This Week’s Product Pick

AML (Euless, TX) presented its new M7225 handheld computer for use in retail, manufacturing, and warehouse environments. Weighing in at just 17.6 ounces, the M7225 is light enough to be used all day without fatigue, but durable enough for harsh or challenging environments, according to the vendor. Powered by Microsoft Windows CE 6.0, the device comes with various radio options, laser or imaging barcode scanners, 3.5-inch high-color LCD with touch panel, and complete audio support. Its full alphanumeric keypad eliminates the need for “cell-phone double-keying,” thereby minimizing data entry mistakes and boosting productivity. Further, an on-screen verification system distinguishes between good and bad scans for the user. Conveniently, the M7225 employs the same charging cradles and battery system as other AML products, saving upgrade costs and simplifying operations. Versions of the M7225 are offered with and without pistol grip handle. Accessories include single-position charging cradle, single-position communications cradle, four-position terminal charger, four-position battery charger, and holster.

M7225 Handheld Computer from AML

Worth Your While

Self-Service Expo & Digital Signage Show
KioskCom
April 14-15
Las Vegas

NACStech
Association for Convenience and Petroleum Retailing
May 5-7
New Orleans

FMI Show
Food Marketing Institute
May 10-13
Las Vegas

WERC Annual Conference
Warehousing Education and Research Council
May 16-19
Anaheim, CA

NRA Show
National Restaurant Association
May 22-25
Chicago

POS Partner Invitational
Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division
May 26-28
Chicago

U Connect Supply Chain Conference
GS1 US & VICS
June 7-10
San Antonio, TX

PARTNER PROGRAMS

BlueStar Takes More Spanish Steps

BlueStar (Hebron, KY) has acquired IDSYS, the distributor of Auto ID, Mobility, and POS based in Madrid. Under terms of the definitive purchase agreement, BlueStar will take all of the company’s interests in Spain and Portugal, thereby strengthening its operations on the Iberian Peninsula. IDSYS handles vendors such as Datalogic Scanning, Honeywell Scanning & Mobility, Intermec, and Zebra Technologies, and has 3,500 customers. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

“IDSYS developed the gold standard for specialty distribution in Spain and Portugal,” said Bill Nix, BlueStar’s VP of Global Distribution. “Their culture and dedication match the values of BlueStar. They have consistently earned industry awards and recognition for their innovative distribution efforts in Southern Europe. We are pleased that the founders of IDSYS, Laurent Berger and Mario Bonixe, are joining the BlueStar family.”

IDSYS follows three previous BlueStar buys in Europe: ADC Nordic in Scandinavia, Impuls in Spain, and PSD PrintScan in Germany. These moves have allowed BlueStar to expand its global reach throughout the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) marketplace while continuing to maintain local focus, according to the distributor. Earlier in February, BlueStar hit all the right notes with its VARTECH Nordic 2010 Show in Stockholm, Sweden, which attracted more than 350 VARs, ISVs, and manufacturer representatives.

Bill Nix, VP of Global Distribution, BlueStar

Your MSP Big Brother

Kaseya (San Francisco) has rolled out its SaaS Partner Program, dubbed KSP, to help IT providers tackle the managed services industry. KSP offers the MSP starter kit: hosted applications, access to data center experts, an uptime commitment backed by service level agreement, customized landing pages for branding, and customer portal for billing and support. It also provides complete training on its system management software so partners and their channels can take full advantage of their investment, according to the developer.

Only big boys are invited, however. Program qualifications for interested partners include “the strong customer or service provider community of at least 3,500.” Partners should also possess additional value-added products and capabilities that complement Kaseya’s SaaS offerings. Inaugural members in the program include the ASCII Group, Ingram Micro, Lenovo, Cloud Services Depot, and the Virtual Administrator Division of Network Depot.

