This Week’s Product Pick
Accu-Time Systems (Ellington, CT) clocked in with the Color Touch Version of its Optimus (Online Personal Time Information Management Utility Station), part of its Global Series product line of next-generation Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions. The new Optimus features a large, easy-to-read, 5.7-inch programmable color touchscreen display as an input device. Fully programmable in either the popular ATS USC (Universal Command Set) language or in Linux, the Optimus terminal fulfills a variety of applications, including manager functions, employee self-service, and card approval, as well as barcode and state-of-the-art biometrics. Designed to work with today’s best HCM applications, Optimus is engineered to be rugged and field-upgradeable, according to the company. It operates in WAN and LAN environments, including Wi-Fi, modem, and Ethernet, and offers 16 MB of RAM expandable up to 128 MB and 32 MB of flash memory expandable up to 64 MB (JAVA: 128 MB to 256 MB). “The Optimus is a single, integrated unit that eliminates the need for expensive, redundant systems, and allows executive management the ability to take full advantage of the comprehensive data and knowledge gained through a multi-faceted, integrated system,” said Peter DiMaria, Founder and CEO of ATS.
Color Touch Optimus from ATS
COMPANY BUSINESS DemandTec Looking to Network with ISVs DemandTec (San Carlos, CA), one of the leading providers of on-demand merchandising and marketing solutions for retailers and consumer products manufacturers, has kicked off its TradePoint Network Partner Program. Through the program, DemandTec intends to solicit vendor partner solutions for TradePoint, the company’s Internet-based network of software services used by retailers and their suppliers to collaborate on promotions and merchandising activities. “This partner program addresses a real need for DemandTec to introduce best-of-breed capabilities to a growing list of customers,” declared Tom Croke, VP of Business Development. “While DemandTec continues to invest in building our own software services, the partner program is intended to fast-track additional third-party solutions that can fill voids more efficiently.” DemandTec has also launched Funds Tracker, the company’s latest software service on the TradePoint Network. Funds Tracker provides up-to-date visibility to trade fund balances and is now available for qualified manufacturer account teams that are on the network and using the Advanced Deal Management service, which automates how trade plans are entered, submitted, negotiated, and archived. As a charter member of the DemandTec TradePoint Network Partner Program, Interactive Edge (New York) announced it will share its XP3 Presentation Builder software with account teams of consumer products companies. Star Micronics Names BlueStar Top Distributor for 2007 BlueStar (Florence, KY) has been recognized by Star Micronics America (Edison, NJ) as its 2007 Distributor of the Year. The award is presented to the distributor that demonstrates continued year-over-year growth in sales, and in addition, delivers best practices in working with its reseller partners and business development to grow the Star Micronics printer brand throughout the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. “We are very honored to receive this award from Star Micronics America,” said Steve Cuntz, President and CEO of BlueStar. “We have worked closely with Star Micronics for many years, and are thrilled that BlueStar is the ‘go-to’ distributor for Star products.” “Star is pleased to recognize BlueStar for the fourth consecutive year as our top distributor, acknowledging not only their top sales, but their dedication to the POS market,” stated Christine Duffy, National Sales Manager for Star Micronics.
It’s Here: Oracle Retail Release 13 Oracle (Redwood Shores, CA) has announced the availability of its long-awaited Oracle Retail Release 13, the giant’s complete and integrated suite of software applications for retailers in key vertical segments such as fashion, grocery, and hard goods. This “insight-driven” suite integrates best-of-breed applications from Oracle’s string of strategic acquisitions—Retek, ProfitLogic, 360Commerce, PeopleSoft, Siebel, and JD Edwards—along with Oracle’s industry-standard platform. Oracle Retail Release 13 is designed to deliver “measurable returns” across the entire retail enterprise, including stores, merchandising operations, merchandising planning and optimization, and supply chain management. Key enhancements include: full life-cycle price optimization, wholesale functionality for new channels, global performance functionality, advanced security features, and merchant workspace with single sign-on, dashboard, and reporting capabilities across solutions. “In preparing Oracle Retail Release 13, we dedicated considerable resources to identify the greatest opportunities for retailers across grocery, fashion, hardlines, and emerging markets to deliver near-term value to their business,” noted Dave Boyce, VP, Product Strategy at Oracle. “We believe this creates a unique and compelling value proposition for customers, especially when matching these best-in-class applications with our leading infrastructure software. Oracle Retail Release 13 provides the means to enable insight-driven retailing and fulfills our promise to deliver the industry’s most complete, integrated retail application suite.” |
