March 3, 2004 – Malaysia is planning to export the “MM” chip, billed as the world’s smallest RFID chip, by the end of 2004, according to the Japan Economic Newswire.
The Malaysian government purchased the technology from Japanese semiconductor developer FEC Inc., in September 2003 for an undisclosed amount. The 0.5mm chip, produced by a JV between FEC and Silterra Malaysia, is about five times smaller than conventional RFID chips, and will include an infrared writing system and a built-in antenna.
“I don’t think we can produce enough,” said Gophal Ramdas, executive director of the JV. FEC CEO Kunioki Ichioka added that interest in the chip is coming from the US, China, Taiwan, Canada, Australia, and Mexico.