“Our new SaaS Partner Program extends the power of Kaseya to the broad IT service market,” declared Dan Shapero, SVP of Business Development and Channel Marketing. “As we have grown rapidly year over year, we need this formalized program that complements our corporate growth. We’re delighted to offer this to an elite group of value-added IT service-focused channel organizations and we look forward to adding partners throughout 2010.”

Dan Shapero, SVP, Business Development and Channel Marketing, Kaseya

Join the Party at No Charge

Subscribe Today! Email:

Do you need to reach the POS & Auto ID resellers who really drive business—in the most targeted editorial environment, and on the most cost-effective basis?

E-mail Michael Kachmar for advertising information,
or call 973-270-3284

Did you miss one of our issues and suddenly realize your competitors know more than you do?

Hurry ! Use the links below to catch up :

Week of February 22

Week of February 15

Week of February 8

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Pimping the Gift Shop

Emporos Systems Corporation (Charlotte, NC) took this week’s Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s (HIMSS) Show in Atlanta to launch its e2 SaaS-based POS solution for hospitals. The cross-platform POS scheme can run outpatient pharmacies, gift shops, and cafeterias, and offers seamless integration with financial and pharmacy management systems, according to the developer, and its private cloud brings both security and scalability. Emporos also plans to offer e2 to independent pharmacies later this year.

“e2 revolutionizes how hospitals manage all of their Point of Sale needs,” stated Greg Phillips, CEO of Emporos. “Instead of IT departments having to maintain every disparate POS in their hospital, one platform will work for all retail environments. In addition, reporting is real-time and web-enabled.”  Prior to founding Emporos in 2002, Phillips served as Director of Chain Store Business Systems for Kyrus Corporation, which is now Agilysys Corporation, many RRN.Com readers will remember. MerchantSoft by Kyrus forms the bedrock of Emporos, with hardware from Pioneer POS and IBM.

The new POS configuration features ID scanning and touchscreen technology to improve customers’ overall shopping experience, as well as an upcoming iPod-based mobile POS for drive-thru windows, delivery, and other flexible checkout environments. e2 comes with PCI PA-DSS certification to secure cardholder data and Special Interest Group IIAS compliance to accept Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards. It runs on Linux appliance or private cloud, offering internal redundancy.

Emporos Debuts SaaS-Based POS for Hospitals

Monza 4 Drives RFID Faster, Safer

Impinj, Inc. (Seattle) has introduced its Monza 4 family of UHF Gen2 RFID tag chips, spanning four high-performance configurations: Monza 4D, 4E, 4U, and 4QT. The new offerings combine the industry’s best read and write reliability, expanded memory, and innovative privacy technology to deliver significant benefits for RFID implementers, according to the manufacturer, which debuted the world’s first Gen2 chip, Monza 1, back in 2005. “Monza 4 will help our customers quickly reduce costs, increase sales, and boost productivity,” indicated Jack Farrell, VP of the RFID Division at Avery Dennison, which already handles the new technology.

Leveraging Impinj’s patent-pending True3D antenna technology, Monza 4 chips tout the industry’s highest read rate--66% range improvement over the best-performing competitive tag chip--while enabling complete orientation insensitivity for the first time. All Monza 4 chips have two fully independent antenna ports, eliminating blind spots for real-world applications in which tag orientation is hard to control, such as retail, baggage handling, and asset tracking. In addition, the Monza 4 family offers 512 bits of user memory or up to 496 bits of EPC memory.

Interestingly, Impinj’s revolutionary QT technology, at the heart of Monza 4QT, protects confidential information by maintaining two separate data profiles (public and private) and allowing the tag owners to control data exposure. The chip’s private mode reveals all data, while the public mode conceals confidential data and replaces the tag’s EPC with an appropriately generic, user-defined number. A password can be required to switch between public and private modes. Further, QT technology enables the owner to selectively switch the tag into short-range mode in which private profile data is accessible only to local readers.

Monza 4 UHF Gen2 Tag Chip Family from Impinj

[Editor’s Note:  Elsewhere in RFID, the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO in common parlance, has released its new standard for tracking and traceability. ISO 17367:2009 Supply Chain Applications of RFID-Product Tagging will provide higher-level security and more efficient exchange of commodities in international trade and logistics, according to the group.]

