This Week’s Product Pick

Sharp Electronics Corporation (Mahwah, NJ) debuted its UP-V5500 POS terminal with 15-inch touchscreen, sleek design, and fanless operation. Based on the well-established UPX500 platform, the new system saves counter space with an approximate footprint of 12.2 in. x 15 in. x 12.6 in. It comes pre-installed with Microsoft POSReady 2009 and features an Intel Atom N270 1.6-GHz processor. An integrated Intel 945G graphics media accelerator boosts on-screen performance, and with open architecture, restaurateurs or retailers can choose from Sharp’s Certified Software Partners or use their own applications to build the system that fits their needs. In addition, different terminals can be tied together throughout one location or across multiple outlets. Lastly, the UP-V5500 delivers the full range of USB, Serial, Parallel, and VGA ports for peripheral integration. With this introduction of the fourth member of the UP-V family, Sharp also announced its new three-year warranty on all models in the series, with either depot repair or on-site dealer services offered. “We have the utmost confidence in the products we manufacture and know that our customers appreciate the peace of mind that Sharp POS products provide,” remarked Greg Tucker, Product Planning Manager, POS Sales, Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America. “This warranty extension comes at no extra cost to our customers and really underscores our commitment to producing the best products possible.”

Sharp’s UP-V5500 POS Terminal

Worth Your While

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

CTIA Enterprise & Applications
CTIA-The Wireless Association
October 6-8
San Francisco

AIM Expo
Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility
November 1-3
Chicago

Customer Engagement Technology World
(Formerly KioskCom & The Digital Signage Show)
November 10-11
New York

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Intermec PF8 Reports for Light Duty

Intermec Technologies (Everett, WA) has retrofitted its PF8 desktop thermal printers with internal Ethernet and PrintSet configuration support. These new features will streamline printer deployment and minimize maintenance for light-duty applications across transportation/courier, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and office environments, according to the vendor. “The PF8 perfectly meets the need to identify express parcels, using barcodes, for customers dealing with tens to hundreds of items per day,” testified Jean-Luc Defrance, Group CIO of GeoPost (Atlanta), the international mailing services company.

Intermec’s PrintSet serves as the mechanism for configuring printer and network settings, downloading fonts and graphics, and upgrading firmware--saving time for both set-up and ongoing support. With the recent connectivity upgrade, PF8 printers, which come in thermal transfer (PF8t) and direct thermal (PF8d) technology models, now offer Parallel, Serial, USB, and optional internal Ethernet. Moreover, PF8 printers provide ready migration from legacy Intermec printers such as the PC4, as well as other desktop models using the EPL printer language and common media specifications.

“The PF8 has the right combination of size, features, and price for business and healthcare applications that require small footprint and big value,” stated Tom Roth, Director of Printer Marketing at Intermec. “The printer provides fast, accurate performance with minimal IT support, delivering an easy-to-use, dependable label-printing experience right out of the box.”

Intermec’s PF8 Desktop Thermal Printer

“Optical Armor” Issued by Fujitsu

Fujitsu Components America (Sunnyvale, CA) now offers self-wetting adhesive protector sheets, or SWAPS, in standard sizes ranging from seven to 17 inches diagonal to fit popular LCD dimensions. The protector sheets, which are packaged in three to 10 piece quantities and priced according to size, can extend the life of any touchscreen or flat-panel during product use, testing or shipping, the manufacturer claims. “Using SWAPS costs 100 times less than replacing your damaged touch interface,” observed Bruce DeVisser, Product Marketing Manager at Fujitsu Components America.

A patented, self-wetting adhesive enables easy, accurate, and static-free installation in the field using only light finger pressure, according to Fujitsu. High shear resistance prevents displacement during use, yet the sheet may be removed by hand, even after an extended period of time, without leaving residue or creating static electricity that can harm circuitry. SWAPs can also be repositioned and reused, thereby reducing waste and materials cost.

The RoHS-compliant SWAPS are constructed of an ultra-thin (0.003 inches to 0.004 inches, or 75 to 100 microns) hard-coated film that protects against repeated stylus input and harmful environmental elements. Because there is no conductive or ITO (Indium-Tin Oxide) coating to interfere with capacitive or projected-capacitive touch panels, SWAPS can be utilized with all touch technologies. The protector sheets operate from -30 to +70 Celsius and carry an anti-glare matte finish that proves 90% transmissive with an 8% haze. If desired, clear coatings and custom die-cuts are available through special order.

