Providing radio frequency identification middleware; fits alongside ERP strategy, serves smaller manufacturers soon to be hit by mandates

Microsoft has big plans for its applications business , and now those plans include radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

Microsoft is tackling RFID from two angles. Via the upcoming RFID Services Platform, it is going to be providing RFID middleware that takes RFID information from the hardware level to the application level -- where, with products lines like Axapta, Great Plans, Navision, Solomon, Microsoft also plays. Microsoft will be RFID-enabling those product lines so that customers interested in RFID will be able to get both middleware and RFID-friendly applications from Microsoft. Hardware is available from numerous other companies, such as Intermec .

Microsoft has been preparing its RFID strategy for some time. The most immediate driver was probably Wal-Mart's RFID Mandate which, while it first hit large manufacturers and suppliers, is scheduled to trickle down to the smaller and middle-sized manufacturers historically served by Microsoft's ERP product lines.

SAP Business One, too, just announced RFID services targeted to smaller businesses. Given the wave of mandates out there, all smaller-segment ERP and middleware offerings can eventually be expected to accommodate RFID.