Code Corner

Nanonation (Lincoln, NE) released its FrameWorks DS software, designed for the digital signage networks of SMB end-users in retail, hospitality, and professional settings. FrameWorks DS ships with software installed and ready to run, using the small form-factor PC from longtime Nanonation hardware partner, Dell. The new software streamlines the design and running of digital marketing and messaging content while providing functionality found in enterprise-class solutions, according to its developer. A simple user experience reduces workflow to three basic steps--adding media using drag and drop tools, scheduling playlists of content, and publishing. Other key benefits include dozens of professional content templates, plain language scheduling and event creation, an auto-location tool that scans for players on the local network, and support for common media formats such as HD videos, RSS data feeds, and live TV. “We’ve spent years providing digital signage solutions to large retail and hospitality clients,” reported Brian Ardinger, Chief Marketing Officer at Nanonation. “FrameWorks DS addresses the demand we’ve steadily seen from small businesses who also want to use digital signage. It had to be simple and it had to be affordable, but it also had to have some powerful capabilities.”

Datacap Systems (Chalfont, PA) announced certification and availability of its high-speed IP gift card interface to Electronic Payments Inc. (Calverton, NY). GIFTePay users can now access EPI’s gift services with fast, two to four second, IP gift card transactions. Expanding use of such programs by retailers of all sizes, along with EPI’s growing customer base throughout all industry types, makes this an important addition to the GIFTePay interface from Datacap. On their part, dealers benefit through upselling and improved customer retention. “Since its release earlier this year, our gift card platform has grown to support over 1,000 clients processing over one million annual transactions,” said Michael Nardy, CEO of Electronic Payments Inc. “Gift is one element of our multi-tier approach to bringing our processing services completely in-house and I’m excited Datacap has taken an active role in working with us on our various integration projects.”

CERTIFICATION

SAP Wishes Upon Star

Star Micronics America (Edison, NJ) now carries SAP-certified integration for its TSP143U (USB) printer with the SAP Point of Sale application. Tier 1 retail customers utilizing SAP POS can now add the TSP143U thermal receipt printer to their hardware suite. Approval by SAP’s Integration and Certification Center was achieved via the Point of Sale Hardware (POS-HW) 1.0 scenario.

“Star Micronics is honored to announce certification for the TSP143U from a business software leader such as SAP AG,” remarked Michael Hanson, VP of Star Micronics America, Inc. “The TSP143U is one of the most popular thermal POS printers on the market today, due to its futurePRNT capabilities, design, and cost structure. This SAP certification further adds to the TSP143U attraction for retailers.”

The TSP143U represents the POS industry’s first all-in-one receipt printer, according to Star. All the parts and software are included in one box, including an internal power supply, interface cable, power cable, complete mounting kits, and paper roll. To bring end-users the “future” of receipt printing, Star also provides the full set of software utilities enabling users to redesign receipts without modifying existing applications.

TSP143U Printer from Star Micronics

[Editor’s Note:  At its Logistics and Supply Chain Management Conference in Orlando in February, SAP also announced that it will resell Crossgate’s B2B engine and associated partner profiles. The solution, titled SAP Information Interchange, allows customers to streamline business-to-business processes and establish networks for sharing electronic purchase orders, forecasts, invoices, delivery notes, and other documents.]

CAM Wears HP’s Glam

CAM Commerce Solutions (Fountain Valley, CA) has become the latest ISV to join the HP Elite Partner Store Solutions Program, which certifies software compatibility with Hewlett-Packard POS hardware such as the rp3000, rp5700, and ap5000. CAM develops, markets, and installs integrated POS, inventory management, and payment processing sets for the SMB market. This validation from HP covers Retail STAR, its multi-user package, as well as Retail ICE (for Inventory Control Expert), its single-store package.

