Google, Impinj, Intel, Smartrac and AIM Global launch RAIN RFID Alliance to promote RFID

Google, Impinj, Intel and Smartrac, along with the leading AIDC industry association, AIM Global, have formed RAIN RFID, an industry alliance dedicated to promoting the international adoption of UHF RFID.

RAIN will promote awareness, education, programs, and initiatives to accelerate the growth and adoption of ISO–IEC 18000-63 / EPC Gen2 RFID in business and consumer applications worldwide.

The name RAIN, which stands for RAdio-frequency IdentificatioN, symbolizes the synergy between UHF RFID and the cloud as well as the ubiquity of UHF RFID tags and applications.

“UHF RFID is the technology that will link information about items in our everyday world to the internet” said Shahrokh Shahidzadeh, senior principal technologist at Intel. “The RAIN Alliance will evangelize and foster the growth and adoption of UHF RFID to improve business efficiency and, ultimately, people’s lives.”

“Establishing an industry alliance focused solely on UHF RFID is the next step in the evolution of the technology,” said Chris Diorio, chief strategy and technology officer at Impinj, Inc. and the architect of the UHF Gen2 protocol. “With strong support from Google, Impinj, Intel, and Smartrac, and the foundation provided by AIM, the Alliance will represent our community with a focused, unified voice and will positively impact UHF RFID awareness and adoption across industries and with consumers.”

The Alliance will begin accepting members immediately, and expects steady growth by offering a variety of membership benefits including industry research, education, promotion, and services that connect industry members and end users. Alliance members will be able to use the RAIN logo and brand.

“Establishing RAIN as an AIM Global alliance represents the next step in AIM’s support for the AIDC industry dating back to 1972,” said Chuck Evanhoe, chairman of AIM Global. “As a group, especially with such strong support from Google, Impinj, Intel and Smartrac, we will positively impact the future success of UHF RFID innovation around the globe.”