Intel has begun shipping samples of a new RFID receiver that puts practically everything needed for a variety of RFID reception systems into a single 8 x 8 mm chip. The new chip, which should begin shipping in production quantities later in 2007, should dramatically reduce the cost of both low-power and longer-range RFID systems. Perhaps a state or two will consider such a system as a (non-required) Real ID candidate.

For more on Intel's new RFID chip:
- read the article [1] at Tech World