“At CAM Commerce Solutions, we are dedicated to continually improving the means by which retailers can purchase and use trusted POS solutions that will help them do business better,” commented Chester Ritchie, SVP at CAM. “By gaining accreditation through’s HP’s Elite Partner Store Solutions Program, we are simplifying the process of building and deploying a full POS solution, so that our customers can easily create a solid transactional platform that can be up and running in a short amount of time.”

To date, three dozen ISVs in retail, hospitality, and specialty niches are listed on the HP website as Elite Partners. In addition to this exposure, CAM Commerce will receive negotiated rates on third-party services and support, including help for retailers looking to integrate new POS solutions into existing technology platforms, Of course, CAM Commerce also gains access to HP’s broad network of retail customers, its sales channel, and its engineering expertise.

Chester Ritchie, SVP, CAM Commerce Solutions

Key Advertiser Links

Be sure to visit these vendors for the latest in channel products and offers for resellers.

POS & Auto ID Distribution
BlueStar

POS & Peripherals
FEC USA
Logic Controls
Pioneer POS
Posiflex Business Machines
POS-X

Barcode & Mobile Printers
Datamax-O'Neil

Cash Drawers
APG Cash Drawer
MMF Cash Drawer

Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic Mobile
Datalogic Scanning
Honeywell Scanning & Mobility
Janam Technologies

Data Collection Software
Wavelink

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
Epson America
Star Micronics

Screen Protection
3M Optical Filters

Self-Service Kiosks
Zebra/Motorola

Video Surveillance & Access Control
ScanSource Security

FRESH STARTS

Denso Redux

Denso ADC (Long Beach, CA), long-time Auto ID supplier and inventor of the QR Code, is in the process of recharging it efforts in North and South America. First, the company has redesigned and relaunched its website to better highlight its wide range of portable data terminals, scanners, and support software. “This new website is part of our ongoing initiative to constantly improve the way we serve our customers,” said John Doran, Senior Manager, Commercial and Industrial Systems.

Other recent measures include beefing up its sales and customer support staff. In particular, Denso has added Kevin Bradshaw as its new Channel Sales and Business Development Manager. Prior to joining Denso, Bradshaw served as Sales and Business Development Manager for the Manufacturing Automation Software Systems Group. “Kevin comes to us with several years of experience in the automatic data-capture resale network,” Doran noted. “His expertise covers the range of applications most important to our customers, including Point of Sale, traceability and genealogy, inventory and asset management, and Computerized Machine Maintenance Systems, CMMS.”

In the coming months, Denso has plans to introduce “new, cutting-edge products that will allow our customers to continue to benefit from the very latest technological advances in automatic data capture,” Doran related. Part of Japan’s Denso Corporation, which enjoys $32 billion in worldwide technology sales, Denso ADC has been rather quiet in the channel for the past few years. QR Code, incidentally, stands for “Quick Response,” since its creator intended for the two-dimensional matrix to be read at top speeds.

Denso’s QK12 Reads Two-Dimensional Codes from Mobile Phones

An LED Will Lead Them

IDS Menus (Holbrook, NY), one of the leading suppliers of displays to the foodservice industry, has touted its new Green Series Drive-Thru Menu Board System, which employs energy-saving LED technology. This industry-first is now being retrofitted by an unnamed major national chain, according to the manufacturer. In keeping with its name, it reduces power consumption by 90%, all the while providing 60% higher brightness and 45% more viewing area.

“Lighting on these systems will last for approximately 12 years, with no need for bulb or ballast change,” pledged Dean Edelman, President of IDS Menus. “This represents tremendous savings for restaurant operators in terms of maintenance and operating costs. We have also listened to our customers and increased the content viewing area without impact to the overall display size.”

“We expect to capture an even larger share of the drive-thru market with this product line,” added Rick Kranz, CEO. “The key to this is the price point. Our engineering team was able to design this system at or below the price of non-LED systems. Now that this product is available, it just does not make sense that restaurant owners would want to purchase any other drive-thru--unless they have money to burn and just don’t care about the environment.”

