OMRON Corporation has announced its V750 series UHF RFID reader/writer is now compatible with the Secure RFID Protocol developed through Japan’s Secure Electronic Tag Project.

The protocol provides enhanced security functions including communication distance control, which restricts the communication range of tags, and reading prohibition, which limits access to tags through password authentication while maintaining compatibility with international standards. The Secure Electronic Tag Project was led by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), with Hitachi Ltd. as a core partner. OMRON worked with Hitachi in developing the new version of its reader.

Secure RFID Protocol will be separated from the standard functions provided by the current version of the V750, and will be offered as an option to be added upon request. The additional security functions provided by the protocol will be available in July 2008.