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Handhelds Hardware

RFID Coming To A Cell Phone Near You 94

Posted by timothy from the can-you-detect-me-now dept.
Roland Piquepaille writes "In "RFID Goes Mobile", Red Herring reports that Nokia has quietly launched last month the first RFID-enabled cell phone. The Mobile RFID Kit will be available later this year and only for the 5140 model. This accessory allows the user to easily launch services and conveniently access phone functions simply by touching the phone to an RFID tag. The phone accesses the RFID tag data when an RFID reader emits a short-range radio signal that powers a microchip on the tag, allowing the ID information and other stored data to be read. Nokia doesn't intend to sell this kit to ordinary consumers like you and me. Instead, the RFID kit is designed to extend the mobility of workforce already on the move, such as security guards or maintenance people. This overview contains other details and references about the kit."
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RFID Coming To A Cell Phone Near You More

RFID Coming To A Cell Phone Near You

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  • Consumer Apps (Score:5, Interesting)

    by swordboy ( 472941 ) on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @08:27AM (#8858674) Journal
    This would actually be handy for consumers like the bar-code scanner thingy... When you're in the store, just scan the barcode (or RFID chip) and get price comparisons from other stores. Or reviews and user opinions, etc.
    • Hey, quit extolling the virtues of this technology! We've already decided that it was bad, and we won't change our minds!

      It's all a government plot to track us!
        • It's all a government plot to track us!

        Governments? Ha! They're just puppets for evil corporations!

        Well, with ubiquitous RFID tagging, you'll need a full-body tinfoil suit worn over other clothes anyway. And remember to microware it daily, just in case.

    • Re:Consumer Apps (Score:4, Interesting)

      by argStyopa ( 232550 ) on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @08:38AM (#8858737) Journal
      The problem is, that bar-code scanner thingy (Cuecat) wasn't a one-way data feed, and neither might this be.

      With Cuecat, every time you swiped a barcode, it logged what you were doing and passed that information to the parent marketing firm. Personally, I don't really CARE about marketing firms having a pile of data on what interests me (gee, you mean I'm going to have to watch MORE ads aimed at my demographic? Oh no, more chicks in skimpy stuff! Please make it stop!) but it probably will drive the tinfoil hat crowd nuts.

      I'd guess the RFID thing might work the same way - use the RFID kit to read retail RFIDs and I wouldn't be surprised if it means there's a log somewhere that'll upload to Nokia/whomever.
      That would be a nice saleable resource for Nokia - I mean, people pay $000's for email lists of dubious provenance, what about a swipe-history of your RFID activity?

      Now, I'd still consider getting this kit to use my cell phone as an RFID sweeper: buy a shirt, sweep it with the phone *ping* RFID detected.

      ME: "Store Manager? If you want me to buy this shirt you're going to have to read and FRY the RFID tag in it before I walk out the door."
      Manager: "Oh yes sir." (swipe) "OK, it's dead."
      ME, waving cellphone: *ping* "NO it's not. Do it right or I might misunderstand your incompetence as malfeasance, buddy."

      Yeah, I can see a good use for such a thing.
      New PDA: palm, phone, mp3 player, RFID scanner. I'd pay good money for that, yes.
      • New PDA: palm, phone, mp3 player, RFID scanner. I'd pay good money for that, yes.

        (BTW, you left out 802.11 and Bluetooth support.) The real question is: would you want to carry it? A Palm with all that extra crap would weigh almost as much as a Pocket PC device!

        • Re:Consumer Apps (Score:3, Interesting)

          by argStyopa ( 232550 )
          palm, phone, mp3 player, RFID scanner
          I have one of the early cellphone/pda's (thankfully about to die now, so will hopefully be replacing soon), and that's clunkier than just about everyone's cell phones now. I get a lot of comments about the bulkiness.

          But then I ask them to take out their cell phones. And their palm pilots. And the chargers for both (I travel a lot).

          Their pile is bigger than mine - one admittely clunky device, but also ONLY one cord charger/adapter (and only one thing to remember whe
          • As you may have guessed, I was mostly joking by making a PocketPC slam. But I've watched several friends over the years try different approaches to solve the multiple personal device problem.