Energy-Efficient Drive-Thru Menu Board from IDS Menus

Channel Factoid

Import cargo volume at major U.S. container ports will be fully 25% higher during the first half of 2010 as compared to 2009, according to the latest Global Port Tracker report from NRF. U.S. ports handled 1.09 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units, or cargo containers, in December, unchanged from November but up 2.6% from December 2008. That breaks 28 straight months for which totals were lower than the same period the year before. January was projected at 1.19 million TEU, up 17% over January 2009, and February, traditionally the slowest month of the year, should be 1.1 million TEU, jumping 30%. Similar increases are predicted for March, April, May, and June, as retailers begin to stock up for spring and summer, leading to the total of 7.4 million TEU for the first half of 2010, versus 5.9 million TEU for that period last year. “This is a dramatic turnaround over what we’ve seen during the past two years,” concluded Jonathan Gold, VP for Supply Chain and Customs Policy for the NRF. “Increases in import volumes don’t correspond directly with dollar volumes in sales, so caution has to be exercised when looking at these numbers. But retailers are clearly expecting to move more merchandise this year.”

RULES & GOVERNANCE

War of Words Over Card Fees

The office of Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) has indicated to Pennsylvania banks that he will introduce legislation shortly that will potentially shift the cost of accepting credit and debit cards onto consumers, the Electronic Payments Coalition has reported. The bill, which will mirror legislation introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), will allow merchants to effectively surcharge their customers who choose to pay with credit, debit, or charge, according to the vocal trade group of credit unions, banks, and payment card networks.

“This bill is chock full of mystery and innuendo that all add up to one thing: consumers will pay more so merchants pay less,” asserted Frank Pinto, CEO/President of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers. “When retailers accept cards in their stores, they receive profits, customers, guaranteed payment, and the golden key to e-commerce--and they shouldn’t have their customers pay for this cost of doing business.”

“This is an egregious assault on consumer protection,” said Trish Wexler, spokeswoman for the Electronic Payments Coalition (Washington, DC). “The bill is disguised as a measure to allow for cash discounts--something that is already allowed by federal law and by all card network contracts--but would instead open up the door for bait-and-switch advertising schemes, charging additional checkout fees at the register, and discrimination against certain cardholders.” She cites the November 2009 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office on interchange fees, which concluded that all of the current policy proposals on the issue (including the premise underlying Senator Specter’s legislation) would result in higher prices for consumers.

Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania

RILA: Call My Lawyer!

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (Arlington, VA) has assembled the first-of-its-kind Retail Litigation Center to give voice to the industry’s relevant legal issues. The RLC will participate in both state and federal cases, principally at the appellate level, according to RILA. Actually, RILA has addressed such litigation in the past, including its successful challenge to the healthcare spending mandates in Maryland (RILA vs. Fielder, 4th Circuit, 2007).

“The Retail Litigation Center will bring together the industry’s most talented and respected legal professionals to identify and meaningfully engage in legal proceedings affecting the retail industry,” related Sandy Kennedy, President of RILA. “With guidance from the RLC’s Board of Directors and participation from diverse representatives of the retail community, the RLC will focus on producing better outcomes in litigation affecting the retail industry.”

The RLC will be guided by its own Board of Directors, chaired by Janet Dhillon, EVP, General Counsel, and Secretary for J.C. Penney Company. Also serving on the Board of Directors: Timothy Baer, Target Corporation; David Goldston, Jo-Ann Stores; Susan Lanigan, Dollar General Corporation; Samuel Reeves, Wal-Mart Stores; and Michael Veitenheimer, Michaels Stores. Nameplates for all these individuals read Vice President and General Counsel. In addition, RILA and RLC will co-sponsor an annual conference in the area of legal education for retailers, first scheduled for November 8-10 in Clearwater, Florida.

Sandy Kennedy, President of the Retail Industry Leaders Association