NATICK

NATICK, Massachusetts—2006 was a challenging year for the RFID industry. Sales expectations fell short, a high-profile IPO did not materialize, and the market continued to be “commoditized before it is commercialized,” according to the Venture Development Corporation’s 2005-2006 RFID Year-End Overview. Nevertheless, investment in RFID remained strong and the industry made significant strides toward resolving standards-related issues. According to the report, the worldwide market for RFID systems exceeded $2.3 billion in 2006, with hardware accounting for nearly 59 percent of the total market. VDC anticipates nearly 35 percent growth (CAGR) through 2008, with total global revenues projected to exceed $3 billion by the end