to complex product details. The technology is now applied to many fields, including logistics and retail-inventory management.

According to people working at Microsoft Taiwan, post offices can incorporate RFID into their own mail or parcel management systems for efficient tracking of parcels on the road.

Once the post office counter is equipped with RFID, the entire courier system -- from the first post office where the parcel is received to the destination post office -- needs only one punch of information about the parcel, regardless of how many "stops" the parcel must make.

After the information about the parcel is entered into a post office's computer, the computer will print out an RFID tag.

The post office can also contact the parcel senders via MSN or mobile phone messages, allowing the senders to know their parcel's latest whereabouts and delivery time, the Microsoft Taiwan people said.

Chunghwa Post Co (中華郵政), the key sponsor of the ongoing stamp exhibition, which will run through Wednesday at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall I, has yet decide when or if it will sign a contract with Microsoft to use its latest RFID technology.