            Friend 1 had a Palm VII for several years, then switched to a Tungsten T with Bluetooth and a T610 phone. For data and SMS he keeps the phone in his pocket, and just uses it via the Tungsten. For phone calls, the Tungsten stays in his pocket and the phone comes out. He's also purchased a Bluetooth car kit that has

      • Re:Consumer Apps (Score:3, Informative)

        by dabadab ( 126782 )
        "I'd guess the RFID thing might work the same way - use the RFID kit to read retail RFIDs and I wouldn't be surprised if it means there's a log somewhere that'll upload to Nokia/whomever.
        That would be a nice saleable resource for Nokia - I mean, people pay $000's for email lists of dubious provenance, what about a swipe-history of your RFID activity?        "

        Don't forget that Nokia is an European company, and since the EU has very strict rules regarding collecting/keeping personal data, it is very unlikely that No

        • "I'd guess the RFID thing might work the same way - use the RFID kit to read retail RFIDs and I wouldn't be surprised if it means there's a log somewhere that'll upload to Nokia/whomever.

          That would be a nice saleable resource for Nokia - I mean, people pay $000's for email lists of dubious provenance, what about a swipe-history of your RFID activity?"

          Don't forget that Nokia is an European company, and since the EU has very strict rules regarding collecting/keeping personal data, it is very unlikely

      • The problem is, that bar-code scanner thingy (Cuecat) wasn't a one-way data feed, and neither might this be.

        With Cuecat, every time you swiped a barcode, it logged what you were doing and passed that information to the parent marketing firm.

        [snip]

        I'd guess the RFID thing might work the same way - use the RFID kit to read retail RFIDs and I wouldn't be surprised if it means there's a log somewhere that'll upload to Nokia/whomever.
        That would be a nice saleable resource for Nokia - I mean, people pay $00

      • What would stop the store from making a deal with phone makers to be able to read the chip in the phones. Now they can track when you personally walk in and out of stores.

    • Re:Consumer Apps (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Lumpy ( 12016 )
      Stores HATE this idea.

      I have a 3com palm pilot that has the barcode reader built in.. I used to scan EVERYTHING I bought and entered the price on it. Stores start whining that you are stealing their intellectual property, brain dead sales and management staff try to steal your reader/palm pilot and it all ends as you walk out the store vowing to never return...

      It works great for my automated home, as I enter things in the inventory from the palm device and upload the new inventory when I get home. plus i
      • Then this would be cool because RFID scanning would be as invisible as handling the merchandise (except for the skritching in of the price.)

        Do you have a web site with a demo of your home automation setup? It sounds kind of neat.

        • nope, no time to make a demo site. Most of it is invisible anyways... I.E. no screens to look at execpt for status/voicemail/mp3 playnig screens on the 3com Audreys in the house... most things are via voice prompts from the server and input is wireless from a pronto remote. or via the audrey's of you want ot push a button... or finally the ADI lcd cobntrol panel in the front room.

          It's basically a customized misterhouse using ADI home automation equipment with vocp for voicemail, a custom mp3 playing scrip
    • The ID SNIPERTM rifle designed by EMPIRE NORTH

      What is the ID SNIPERTM rifle? [backfire.dk]

      It is used to implant a GPS-microchip in the body of a human being, using a high powered sniper rifle as the long distance injector. The microchip will enter the body and stay there, causing no internal damage, and only a very small amount of physical pain to the target. It will feel like a mosquito-bite lasting a fraction of a second. At the same time a digital camcorder with a zoom-lense fitted within the scope will take a hig

  • Useful Tool (Score:5, Interesting)

    by thpdg ( 519053 ) on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @08:29AM (#8858686) Journal
    Finally, an RFID tool that is on our side. If we can't stop the spread of them, at least now we should be able to see what their purpose is. In theory, you could look up any tag you come across, and find out, via some databse some where, why it is installed, and what it wants to learn about you.
    For a minute, I thought maybe it was an article about RFID tags in phones, which is just as inevitable.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by account_deleted ( 4530225 )
      Comment removed based on user account deletion

      • Re:Useful Tool (Score:3, Interesting)

        by Mikkeles ( 698461 )
        'Of course, because EVERY RFID tag that will be installed anywhere is made specifically to spy on you! There are NO other legitimate uses, right?'

        There are many legitimate, and even helpful (to the consumer) uses for RFID tags. The problem is that illegitimate uses cannot be detected or controlled without the consumer being able to find and (verifiably) deactivate the tags.

        It is unlikely that legislation would be sufficient to prevent unacceptable abuse of the tags. The abuse is too easy to do and too h

  • It's just two, two, two devices in one. (Score:5, Informative)

    by plover ( 150551 ) * on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @08:33AM (#8858701) Homepage Journal
    So they're incorporating an RFID reader in a phone. This is similar to the barcode scanners for Palm devices that came out a few years ago. I had a couple of them (evaluations for work) but never found a compelling personal use for them.

