Microsoft Enables Real-Time Business Decisions With BizTalk RFID Mobile

New offering is designed to enhance business productivity.

LAS VEGAS, April 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At RFID Journal LIVE! 2008,
Microsoft Corp. today unveiled Microsoft BizTalk RFID Mobile -- a lightweight
platform for a variety of mobile devices, which simplifies the development of
mobile applications that expose relevant, real-time business information.
BizTalk RFID Mobile enables delivery of relevant information from mobile
devices to core business processes for a variety of scenarios, whether for a
dock worker verifying a shipment or a pharmacist verifying that the right
medicine has been stocked.
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Microsoft today made available a private beta with general availability
expected in late 2008. Customers and partners can participate in the BizTalk
RFID Mobile Technology Adoption Program (TAP) by registering at
https://connect.microsoft.com/site/sitehome.aspx?SiteID=65.
"Given today's fast-paced environment, customers have asked for business
process technologies that enable real-time decision-making to help drive
measurable business results," said Burley Kawasaki, director of product
management in the Connected Systems Division at Microsoft. "Together, with
leading industry partners including Motorola Inc., Intermec Technologies
Corp., Unitech, Samsung and Psion Teklogix Inc., we will deliver a
cost-effective, mobile RFID platform that works with existing business
processes and systems."
As part of the Microsoft BizTalk product line, Microsoft BizTalk RFID
Mobile underscores the company's long-term commitment to deliver extensive
service-oriented architecture (SOA) and business process management (BPM)
capabilities as part of the overall Microsoft application platform. The
platform is a set of compatible, mission-critical technologies and development
tools that enable customers to develop applications that work with existing
systems.
"BizTalk RFID Mobile represents an exciting opportunity for Motorola to
build on our track record of delivering innovative products to meet customer
needs," said Joe White, vice president of RFID business development for
Motorola Enterprise Mobility. "Motorola is actively working with Microsoft so
that our customers will be able to reliably and seamlessly run applications on
BizTalk RFID Mobile."
Microsoft BizTalk RFID Mobile when used with BizTalk Server 2006 R2
enables real-time decisions by extending business process to Windows CE and
Windows Mobile 5.0 applications. BizTalk Server 2006 R2, Microsoft's core SOA
and BPM technology, which was generally available in September 2007, included
advancements for fixed RFID readers including device management, data
filtering and business rules, electronic data interchange (EDI), and
interoperability with line-of-business adapters for manufacturing, finance and
healthcare.
"It's only natural that Microsoft extends BizTalk RFID out to mobile
devices, and it complements its mobile hardware partners' very well," said
John Fontanella, vice president of Research at AMR Research Inc. "The ability
to operate at the edge in real time opens up opportunities that can only
further enhance RFID's value."
Today, Microsoft also announced the BizTalk RFID Standards Pack, for
customers to seamlessly integrate their RFID solutions with Electronic Product
Code (EPC) global ratified standards, including Tag Data Translator (TDT) and
Low Level Reader Protocol (LLRP) standards.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

pr.mspx./ /CONTACT: Rapid Response Team of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide,
+1-503-443-7070, rrt@waggeneredstrom.com, for Microsoft Corp.