))) Pan-American Maccabi Games Chooses Texas Instruments RFID Technology for Event Security

))) NEW ORLEANS, LA (September 15, 2003)

Amid the fun and games at the 10th Annual Pan-American Maccabi Games taking place this December in Santiago, Chile, comes the importance of securing the event and ensuring participant safety. This year’s games, a competitive athletic event for Jewish athletes, will use new 13.56 MHz contactless smart card technology from Texas Instruments Radio Frequency Identification (TI-RFid™) Systems to identify several thousand athletes, spectators, and staff expected to attend the games from December 24, 2003 - January 5, 2004.

XIDEN, a systems integrator in Santiago, Chile, will implement the access control portion of the overall security framework and will require all attendees to carry an identification card, issued in advance, containing a TI-RFid™ 13.56 MHz smart label inlay. Fullprint, a printer company based in Santiago, Chile, will integrate the TI-RFid™ inlays into the cards and print the finished badges containing identification information, including the person’s name and photo, the participant’s status such as athlete, organizer, coach or spectator, as well as additional security data.

XIDEN will set up a series of mobile access control points to secure entry/exit points throughout the games including the arena, cafeteria and other gathering points. The mobile access control points will be equipped with a notebook computer connected to an S6400 TI-RFid™ 13.56 MHz vicinity reader. As participants approach control points and wave their badges in front of the reader, information stored on each card is read and displayed on the computer, all within one half second, allowing staff to verify participants and grant access to the area.

“The RFID cards allow us to quickly confirm the person entering a specific venue is approved to be there. With the unique ID code and storage capabilities for our added security features, we are easily able to verify identity and quickly move people through access control points,” said Marco Hazan, country manager, XIDEN Chile.

Designed to meet the ISO 15693 vicinity card standard, TI-RFid™’s 13.56 MHz smart labels embedded in the badges contain a unique, factory-programmed ID, which cannot be duplicated, ensuring that no two cards or people are misidentified. With 2,000 bits of data, the badges hold 30 times more information than traditional 125 kHz proximity cards. The TI-RFid™ badges have read/write capability so that additional data such as participating events or additional security details can be programmed in the field without having to issue new cards.

“Attendee safety and security are of utmost importance during events such as the Pan-American Maccabi Games,” said Bill Allen, marketing communications manager, TI-RFid™ Systems. “13.56 MHz RFID technology makes sense because it can hold all of the security data that’s needed in a user-friendly form that also streamlines processes for the staff.”

The 10th Annual Pan American Maccabi Games offers Jewish athletes from North, Central and South American nations, Great Britain, Australia, South Africa, and Israel, the opportunity to join in the spirit of athletic competition. The games focus on sharing Jewish heritage and customs in a competitive athletic setting. The Chilean organization committee expects to attract athletes from approximately 20 countries with several thousand athletes, coaches and spectators at the games this year.