Standard-Sized Protector Sheets for LCD Screens

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INTEGRATION

D-O’s Diversity Deal Getting Done

Datamax-O’Neil (Orlando) has incorporated Apex and S2000i printers from the former Extech Instruments’ Data Systems Division--which it purchased in December 2009--into its product portfolio for partners. The Apex line includes two, three, and four-inch thermal receipt printers for field service, utilities, and mobile POS. Features include long-lasting battery, simple drop-in paper loading, and the full range of communication capabilities. The S2000i targets mobility environments requiring long-lasting receipts or multiple original receipts with two-inch dot-matrix capability, compact form factor, and Serial/IrDA connectivity.

“The Apex and S20001 printers bring tremendous diversity into the Datamax-O’Neil portable printer family and will increase our ability to sell products in applications where our existing line might not have been the perfect fit,” explained Paul Lehmann, Director of Product Management for Datamax-O’Neil. “Existing Datamax-O’Neil portables are well-known for their industry-leading rugged reliability, and the Apex and S2000i printers bring value elements that will appeal to customers that demand ease of operation, reliability, and low cost, but do not require the extremely rugged characteristics needed in certain environments.”

In July, Datamax-O’Neil will also make available several more printers acquired in the assets of Extech Instruments’ Data Systems Division. These include the Andes 3 heavy-duty receipt/label printer with three-inch paper width and the S2100THS and S4100THS two- and four-inch ultra-lightweight, low-cost receipt printers. In addition, three grades of receipt paper have been tested and approved as Datamax-O’Neil Certified Supplies: standard (economy), premium (dark, crisper images), and long-life (25-year guarantee).

Apex Printers, Now From Datamax-O’Neil

Datacap: EMV Relief At Hand

Datacap Systems (Chalfont, PA) announced that its NETePay credit processing software for Chase Paymentech Canada has been fully certified and now supports EMV (“Chip and PIN”) transactions. Thus, POS software developers may add Chip and PIN payments and perform interoperability testing with Chase Paymentech Canada without delay. This gives developers and their customers time to upgrade their systems, since the liability for fraudulent transactions shifts to non-EMV entities beginning on October 1, 2010. Indeed, after 2015, magnetic stripes on cards will no longer be accepted for Canada’s Interac national debit system.

With EMV cards, RRN.Com readers may know, cardholder account data gets stored on the microprocessor and not in magnetic-stripe form. Adding the cardholder’s PIN brings further reductions in card fraud, most notably in cases of counterfeiting or lost or stolen cards. Most developed countries have implemented or committed to EMV technology at this point. EMV, incidentally, denotes Europay, MasterCard, and Visa, the prime movers behind the scheme.

“Many software developers may choose to not go through rigorous and expensive EMV certifications,” suggested Terry Zeigler, Datacap’s CEO/President. “Datacap now has this simple, inexpensive solution for developers to add EMV Chip and PIN payments. With this implementation, NETePay handles all of the PIN pad and card payment information, further simplifying the developer interface and reducing the scope of PCI compliance. This greatly benefits developers and their customers.”

Terry Zeigler, CEO/President of Datacap Systems

Code Corner

NCR Corporation (Duluth, GA) released the next edition of its NCR SelfServ Checkout Software, which carries several enhancements intended to help retailers implement self-checkout lanes faster and less expensively. First and foremost, Extensible Markup Language (XML) technology has been employed to facilitate the connection between the self-checkout solution and the retailer’s existing POS system. This framework provides significant time and cost savings for retailers as most changes made to the POS, such as the addition of new payment types including gift cards, will now automatically be reflected within the self-checkout system. Another new feature, the NCR YourPOS Assist Mode, allows attendants to complete complex transactions on the self-checkout, such as tax-exempt sales, which were previously only addressable on the retailer’s traditional POS software. In addition to improving customer service, YourPOS Assist Mode makes it easier for retailers to cross-train operators for self-checkout and traditional cashier positions. Along the same lines, NCR SelfServ Checkout Software now supports more than 40 different POS environments from NCR and other ISVs, according to the manufacturer. “As the market share leader in self-service checkout, NCR continuously works to incorporate innovative new functionality into our solutions that allow retailers to offer more choices and greater convenience to shoppers while preserving their existing technology infrastructure investments,” remarked Mark Wallace, Solution Management Director, NCR Corporation.

PARTNER PROGRAMS

Retail Anywhere Finds JDS

Retail Anywhere (Atascadero, CA) has added JDS Solutions (Carlsbad, CA) as reseller of its POS software. The combination of Retail Anywhere POS with JDS WinRetail Enterprise will deliver an improved end-to-end retail management system for mid-sized specialty merchants, according to the two parties. Under the new partnership, JDS Solutions will sell, implement, and provide support services for this integrated system, which carries real-time data replication between stores, corporate networks, multi-channel environments, and third-party applications.

