How necessary is IP-delivered RFID?

If you have a Cisco IP phone, then you might be interested to learn that IPcelerate's just-issued IPsession Release 4.0 applications server offers an RFID interface.

With this interface, you will be able to translate wireless signals - such as motion or even smoke detectors - and route them to the appropriate stations.

RFID is quite the rage in some quarters, but not everywhere. Yesterday, our U.K.-based sister site silicon.comreportedthat of 12 IT chiefs surveyed by its "CIO Jury," there was a distinct lack of enthusiasm for RFID solutions.

"Almost unanimously RFID tracking tags were picked out as one of these over-hyped areas," silicon.com pointed out. "Many (respondents) said RFID will continue to be over-hyped in 2005." In fact, Phil Young, head of IT operations at Bristol, U.K.-based Amtrak Express Parcels (not affiliated with the U.S.-based railroadhuffed, "without standards, (RFID is) a turkey at the moment - forgive the pun at this time of year."