VTech First to Join EPCglobal Hong Kong's EPCnetwork

VTech's Telecommunications division, a supplier of corded and cordless telephones, is the first firm in Asia Pacific to participate in the Hong Kong EPCnetwork initiative directed by EPCglobal Hong Kong. The initiative aims to bring end-to-end supply chain visibility to the Pan Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region through the use of a common, standards-based data exchange. EPC-based RFID tags and readers and a standards-based data exchange ' the EPC Information Service ' allows VTech to track telecommunications products from the Dongguan factory to Wal-Mart distribution centers in the United States.

"We shipped over 40 million units of telecommunication products to various major retailers in North America in the financial year 2005, thus being RFID-ready and choosing a highly robust, reliable RFID solution is a must," says Alex Kwan, senior supply chain and logistics manager, VTech Telecommunications Ltd. The RFID solution is comprised of Cisco AON for RFID and Cisco Services for RFID provided by Cisco Systems, and is based on platforms powered by Intel Corporation technologies, including Intel Xeon-based servers, RFID readers and PCs. Upon completion, VTech will be able to comply with Wal-Mart's RFID request requiring key suppliers and business partners to become RFID-compliant; improve the efficiency of warehouse operations and management through automation; as well as enhance visibility throughout the supply chain.