Intel lets Impinj inside

Global - Impinj hopes to ride on Intel's brand to become a frontrunner in the semiconductor industry, as it acquires the latter's RFID operation.

Impinj recently bought Intel's RFID operation, a business created by Intel's New Business Initiatives (NBI) incubator which developed the award-winning R1000 RFID reader chip. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The acquisition is expected to boost Impinj's portfolio and propel the company's position in the RFID market.

"The acquisition is a huge step for Impinj," said William T Colleran, president and CEO of Impinj. "Adding the R1000 reader chip to Impinj's market-leading portfolio of tag chips and fixed-reader products allows us to deliver exceptional price performance and enable a new category of customers who are developing their own game-changing products based upon Impinj technology."

"The demand for a highly integrated technology like the R1000 reader chip is growing everyday," said Mike Liard at ABI Research. "The choice for Intel - the world's largest and most recognised chip maker - to work with Impinj is a clear indication of Impinj's role as a frontrunner in the RFID industry."