SAN DIEGO, August 2025 – The RAIN Alliance today accelerated its industry-disrupting "RAIN in Smartphones" initiative, partnering with Qualcomm, Impinj, and STMicroelectronics to turn 2.6 billion smartphones into universal RAIN RFID scanners by 2028.

From Concept to Cart
At a Paris Decathlon store, shoppers now scan full carts using prototype RAIN-enabled phones. No checkout lanes. No handheld scanners. Just:

1. Wave phone over cart

2. See items instantly recognized

3. Pay via mobile wallet

“This isn’t incremental change – it’s a total retail reset,” says Decathlon’s IoT Lead, Élise Dubois.

Technology Breakdown
Solving the "Impossible Fit"

Qualcomm’s VP of IoT, Rajesh Patel, confirms:

“Our 2026 Snapdragon chips have native RAIN RFID support. Enterprise devices launch first, then consumer flagships.”

• Retail:

  • Kohl’s testing “Scan & Go” carts (30% faster checkout)

  • LVMH rolling out UHF RFID tags for luxury authentication

• Healthcare:

  • Cleveland Clinic cutting medication errors by 41% with phone scans

• Logistics:

  • Maersk slashing container checks from 5 hours → 18 minutes

Overcoming Roadblocks
Privacy & Interference Solutions

• ? Protected Mode: Tags stay locked until users enter PINs (per Impinj’s standard)

• ? Dense Reader Mode (DRM): Prevents phone collision in crowded areas

• ☁️ Cloud Resolver Network: Translates RFID tag data into product info instantly

What This Means for Your Business

1. For Asset-Intensive Industries:

   • Replace $1,500 handheld RFID readers with $0 added phone hardware

   • Cut inventory costs by up to 35% (Gartner projection)

2. For Solution Providers:

   • Develop apps using RAIN’s standardized SDK (launches Q1 2026)

   • Integrate with cloud platforms like Azure IoT Hub

The Bottom Line
With 78% of supply chain leaders planning RAIN RFID deployments by 2027 (ABI Research), the message is clear:

"Mobilize your RFID strategy now – or watch competitors scan past you."