"The market isn't going anywhere."

Famous last words. The market isn't going anywhere? So says Alok Ahuja, senior product manager of RFID at Microsoft. Who? You heard me: Alok Ahuja. I think someone accidentally flipped the off button on his sense of urgency? During his talk, according to this report, someone in the audience was overheard by the reporter to have said he would not wait "another three years" for a product. Why not buster... weren't you listening" The market isn't going anywhere. Alok Ahuja just told you that...

Oh please. Here's a timeline you gotta love:

1. Microsoft Corp. revealed at this week's RFID World conference here that it is developing an RFID infrastructure... sound familiar?

2. In April 2004, Microsoft announced the formation of an RFID Partner Council to look at its options for building out RFID-based software.

3. Nearly a year later, on Feb. 17, 2005, the company announced "continued momentum" on its RFID strategy...

4. This week (ahem... this is 2006, right?): "We are grappling with the strategy..." Despite several pressing questions from audience members, Ahuja declined to confirm a release date...

And alas, his famous last words: "We've given it to some partners and customers, and we want to shake it out, get some more customer feedback," he said. "The market isn't going anywhere."