    This is novel in that it contains a portable "user-level" RFID scanner. (The phone bit is simply an already existant battery box.) So, now the questions are: what can end users do with it, and can we hack it?

    One thing to keep in mind is that with the small antenna inherent to a cell phone footprint, this will pretty much be an "almost-contact" scanner with a range of centimeters, not meters.

  • how come? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by matticus ( 93537 )
    how come nokia's web site for this phone [nokia.com] mentions absolutely nothing about RFID?

    • Re:how come? (Score:3, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Because it doesn't come as standard with the phone, but as an add on kit to be released later this year as pointed out in the article.

      Details here [nokia.com]

    • Re:how come? (Score:3, Informative)

      by plover ( 150551 ) *
      Try this [nokia.com] link. It's a kit that can be ordered to come with a 5140, and is not a standard part of their ordinary 5140.

      It looks like they're trying to market these to niche businesses: security companies, disabled assistance companies, meter reading companies, etc. I don't think there will be much general call for them. Many of the user scenarios they describe are already pretty silly: "Distress Assistance: Touch a tag on your clothing such as a belt, and the phone initiates an emergency call." Like th

  • What's Next... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Elusive_Cure ( 645428 ) on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @08:39AM (#8858742)
    well, it started...I'm quite possitive that RFIDs on the phones, on the PDAs and every mobile device won't be much of a success, due to the fact that most of the people resent on having someone scanning their phones/devices and tracking them down. OTOH, as i have previously mentioned in an older post, i used to participate in a reasearch at my uni for a major mobile phone company for the implementation of fingerprint recognition on cell phones and other mobile devices (PDAs,notebooks,etc). Personally i preffer the fingerprint sollution rather than the RFID one because the phone's security is up to you and not as "hollow" as RFID can be by the use of reverse engineering. It's simple, if your phone is stolen the perp needs to have your thumb or else the phone is just another piece of garbage. You cannot reverse engineer a fingerprint simply because you cannot have a clue on how the actual fingerpint is shaped, while the scanning software is something very ubiquitous and tough to be "hacked" by someone who hasn't got a clue of the scanning algorithms. Now with RFID, whack it off the phone/device and you have an ordinary device to play with .

    • ... if your phone is stolen the perp needs to have your thumb ...

      Did anyone else get visions of thumbless people with empty cellphone holsters?

      SteveM

    • Re:RTFA (Score:3, Insightful)

      by platypussrex ( 594064 )
      Your post shows that you didn't read the article. They are not putting RFIDs on the phones. The phones are able to act as portable RFID scanners. Also, apparently none of the people who modded you up bothered to read the article either, but then I guess this is /. after all.

  • A simple solution! (Score:5, Funny)

    by AndroidCat ( 229562 ) on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @08:40AM (#8858747) Homepage
    For the people worried about the privacy problems with RFID tagging everything: Give it to Microsoft. No, really! As soon as they start doing RFID for Windows, someone will have the bright idea of allowing RFID readers to automatically execute any arbitrary code that it finds on an RFID tag. Then we all just have to start wearing viral RFID tags.

  • Automating processes and cutting out paperwork (Score:5, Interesting)

    by bomblaster ( 580308 ) on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @08:46AM (#8858780)
    Features like this have lots of potential to cut down on paperwork by enhancing automation of routine tasks. For example, you might now need to fill out forms to signal that you have done a particular task. Instead, with this RFID reader in the phone, touch some tag and the information in the tag will be automatically sent to some remote database over wireless.

    This could lead to opening up new ways to improve a company's operational processes, cutting out steps where digital data is ofen has to be retyped into a different system.

    Moreover, vendors are now positioning smartphones more and more as "enterprise" productivity solution. Microsoft has also recently come out with a Location Based Services connector for Excahneg server that enables companies to monitor the location of thei service staff and route them efficiently by sending emails or test messages.
    • The routing of the information might be complex. Also, there might be conditions involved in handling the information, such as form data entry checking. Since a reader might not understand a given form, that information should be bundled with the "form". Perhaps there should be a standard scripting format to allow the RFID information to do smart routing and processing? The scripts could be automatically executed by the reader to save time.

      Perhaps Microsoft might do VB for Tags?

  • Uh-oh, here comes the privacy patrol (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @08:47AM (#8858791)
    Worrying about privacy on a device that already gives away your location and openly bounces your conversations over the radio spectrum.

