RFID Named One of Top 25 Innovative Technologies of the Last 25 Years

WALTHAM, Mass. - February 8, 2005 - According to researchers at the Lemelsen Center at MIT, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is the tenth most innovative technology of the past 25 years. CNN television recently aired The Top 25 Innovations of the Last 25 Years in which the internet, cell phones, personal computers, fiber optics, email and digital cameras were also named as the most innovative technologies that have changed our lives. Known as the Father of RFID technology, OATSystems Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Sanjay Sarma, was featured on the program.

RFID technology is built on a microchip the size of a grain of sand. That chip contains data that can be transmitted automatically over radio waves, thereby eliminating line-ofsight constraints and making it possible to track individual items without costly manual scanning. These tags are then placed on items of all kinds - consumer goods, shipping containers, high-value equipment - so that their movements and locations can be easily tracked. Retailers expect billions of dollars in saving by being able to track goods, reduce theft and improve the availability of merchandise to consumers.

"RFID is one of those disruptive technologies that comes along every once in a while andvchanges the way we live and work," said Jon Karlen, director of product marketing at OATSystems. "Whether you are breezing through a toll booth or using the technology to instantaneously track goods moving through the supply chain, RFID opens up a range ofvpossible applications to make life and business more efficient. As a technology pioneer that made important contributions in the early days of MIT's Auto-ID Center, OAT is thrilled with the progress of the technology and we are committed to helping companies build the software framework that will drive efficiencies across their businesses.

Though the technology has been around for decades, cost savings and competitive advantages expected by the likes of Wal-Mart and the United States Department of Defense have recently accelerated the adoption of RFID technology. Industry analysts expect the RFID market to grow by 47% to reach $2 billion worldwide by 2008.

About OAT
OATSystems, Inc. is the recognized RFID framework leader with software that empowers businesses to achieve competitive advantage from radio-frequency identification (RFID). As pioneers in the development of RFID technology, OAT has been setting the standard in RFID for over half a decade and is responsible for industry firsts that include the largest scale and largest scope of deployments, as well as the most innovative approaches to providing enterprise-wide RFID solutions. OAT's multinational client base, which includes companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Gillette, consists of over 30 customers in retail, CPG, consumer electronics, manufacturing, life sciences, aerospace and defense. Headquartered in Waltham, MA, OAT has offices in Chicago, London and Bangalore and is on the Web at www.oatsystems.com.