Network Programs ties-up with Brooks Automation to develop RFID solutions in India

Network Programs ties-up with Brooks Automation to develop RFID solutions in India

Signing of RFID Solution Partnership Expands Network Programs Leadership in Leading Edge Technologies — RFID, SmartCards, Biometrics and Telematics

NOIDA, India, September 26, 2006 — Network Programs (India) Ltd. (NPI), an innovator in convergence network solutions that integrate four advanced technologies — radio frequency identification (RFID), SmartCards, biometric and telematics systems (collectively, 4T) – announces an RFID solution partnership with Brooks Automation Inc., a US-NASDAQ listed company with a German based RFID Division. As part of the agreement, NPI will resell Brooks RFID solutions in India and other South Asian markets. The cross-industry partnership targets the development of 4T add-on applications on top of Brooks equipment. In addition, as a member of the Brooks RFID Partner Network, NPI will enable Brooks equipment on its RFID middleware, SmartFlo.

Commenting on the benefits of the Brooks agreement, Mr. Vipin Tyagi, President and CEO, Network Programs states, “The Indian RFID market is poised for tremendous growth as the technology matures and India Inc. realises the economic value and productivity potential of these solutions. Brooks Automation is a driving force behind manufacturing efficiency, and we are excited to engage with them to customise RFID and tracking solutions for the India market.”

While many have ventured into RFID deployments in the recent past, Brook’s RFID Division has more than 10 years of RFID deployment experience in mission critical manufacturing environments. Brooks provides best-in-class tracking and ID solutions based on industry standards. According to Mr. Harald Buchmann, Managing Director at Brooks Automation’s RFID Division, “The RFID market in India has tremendous potential. As India Inc. becomes more aware of the potential of RFID solutions, we anticipate demand to skyrocket. As India’s manufacturing capacity increases and matures, RFID solutions will create huge benefit and value by streamlining the supply chain and assembly process. We are excited about working with Network Programs, as they are a leader in RFID technology and solutions. ”

Network Programs’ SmartFlo middleware platform provides network administrators with a flexible and scaleable solution that interfaces legacy applications with 4T networks and solutions. SmartFlo enables organisations to link existing applications, such as attendance, inventory, human resources and finance systems, to new technologies through standardised data exchanges or customised translation programs for 4T applications. SmartFlo combines a sophisticated element management with a dynamic workflow engine that allows a high degree of flexibility to configure and scale the systems. The platform is a robust framework for integrating various identification devices on a single network where application logic can be changed without affecting the code for reading or writing to devices.

About Network Programs

Founded in the United States in 1992, Network Programs is a pioneering software development outsourcer and provider of solutions for advanced technologies and contact centres. Network Programs develops technology used in communications networks, contact centres and consumer electronics. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Jubilant Group, a US$650M company, our solutions cover a wide range of software development services – onsite and offshore – provided to the telecommunications, electronics and business process outsourcing (BPO) industries. Now headquartered in India with four domestic sales and support offices in Noida, Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai, the company has been expanding globally, entering the Japanese market in 1995, and maintaining several sales and support offices in the US and Australia. Network Programs is SEI-CMM Level 5, ISO 9001:2000, and BS7799 certified. NPI also adheres to SA8000 social accountability standards.

About SmartFlo
SmartFlo is an intelligent framework developed by Network Programs for easy deployment of 4T technology in enterprises. It has a user-friendly interface that does not require programming expertise in order to define or modify workflow. RFID and SmartCard technology can provide visibility into operations that were previously inaccessible because of limitations to bar code and other data collection technologies. Organizations can take advantage of the ability to track items in more places, without human intervention, to create new features and custom applications. Biometric systems offer innovative validation solutions based on personalized human characteristics including facial recognition, fingerprints and iris scans. Telematics technologies play an increasingly important roll of “networking” vehicles and connecting them to multiple products and services — both inside and outside the vehicle. Smartflo brings these technologies together for rapid deployment and flexible management.

About Brooks Automation Inc.
Brooks is a leading worldwide provider of automation solutions and integrated subsystems to the global semiconductor and related industries. The company’s advanced offerings in hardware, software and services can help customers improve manufacturing efficiencies, accelerate time-to-market and reduce cost of ownership. Brooks employs 2,400 persons worldwide and in the last fiscal year had a turnover of US$ 464 million. Since 1994, the German RFID division is developing and producing RFID systems that meet the highest standards in quality, safety and reliability. The range of products includes mobile and stationary readers with LF ( 134.2kHz) and HF (13.56MHz) frequency ranges together with extensive accessories. For more information, visit http://www.ready4rfid.com .

For more information, please visit www.networkprograms.com or contact the following resource:
Sundeep Mehta/ Tribhuwan Joshi
Team Orange Public Relations
161 A, First Floor, Gautam Nagar
New Delhi 110049
Phone: +91 11 4184 1374/ 75
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