“With their dedication to customer satisfaction and knowledge in the retail industry, we are excited to have JDS as partner and reseller of Retail Anywhere POS,” noted Branden Jenkins, CEO of Retail Anywhere. “We also look forward to having Retail Anywhere POS in new retail verticals as JDS penetrates additional categories in the retail market.”

Several installations are already underway, according to Dan Friedman, President of JDS Solutions. These include A.S. Cooper & Sons with 11 gift and specialty stores located in Bermuda, Bare Feet Shoes with 12 outlets on the East Coast of the U.S., and Yoga Natural Foods in New York City. Founded in 1990, JDS handles hardware from HP, IBM, Micros-Retail, and NCR, and has field offices in Baltimore, Detroit, and Boulder, CO.

Retail Anywhere POS, Built on Microsoft .NET and SQL

No Grass Growing Under RedPrairie

RedPrairie Corporation (Milwaukee) introduced the Eagle Time Clock, co-developed with Accu-Time Systems (Ellington, CT) to work in concert with RedPrairie’s Enterprise Workforce Management package. Eagle supports barcode, magnetic-stripe, or biometric fingerprint identification and features an easy-to-clean surface for both keypad and display. RedPrairie currently serves as the only company reselling this time clock, which comes preconfigured for Enterprise Workforce Management.

“In the past, paying less for time clocks sometimes meant sacrificing how reliable those clocks would be,” relayed Gary Morgan, RedPrairie Technical Services VP. “Time clocks purchased at a lower price point often come with problems like unreliable barcode or magnetic-stripe readers, or poorly written biometric code. Eagle was designed to resolve those issues, and was built as an economical solution for those businesses looking for an affordably priced, reliable solution.”

At the back end of the network, RedPrairie announced it has completed the acquisition of SmartTurn (San Francisco), one of the leading providers for on-demand, SaaS-based, inventory control and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). SmartTurn’s solution, now running at more than 200 facilities, will be rebranded as RedPrairie’s On-Demand WMS and will focus on SMB distribution operations with rapid implementation demands and flexible pricing requirements, according to RedPrairie. With the flexibility to provide WMS of any size, RedPrairie now plans to extend visibility and collaboration between large distributors and their partner hubs.

Eagle Time Clock, Co-Developed With Accu-Time Systems

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

Barcode & Transaction Printers CognitiveTPG

Cash Drawers
APG Cash Drawer
MMF Cash Drawer

Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic Mobile
Datalogic Scanning
Janam Technologies

Data Collection Software
Wavelink

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
Payment Processing, Inc.

Keyboards
Cherry Electrical 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

HELLO GOODBYE

New Roles for Motorola Channel Chiefs

Big changes in the offices of Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions (Schaumburg, IL). Effective immediately, Mark Kroh becomes VP of Global Channels, replacing Janet Schijns, who has moved to VP of Training and Knowledge Management. That new entity will deliver education and certification opportunities for channel partners, according to the company, as well as technology training for customers and business and job-based curriculum for employees.

Kroh previously served as the leader of North American Channels for government, commercial, and enterprise products. He brings 20 years of experience in channel management, including participation in PartnerSelect and the launch of Motorola’s new PartnerEmpower program, which took place in March.

Mike Devente, who has led Asia Pacific Channel Sales for radio products and wireless broadband solutions for the past three years, will succeed Kroh as the new VP of North American Channels, Motorola EMS.

“Motorola has been, and continues to be, committed to embracing channels as our primary go-to-market strategy,” Kroh corresponded with RRN.Com. “The introduction of our PartnerEmpower program is a clear demonstration of our strong, continuous commitment to the channel. PartnerEmpower will help Motorola’s resellers profitably grow their business by empowering them with differentiation, a rich collaborative ecosystem, and innovative, quality-focused solutions that address evolving customer mobility and communication needs.”

Mark Kroh, VP of Global Channels, Motorola EMS

Toshiba Spies Lang

Toshiba Surveillance and IP Video (Irvine, CA) has brought on Karena Lang as its new Marketing and Programs Manager. In her new role, Lang will serve as one of the strategic members of the management team and oversee marketing communications, promotions, and trade show support. In addition, she will lead ongoing development of Toshiba’s popular ProfitMAX reseller program.

A 13-year Toshiba veteran, Lang joins Toshiba Surveillance and IP Video from the company’s Telecommunications Division, where as Marketing Manager she supervised multi-million-dollar marketing programs in the dealer channel that numbered over 800 locations in the U.S. Lang also has been involved in the profitable launch of multiple Toshiba products, including Strata VoIP business communication systems. Prior to Toshiba, she worked as Marketing Manager for Castrol Industrial.

