The announcement from Microsoft that it would integrate RFID data usage in its mobile device platform makes a lot of sense.

Precisely:

Microsoft BizTalk RFID Mobile is an extension of the company's eight-year-old BizTalk Server, which acts as a kind of aggregation and management point for corporate data stored in various devices and applications. BizTalk Server already includes support for fixed RFID devices.  [from the Red Herring article]

Location has been integrated in many entreprise resource planning software before, but this could be the start of a much wider integration and use of location data in all type of software.

At first, it promotes the use of RFID for asset monitoring but in the long-term, we could see a much wider acceptance of location-based information into everyday business software. Imagine enbaling an estate agent to manage its properties from a map instead of a list in a database?

What's also impressive is the list of companies prepared to partner with Microsoft on this.

“Given today’s fast-paced environment, customers have asked for business process technologies that enable real-time decision-making to help drive measurable business results,” said Burley Kawasaki, director of product management in the Connected Systems Division at Microsoft. “Together with leading industry partners, including Motorola, Intermec Technologies, Unitech, Samsung and Psion Teklogix, we will deliver a cost-effective, mobile RFID platform that works with existing business processes and systems.”

The Microsoft press release is here