FedEx will be using a new Senseaware sensor in packages sent out to 50 of its medical clients this spring, which will allow the customers to get real-time updates on a package's status. This will not only include an exact location, but also temperature, whether or not the package has been opened or exposed to light. A built-in accelerometer will also detect drops, while a cell antenna will send out the collected data whenever the package is not in flight.

Viewed as the successor to RFID tags, the system will allow clients to track and view the status of their packages over a web-based interface in real time.
The system will allow doctors and labs to prepare for the receipt of the contents of the time-sensitive packages, saving both time and money. Sensaware will initially cost $120 per month, though after the trial run, FedEx predicts prices will drop as the service is made available worldwide and will be offered to industries other than medical as well. [via FastCompany]