Technology Evaluation Centers has an okay article about the “middleware dilemma”. The article talks about the emergence of a lot of players including some heavy hitters. (Free registration is required to read the article.)
The article mentions GlobeRanger and lists some of its partnerships. (The article incorrectly lists GlobeRanger as Global Ranger.) Partnerships which the author eludes to as important to the survival of companies offering RFID middleware. The article is light on supporting data, but it's an interesting read nonetheless.