Microsoft helps organizations cost effectively manage their supply chain from the factory to the storefront via BizTalk Server 2006 R2. With new capabilities such as native support for EDI and RFID, BizTalk Server 2006 R2 provides the ability to gather data from the edge of the enterprise, enabling real time visibility across business processes and trading partners.

Microsoft offers support for RFID through an innovative device management and event processing platform. It is designed to provide a scalable, extensible base for development, deployment, and management of rich RFID and sensor solutions. RFID-capable BizTalk Server 2006 R2 offers:

-- Plug & Play hardware eco-system with uniform device abstraction and management
-- Robust, scalable, secure server platform for RFID solutions
--Extensive partner eco-system (ISV’s/SI) for vertical solutions with low TCO, high ROI

Impinj, the leader in UHF Gen 2 RFID solutions, recognizes the importance of partnerships in accelerating the adoption of RFID. In partnering with Microsoft, Impinj’s UHF Gen 2 RFID expertise combines with Microsoft’s considerable enterprise software capability to offer a robust, extensible, and easy-to-use RFID application software development foundation.

Microsoft’s BizTalk Server 2006 R2 will interface with Impinj’s Speedway® reader Reader using its LLRP (low level reader protocol) interface. Through this industry standard interface, customers will be able to access the Speedway reader’s extensible architecture that provides the industry’s highest sensitivity, enterprise-class management and monitoring, near- and far-field capability (for item, case & pallet applications), worldwide operation, and more.