“With her impressive track record, Karena brings a tremendous depth and breadth of marketing capability to our business unit,” commented Sergio Collazo, Director of Sales and Marketing for Toshiba Surveillance and IP Video. “She has a clear understanding of dealer channel marketing which will prove invaluable as we move forward with our ProfitMAX program.”

Karena Lang, Marketing and Programs Manager, Toshiba Surveillance and IP Video

Channel Factoid

Only 28% of procurement professionals believe their spend data is complete and accurate, according to the recent survey conducted by Rosslyn Analytics, and 31% and 40% of respondents, respectively, have low and medium levels of confidence. Two-fifths (40%) of respondents do not enrich their company’s spend data with additional third-party information. Of the 60% who do supplement their data, 56%, 31%, and 13% do so, respectively, on scheduled quarterly, monthly, and weekly basis. Again, of that 60% that enrich their spend data, 75% perform such tasks in-house. And of that 75%, 47% enrich manually while 28% use an automated process. Only one-quarter of companies (25%) outsource data enrichment to a third-party provider. Finally, when asked what sources of enrichment are most important, the three most cited were (in order ranking): parent-child linkage, supplier diversity, and supplier performance and risk. “With recent advances in technology, including data extraction, categorization, and enrichment services, it shocks me that procurement continues to have inadequate spend data,” stated Charles Clark, CEO of Rosslyn Analytics, which offers “Spend Analysis-as-a-Service,” abbreviated as SAaaS. “It is time for organizations to evaluate no-risk alternatives to legacy, on-premise spend analysis solutions. The sooner procurement professionals resolve data quality concerns, the sooner they will be able to focus on the serious business of sustainable cost savings.”

STARTS & STOPS

Digital Signage Illuminates Future POS

Future POS (Butler, PA) has added an HTML-based Digital Signage Module to its POS software package at no additional cost. Targeted at hospitality, the platform has been designed to deliver benefits in three areas: content scheduling, digital menu boards, and scoreboard output. Most notably, the module provides out-of-the-box customization for the end-user, according to the developer. “By utilizing HTML as our template base, the end-user truly has the ability to create very flexible layouts that can be scheduled and displayed whenever and wherever they choose,” explained Tim Ernst, Senior Developer at Future POS.

Scheduled content, for example, may include photos, advertisements, slogans, special offers, or news of local sports teams. Graphic formats encompass JPEG, GIF, or PNG. The end-user also has the ability to play movies in MPEG 4 or flash animations in SWF formats. All of these elements can be scheduled to run monthly, weekly or even hourly.

Similarly, digital menu boards are controlled through HTML, so changes are immediate and information may be pulled from scheduled content. The module’s scoreboard output supports rear-facing displays, including drive-thru, and shares HTML template layouts for pictures, advertisements, and “live” menu ring up. “Our Digital Signage Module does things that you would expect from systems costing the restaurateur several thousand dollars,” said Jim Giles, CEO/President of Future POS, which won the Bronze Award for Outstanding Applications Software Provider at last year’s Retail Solutions Providers Association Show in Las Vegas.

Driving Menu Boards and Displays With HTML

An E-Ticket for Barcoding

Barcoding Inc. has developed mobile ticket scanning for MissionTix, an online service for buying and selling admittance to concerts, performances, fairs, and other events, run by Mission Media, LLC. This new solution utilizes Barcoding’s CaptureSoft eXpress software, the provider’s web-based, wireless inventory management platform. It will debut in June at the Recher Theatre in Towson, MD. (Both Barcoding Inc. and Mission Media are located in Baltimore).

CaptureSoft eXpress will allow venues to scan and process barcodes from both printed tickets and those displayed on mobile devices such as smart phones. Consumers may buy their ticket en route to the performance and present an e-ticket displayed on their screen for admission. Even further, with Barcoding’s customized programming, operators with handheld scanners may simultaneously accept and track barcoded tickets in real-time by communicating with other devices in the facility’s network, according to the two parties.

Joe Loverde, owner of Mission Media and MissionTix, said: “At MissionTix, we believe that barcoding and the use of mobile e-tickets is revolutionizing the entertainment industry and event admissions. With that in mind, we were looking for a customized solution that would easily integrate with MissionTix’s existing system, and Barcoding was able to use CaptureSoft to meet our needs. Additionally, implementing the application was seamless, and Barcoding readily provided in-person, expert assistance.”

Your Concert Pass