  • This is not really a new idea.. (Score:5, Interesting)

    by api_syurga ( 443557 ) on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @08:53AM (#8858815)
    I came across a similar proposal a few years ago.
    Rather than using RFID, the said idea was to inversely uses RF smartcard chips. For example, maintanence staff are required to carry a mobile smartcard reader with a built in database, and the smartcard chips are installed at specific locations on where they are supposed to do their maintanence duties. Whenever they are at their supposed locations, they'd need to use the reader on the chips before going on to their next location.
    This adds some security and ensures the maintanence crew to actually go on site.

    However no one in the company took the idea to execution; perhaps it was'nt sexy enough..?

    I wonder how's this RFID thingie gonna be accepted in the real world.

    • The security personell at my office do that. They do rounds at specified intervals. For insurance reasons, they installed barcode stickers on every floor they're supposed to check.

      So, after they get off of the elevater they scan the barcode tag with a wireless barcode reader which is connected the security company's network. Then they check the individual offices, scan the tags there and, after they're finished scan the sticker by the elevater again.

      I don't know what prevents people from tampering with th

      • That could be a real pain.

        A bit more than 20 years ago, I was working at a medium sized engineering company. One Sunday morning, I was bored and decided to go to the office and play with the PDP-11/70 computer.

        About 7 am or so, the security guard came into the computer room and found me sitting there with every main board on the 11/70 pulled out and leaning against the computer. (I have no recollection of the intended purpose.)

        I thought I was going to be in trouble, but fortunately, she didn't know I w

  • this isn't a consumer app (Score:1, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward
    this is targeted at businesses that might use RFID...it's part of Nokia's "new" enterprise strategy

  • Not suited for consumer use (Score:5, Informative)

    by jackalope ( 99754 ) on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @09:01AM (#8858862)
    The RFID tag reading capability provided by the phone will not read the RFID tags that WalMart is requiring for it's top suppliers next year.

    The Walmart tags are EPC class 1v2 compliant tags that operate in the 915mhz range. The Nokia phone reads ISO-14443A tags that operate in the 13.56mhz range. The two technologies are very very different.

    The EPC tags are relatively inexpensive (and getting cheaper all the time). They have about 128 bits of internal nvram and can be read from about 1-3 meters.

    The ISO-14443A tags are expensive. They've got large amounts (multiple KB) of internal NVRAM, some have embedded operating systems and file systems for the NVRAM. You won't see companies using 14443 tags to tag merchandise anytime soon.

    Another problem with the 14443 tags is that it is based on a fuzzy ISO standard. The cross vendor compatibility between compliant 14443 tags and compliant 14443 readers is not good at all. For instance, a Philips 14443 reader may not be able to correctly read a STMicro 14443 chip, even though they both are 14443 compliant. Basically, ISO makes vague standards so that many companies can claim compliance, but none have to compete with in an open marketplace.

    I think the Nokia phone will be useful for closed loop RFID applications (one where the tag is not required to interoperate across multiple companies).

  • Site mentions security guards as users... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Ami Ganguli ( 921 ) on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @09:05AM (#8858877) Homepage

    The company that does security for us (and probably for Nokia - I work about two km from their headquarters) uses little barcode readers. As the guard does her rounds, she swipes a little bar-code in each room. Presumably the security company logs that info and thereby knows exactly when each room in the building was checked.

    I bet somebody at Nokia saw their security guards doing the same thing and got a bright idea...

    • Wow, thats secure.....

      Lazy person that I am, I would probably copy each of the barcodes in each room and then sit at my desk all day/night and swipe my copy of the barcode at an appropriate interval...
      • Failing to cover all of the area on your rounds can be explained by oversight or misunderstanding -- it's easy for someone to justify missing a round, making it a non-termination offense, and thus it's easy for workers to take that risk.

        Overtly and intentionally overriding the control measures, on the other hand, is fraudulent and obviously negligent. It would be a termination offense (there is no good justification for it), and thus a lot of the people who would do the former will not risk the latter.
      • Wow, thats secure.....

        It's not meant to be. It's meant to give an easy record that doesn't require much extra work beyond the guard doing their job.

        A rough semi-geek analogy would be MS Outlook's journal, which can be set to passively record when you edited what files.
      • The parent post is actually false. One of the biggest security services companies in Finland used to log their visits with barcode labels as described. However, the rumour has it one of their employees actually ended up implementing your brilliant idea. One of the guarded buildings got destroyed in a fire during the night. After a while the police contacted this company asking whether anything unusual had been noticed two nights ago. For some reason or the other they hadn't heard of the fire and replied: ac
  • RFID Coming To A Cell Phone Near You

    Run, panic, cower in fear. Conspiracy theorists abound. Its just a RFID reader, people. If anything, you spy on the people who are trying to being spying on you.

