I want to learn how to build/develop business applications that use
RFID technology (radio frequency identification). RFIDs provide
accurate, real time data in a number of industries, including supply
chain systems, fleet control systems, asset tracking, etc.
 
I have searched the web for RFID (there is a ton of material out
there) but I mainly get information at a high level (articles, etc) or
very low level documents, like user manuals.
 
What I am trying to find is 
-  implementation design docs of business application using RFID
technology.
 
- Online classes/courses or educational material that teach how to
program RFID tags(transponders) / readers and how to integrate these
to a business application (ERP, manufacturing, etc)
 
- RFID Developer Center / discussion forum. 
 
- Webiste or link that sells 'used' RFID evaluation kits (Texas
Instruments or Philips, or other manufacturer
 
A successful answer would provide information for all areas above. 

Greetings BuffaloSolider!

RFID tags have been around for a number of years, and they are just
beginning to gain some traction. They are used to tag library books
(see link below), cars passing through tollgates (FastPass), inventory
in warehouses, etc.


***Whitepapers***
I found this whitepaper to be a birdseye-view, practical description
of RFID technology:
[ http://www.zebra.com/SS/RFID_WP.pdf ]

Motorola's BiStatix whitepaper (another good overview)
[ http://www.edsales.com.au/pdfs/bistatix4.1.pdf ]

VTLS's whitepaper
[ http://www.vtls.com/Products/rfid/documents/tearsheet.pdf ]


***Online Courses***
[ http://www.insightu.org/courses/t101.htm ]


***Design Guides***
MicroChip's RFID site: 
[ http://www.microchip.com/1010/pline/rfid/index.htm ]
MicroChip's Application Notes:
[ http://www.microchip.com/download/appnote/rfid/00830a.pdf ]
MicroChip's Design Guide:
[ http://www.microchip.com/1010/pline/rfid/guides/index.htm ]
[ http://www.microchip.com/download/lit/pline/rfid/guides/51115e.pdf ]


***Current Research***
UC Berkeley's PicoRadio has been getting quite a lot of press
recently, including David Cameron's "A new bare-bones wireless
experiment gets ready to hit the airwaves." in Technology Review,
March 2002:
[ http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/wo_cameron032702.asp ]
[ http://bwrc.eecs.berkeley.edu/Research/Pico_Radio/ ]
PicoRadio's own web resources
[ http://bwrc.eecs.berkeley.edu/Research/Pico_Radio/Resources.htm ]

Michael Mechanics "Death to Barcodes" article in Wired Magazine, May
2002:
[ http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.05/mustread.html?pg=7 ]


***Developer Kits***
[ http://www.ie-oem.com/rfid/rfid-kit.htm ]



***RFID Vendors***
http://sentinelid.com/
http://www.microchip.com/1010/pline/rfid/index.htm
http://www.rfidinc.com/
http://www.vtls.com
http://www.rfidusa.com/

***Other resources***
Transponder News [ http://transpondernews.com/ ]
A news service reporting on developments regarding the use of radio
based tagging transponder systems for commerce and scientific
applications. Covering the RFID technologies, EAS technologies and
magnetic/electric field coupled techniques

VTLS's case study implementing using RFID in libraries:
[ http://www.vtls.com/Products/rfid/documents/choosing.pdf ]


***Google Searches***
rfid whitepaper
[ ://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=rfid+whitepaper ]
rfid reference design
[ ://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&querytime=4L&q=rfid+reference+design
]

I suspect you will get an answer worth $4

*SUPPLIERS*

http://rapidttp.com/transponder/supplier.html