Study: Large Companies Plan More RFID, GPS AppsStudy: Large Companies Plan More RFID, GPS Apps

Applications focused on electronic tags and global positioning systems are relatively rare in large businesses, but use of such technology is expected to increase significantly as companies renegotiate wireless contracts.

A survey of business decision makers by Harris Interactive and ForceNine Consulting found 10 percent have implemented radio-frequency identification (RFID) applications, while 23 percent have deployed GPS applications.

Such technology, however, were among the most mentioned as new business applications that would be included in the next round of wireless contracts, the researchers said. Other applications frequently mentioned were push-to-talk and Wi-Fi.

“We are seeing interest in more aggressive deployment of some of the newer technologies and applications, but it is uneven across industries” Andrew Roscoe of ForceNine Consulting, said in a statement. “GPS for example, is already fairly well established in the communications, transportation and utility industries. Manufacturing tends to lead in RFID.”

In other findings, large businesses expressed only "limited satisfaction" with current wireless contracts. Only 21 percent rated their existing service at a 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale.

The survey was conduced between July 25 and Aug. 2 among more than 640 people who have a role in software, wireless communications or wireless data communication decisions for businesses generating over $1 billion in annual revenues.