  • Coming soon to a toy store near you -
    RFID Battler - based on the old Barcode Battler, this new version will allow you to battle opponents usinng the latest technological advances.

    I really should have patented that idea before broadcasting it...

    This is not a .sig. If it was a .sig it would be funny.
    Or ironic at least.

  • Here's Hoping (Score:3, Funny)

    by pete-classic ( 75983 ) <hutnick@gmail.com> on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @09:16AM (#8858934) Homepage Journal
    That RFID gets the kind of traction that bluetooth has. It certainly has a similar pre-rollout hype.

    Still can't get a f*%#ing bluetooth phone from verizon.

    -Peter

  • woohooo (Score:5, Interesting)

    by nizo ( 81281 ) on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @09:17AM (#8858941) Homepage Journal
    When you walk near my RFID tag that I leave at the mall, does it cause your phone to automatically dial my 1-900 number at $20/min?

    • Re:woohooo (Score:1, Funny)

      by AndroidCat ( 229562 )
      Can't get me! I'll look at all tag data in the Preview Pane before opening them. That ought to be safe.
    • I would think this would fall under some sort of theft or fraud law. And the worst that happens is the credit companies would reimburse the holder, or the cell company would, and laws would be enacted to enable the companies to take legal action against the people at the end of the money trail that such a scam would inevitably leave.

  • Don't like it (Score:2, Funny)

    by badzilla ( 50355 )
    Boss: Wear this phone so I can hassle you whenever I want.
    Me: Nope

    but now

    Boss: Wear this access control badge so you can get into the server room.
    Me: OK
    Boss: Oh ya BTW it is also a phone so I can hassle you whenever I want...

  • Could be exciting if we have the right tool (Score:4, Interesting)

    by gearmonger ( 672422 ) on Wednesday April 14, 2004 @09:58AM (#8859242)
    One thing we'll definitely need is the RFID equivalent of FreeDB.

    Of course, once the planet is littered with RFID tags in everything (after all, isn't 94.6% of everything in the world purchased at a Wal-Mart now?), we geeks will need a way to find out what data each contains.

    The big corp monopolies won't be giving up their data, so it'll be up to us to collect, organize, and disseminate the data in these tags. Bu then, you have to wonder if even reading those tags won't be some kind of violation of the DMCA or other IP protection laws. Damn laws.

  • I'm sure we can all count on the engineering and implementation of this tech to be robust and secure.

    I mean, at least as secure as Bluetooth [slashdot.org].

    Sorry for the sarcasm, but I'm not convinced that this isn't just featching creeperism that will eventaully result in data leakage or worse.

    Considering the market this is aimed at, I'm hoping the spec is doing more than just paying lip service to security. Hackers and hobbyists will have access to USB or PCI RFID (or whatever) units eventually. Better plan for it


  • That's all we need! Cell phones sending out radio signals.. what will they think of next?
  • People are talking about this as if it's some kind of simplified data input solution. But phones with cameras are already effective barcode readers and some come with OCR these days ... DoCoMo 505i series phones [nttdocomo.co.jp]

    All without additional hardware. The main advantage of RFID in this case is simply resistance to cloning of the tags. That's why this isn't being marketed as a mass-market feature.

    Also, although this is the first READER application, DoCoMo did a pretty widespread trial last year with tags embe

  • Well, I did the initial design work for a certain pump company that sells RFID to gasoline companies. We used the an RFID unit sold by a certain Texas electronics company. All of the RFID tags were supposed to be unique. We found out later their mouths were moving.

    FIRST, we got sample tags that were supposed to be all unique, but of which five had the same exact number.
    THEN, we discover that only a RANGE were unique, that in fact the rest of the values were being used by cattle and pork industry (removed
  • I have been researching RFIDs for about 6 months and published all my results on my RFID Resource Site - www.rfidexchange.com. That may be a good resource for anyone who wants to find out what these things can really do. The reality is that there is a great deal of overselling of capability in terms of the accuracy of the readers in capturing all the tags, the range over which the tags can be read (stated to be 10-15 feet, more likely to be 5-10 feet with large 2 ft x 2 ft antennas, and perhaps 6-12 inches

  • When you can uniquely identify your cell phone via an RFID tag inside of it, you can use it to unlock your car doors, house, etc.

    See the RFID in Your Thumb [whynot.net] idea on Whynot.net

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