SAVI’S RFID-BASED PORTABLE DEPLOYMENT KIT SHINES IN M2M’S GOLD ‘VALUE CHAIN’ AWARD BESTOWED ON THE U.S. MARINE CORPS

  Machine-to-Machine Magazine (M2M) Honors Marines for Rapid Deployment of Suitcase-Sized Solution to Track Supplies Anywhere in Real-Time

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – July 18, 2006 – The U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command was recently honored with a Gold Value Chain Award (Supply Chain Management category) by M2M magazinefor its rapid deployment of the Portable Deployment Kit (PDK), a highly mobile “solution in-a-case” leveraging RFID, satellite and other wireless technologies to help soldiers automatically track military supplies in remote field operations.  The PDK was developed by Savi Technology, a provider of active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based supply chain solutions, in conjunction with industry partners and the DoD’s Product Manager, Joint-Automatic Identification Technologies.

Savi Technology, a Lockheed Martin Company [NYSE: LMT], led the design and development of the suitcase-sized PDK, which is a breakthrough “mobile chokepoint solution” that integrates several Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) technologies, including bar codes, 2D bar codes, active RFID and GPS location with satellite communications – all in a single carrying case.  In addition to the military, the PDK can be used by other government and commercial applications where there are requirements to track supplies in near real-time and there is no fixed reader infrastructure, such as public disaster and hunger relief organizations and commercial logistics operations in the oil and gas, chemical and construction industries.

The PDK provides a number of breakthrough benefits, which:

“Development of the PDK took more than a year of close collaborations with our customers and partners, and so it’s especially gratifying to see this kind of recognition for the successful deployment of a solution that supports the war fighter at the tip of the spear,” said David Stephens, Savi’s general manager, Public Sector.  “We’re gratified that this solution has proven to enhance the efficiency and confidence of war fighters in the Marines and other military services by helping to ensure that the right materiel gets to the right place at the right time, ultimately saving lives and dollars.”

Industry partners involved in the development of the PDK solution include:  Intermec Technology, Itronix, NAL Research, Symbol Technology and Zebra Technology.

The Gold Value Chain Award was presented during ceremonies at the recent M2M United Conference in San Antonio to Maj. Terence White of the Marine Corps Systems Command, which was the first user of the PDK and is the principal agent for acquisition and sustainment of systems and equipment used by the Operating Force.

“The companies being recognized continually strive for innovation each and every day, and these Value Chain Award winners truly stand out among the best and the brightest applications today,” said Michael Jarosik, editor of M2M magazine. “They are quickly becoming the most prominent adopters in the machine-to-machine space and deserve the recognition they have received tonight.”
The Value Chain Award winners were chosen by a group of industry analysts along with the editors of M2M magazine. Sponsored by CTIA, ei3, IBM, Kyocera Wireless, Siemens, Tridium, and Wavecom, the awards show how all of the elements of the M2M value chain create a winning solution for the end customer.

Editor’s Note:  Photos available on request.