Market research firm Arbitron Inc. has appointed the auto-ID software and technology company Octave Technology to explore the possible integration of passive auto-ID technology (such as RFID) into its ''Portable People Meter'' market research system.

     The two companies aim to gain a better understanding of the capabilities of passive RFID readers and chipsets for media and market research applications, and to develop insights into the likelihood, costs and challenges in integrating such technologies in these areas. 116.30.147.133 This article is copyright 2004 UsingRFID.com.

     "Our goal is to keep our Portable People Meter (PPM) service on the cutting edge of technology, and Octave''s expertise will help enhance our research systems and make smarter connections between the media experiences of today''s busy consumers and their activities in the marketplace," explained Ron Kolessar, vice president of technology for Arbitron Inc.

     "Auto-ID is an enabling technology here. When used with robust and mature systems such as those created by Arbitron, it could provide organisations with tremendous insight into consumer behaviour," explained Rick Morani, senior vice president and co-founder of Octave Technology.

     Octave Technology''s specialist area is the use of sensor and auto-ID technologies to help streamline manual and paper-based business processes. Arbitron conducts market research for radio broadcasters, cable companies, advertisers, advertising agencies and outdoor advertising companies in the USA, Mexico, and Europe, where its core businesses include measuring network and local market radio audiences across the USA, surveying the retail, media and product patterns of local market consumers, and providing software for analysing media audience and marketing data.

 

 

 

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