SkyeTek, Inc., the leading provider of embedded RFID reader technology, today announced the first consumer application resulting from its partnership with Isochron Inc., a leader in intelligent, networked vending technology for the food and beverage industry. Together, the companies have enabled cashless payment at vending machines located throughout the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Consumers equipped with RFID enabled credit cards can now make a purchase by just waving a card within a few feet of the new vending machines.
In October, Isochron selected SkyeTek’s M2 contactless payment module as the embedded RFID reader to enable secure, cashless payment at vending machines. Since then, Isochron has unveiled several vending machines at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport where consumers can now use RFID-enabled credit and debit cards issued by financial institutions such as Bank of America, Citizens Bank, Charter One, Chase and Key Bank to purchase cold drinks quickly, conveniently and securely.
“In developing interactive, contactless payment devices for vending machines, we were seeking only the best available technology,” noted Bryan Godwin, CEO and president of Isochron. “Performance, reliability and security were the most important factors in powering this latest RFID based innovation. Ultimately, we determined that SkyeTek’s technology was best suited to meet the standards of our customer as well as the high expectations of today’s consumer.”
SkyeTek’s Advanced Universal Reader Architecture (AURA) is the foundation for the M2 contactless payment reader module which provides industry-leading tag support, read range / reliability, and security at the highest levels of cost- / space- / power-efficiency. The M2 supports Mastercard Paypass, Visa Contactless, Amex ExpressPay, and Discover Network and incorporates state-of-the art encryption and anti-cloning technology – the same algorithms used in the Department of Defense and financial services â to offer the highest levels of security to contactless payment.
“With contactless payment transforming the way people make everyday purchases, the demand for dependable, secure RFID technology is skyrocketing,” commented Rob Balgley, CEO of SkyeTek. “We are proud to bring the highest standards for security and reliability to applications that make life simpler, safer, and more secure.”
SkyeTek offers its technology to OEMs, systems integrators, and distributors as reader modules (which include a ReaderWare license) or ReaderWare software licenses. Licensing provides these customers with access to ReaderDNA reference designs, allowing them to integrate the technology directly into their product design and realize 40 to 70 percent cost savings versus a typical reader module.
About Isochron
Isochron Inc., is an innovative provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions for the vending industry. Isochron’s flagship product, VendCast, is the leading vending management solution that is revolutionizing the way vending operators manage their business by providing enhanced insight, analysis and continuous monitoring of vending machines and route operations through a combination of integrated software and hardware devices. Unlike standalone products that address one specific need, Isochron provides a complete solution that uses the power of instant information to enhance vendor functionality, improve customer satisfaction, and provide direct interaction with the end consumer. Isochron is privately held and headquartered in Austin, Texas.
For more information, visit the Isochron website at www.isochron.com or call 512.732.2600.
About SkyeTek, Inc.
SkyeTek, Inc. develops reader technology that enables the pervasive adoption of RFID as an embedded feature in existing products. Customers use SkyeTek’s technology to create new applications for their product lines in areas such as anti-counterfeiting, configuration management, consumables authentication, item-level inventory, patient safety, patron management, contactless payment, and mobile data collection. SkyeTek specifically designed AURA to serve as the multi-frequency, universal reader architecture for embedded RFID applications. AURA’s common architecture disaggregates the RFID reader into a ReaderWare software layer, optimized for broad tag support, reader intelligence and easy application integration, and ReaderDNA hardware reference designs, crafted to optimize read range / performance while exploiting Moore’s Law for gains in cost, space, and power efficiency. SkyeTek offers its AURA-based products as either a SkyeModule or ReaderWare license, which comes with access to ReaderDNA. Customers using SkyeTek represent numerous vertical markets and range from mid-market companies to Fortune 500 corporations. Based in Westminster, Colo., SkyeTek sells exclusively through OEMs, systems integrators, and distributors. For more information about SkyeTek, visit www.skyetek.com or call 720-565-0441.
