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(PR NEWSWIRE) Zebra Technologies Reveals Top 5 RFID Gen 2 "Do's"
and "Don'ts"

VERNON HILLS, Ill., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The first EPCglobal Class 1
Generation 2 radio frequency identification (RFID) products are reaching the
market, which is accelerating Gen 2's rise to become the leading RFID protocol
for supply chain and compliance initiatives. Zebra Technologies
(Nasdaq: ZBRA), a global leader in flexible, on-demand printing solutions to
help companies improve business performance and a ten-year veteran of RFID
innovation, reveals the following Gen 2 "do's" and "don'ts" to help companies
avoid potential implementation pitfalls.

Do go straight to Gen 2 if you are starting RFID pilots now.

Gen 2 protocols offer significant performance enhancements over the first
generation of EPCglobal UHF protocols, including superior tag throughput,
improved accuracy and compliance with global spectrum regulations. Many new
vendors have committed to supporting EPC Generation 2, allowing users to
leverage standards-based interoperability among tags, interrogators,
printer/encoders, etc. as well as aggressive pricing spawned by competition.

Don't overlook your RFID basics -- communication of data is still key to
success.

Gen 2 -- while a major milestone in RFID technology improvements -- does
not mean that users can bypass the learning curve associated with an RFID
pilot. They will still need to understand the physical requirements of laying
out an RFID environment to minimize RF interference from hardware and to
optimize read rates. Ideally, users should identify where RFID data is
generated, transmitted and utilized, so business process and operational
improvements -- such as better real-time visibility of products and
inventories in the supply chain -- can be achieved. Issues such as training
personnel and establishing metrics and milestones to determine progress also
will need to be addressed. To ensure your RFID implementation is as smooth
and seamless as possible, turn to seasoned, trusted RFID specialists who have
a solid track record in the technology.

Do thorough research and testing of Gen 2 products to ensure compatibility
and feature support.

Gen 2 is a flexible standard that can be implemented in different ways by
different vendors. With dozens of variations of Gen 2-compliant tags and
hundreds more likely on the horizon, chips may vary in memory size,
programming speed and other characteristics.

In addition, different antenna designs can perform better or worse when
distance or orientation to interrogators is changed. Also consider that the
amount of power the printer/encoder requires to write data to the RFID chip is
a complex function of the inlay's chip type, antenna design, and antenna size.
Users may need to use different tag designs to provide optimal read
performance on a variety of items. Each set of tags may require different
encoding power levels, making it important for printer/encoder settings to be
easily changed by the user -- without extensive IT support or reprogramming.
Test Gen 2 media thoroughly to ensure the tags selected truly support your
application. Experienced solution providers can help you select smart label
media optimized for your printer/encoder and for your application.

Do plan to support a multi-protocol environment.

The arrival of Gen 2 does not signal the retirement or obsolescence of
other RFID protocols. Gen 1 tags will likely be used through 2007 until
existing supplies are exhausted. And today's RFID technologies will evolve
into future generations in the coming years. In addition, different protocol
standards can be used for different applications, just as numerous bar code
symbologies are used today. Organizations should build their RFID
infrastructure with multi-protocol printer/encoders and interrogators.
Multi-protocol equipment provides investment protection and simplifies
upgrades because it can simultaneously support different RFID standards and
tag types.

Don't buy a short-term solution.

A flexible, configurable and upgradeable RFID infrastructure is required
to support Gen 2 and beyond, as well as allow users to reap the business
benefits of improved operations. Features like multi-protocol support,
software-defined radios and adjustable power settings provide long-term
investment protection and lower the total cost of ownership of your RFID
infrastructure as it matures and evolves. When evaluating RFID investments,
determine if the products: 1) meet your current needs for protocols, options
and features; 2) include simultaneous support for multiple RFID protocols; and
3) offer a low-cost, clear, easy and efficient upgrade path that can sustain
operations with minimal disruption.

For more information on RFID smart label printing/encoding, download
Zebra's white papers, "Gen 2 Implications for Smart Label Printing," and
"Managing the EPC Generation Gap: An Overview of EPC Standard Migration from
Generation 1 to Generation 2 Tags" from Zebra's Web site. To learn more about
Zebra's market-leading RFID products, please call [phone] or visit
Zebra's RFID Web site at http://www.rfid.zebra.com .

About Zebra Technologies

Zebra Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: ZBRA) delivers innovative and reliable
on-demand printing solutions for business improvement and security
applications in 100 countries around the world. More than 90 percent of
Fortune 500 companies use Zebra-brand printers. A broad range of applications
benefit from Zebra-brand thermal bar code, "smart" label, receipt, wristband
and card printers, resulting in enhanced security, increased productivity,
improved quality, lower costs, and better customer service. The company has
sold nearly five million printers, including RFID printer/encoders and
wireless mobile solutions, and also offers software, connectivity solutions
and printing supplies. Information about Zebra bar code and RFID products can
be found at http://www.zebra.com .

CONTACT: Michelle Meek
[phone]
[e-mail]

SOURCE Zebra Technologies

Contact Information:
Michelle Meek for Zebra Technologies, [phone], michelle@outlookmarketing
rv.com

WebSite:
http://www.rfid.zebra.com

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