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Worth Your While
Retail Market Seminar
Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division
July 9
Atlanta
RetailNOW
Retail Solutions Providers Association
July 12-17
Las Vegas
RFID World 2008
CMP Technology
September 8-10
Las Vegas
VARTECH 2008
BlueStar
September 15-17
Orlando
ON THE HORIZON See You at the Rio’s iBar Going to this year’s RSPA Show in July? If so, you might want to check out the Rio Hotel & Casino’s iBar, which has deployed the Microsoft “Surface” computer for a variety of hospitality and service offerings. The 30-inch table-like display uses 360-degree touch technology to allow guests to control digital content and customize their entertainment experience. Harrah’s Entertainment, which owns the Rio, offers four applications designed expressly for such an “ultra-lounge” setting. These include, in descending order of importance, perhaps: Flirt, Mixologists, Hip-notic, and Head Games. The Flirt application allows guest to chat with and/or meet people from one Surface to another. Strategically-placed video cameras at each Surface allow photos to be taken and sent across the lounge. Using Mixologists, guests can create and order their own signature cocktails for themselves or their new friends. Hip-notic lets the group watch online videos, and Head Games provides bowling, pinball, and name-that-tune competition. When you’re ready to leave, Surface’s virtual concierge will provide information on Las Vegas events and attractions. “People continue to be excited about the endless possibilities of Surface technology and how it can transform everyday scenarios, including the social and entertainment space,” said Pete Thompson, GM for Microsoft Surface. “With this latest deployment, we’re now bringing some of those possibilities to life and showcasing the breadth of opportunities Microsoft Surface provides to innovative businesses like Harrah’s.”
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CERTIFICATION
Printronix Puts Its Stamp on Intelligent Mail
Printronix (Irvine, CA) now supports the United States Postal Service “Intelligent Mail” barcode initiative, mandated for adoption by May 2009. Intelligent Mail (formerly known as the 4-State Customer Barcode) serves as the next-generation of USPS technology used to sort and track letters and flats. It combines the data of the existing POSTNET and the PLANET Code barcodes, as well as other data, into one high-capacity, compact code. This “height-modulated” barcode employs four distinct vertical bar types: Full, Tracker, Ascender, and Descender.
Printronix will support the Intelligent Mail barcode on four printer lines: P7000 line-matrix, T5000r thermal barcode, T4M RFID-ready thermal barcode, and L7032 laser printers. The full manufacturing release will occur in fall 2008 for all the supported product lines. P7000 Series customers who would like to adopt this barcode now can order a point release of the firmware, according to the company.
“Printronix is integrating the Intelligent Mail barcodes into firmware for our laser, line-matrix, and thermal barcode series printers as a standard feature,” reported David Sakai, SVP of Marketing for Printronix. “This will allow bulk mailers to print barcodes directly from their Printronix printers, saving them time and money—two commodities of our global economy.”
Hypercom Deemed Class A at NPC
Hypercom Corporation (Phoenix) announced that its new 32-bit multi-application Optimum T4210 (dial) and T4220 (Ethernet with dial backup) high-security electronic payment terminals and vendor-agnostic PV1310 PIN Pad have received Class A certification from the National Processing Company (NPC). The certifications open an important sales channel for Hypercom’s devices through NPC’s large customer base of over 260,000 merchants.
“Hypercom’s T4210 and T4220 payment terminals bring an entirely new level of security, features, and capabilities to the retail countertop, and the low-cost PV1310 handheld PIN entry device gives retailers the option of adding high-security PIN-based payments to their legacy systems without upgrading their entire terminal infrastructure.” observed Chris Lee, SVP of Market Research and Product Development at NPC. “Demand for these features and high security embodied in these new products is escalating sharply, and we are meeting that demand head-on with Hypercom’s new products.”
Hypercom’s Optimum T4200 platform has also received Class A certification for gift and loyalty applications from TenderCard (East Falmouth, MA). TenderCard provides gift cards and loyalty programs for the electronic payment industry and specializes in the small to mid-sized merchant, mall, association, and/or chain. The ISV markets exclusively through its network of resellers.
Code
Corner
SATO America (Charlotte, NC) released Label Gallery 3, the latest version of its labeling software, which brings two new SDKs (for PCs and mobile devices), improved printing control, Unicode compliance for multilingual label printing, and Windows CE.NET support. The Label Gallery 3 software series includes the cost-free “Free,” the basic edition “Easy,” the full version “Plus,” and the high-end solution “TruePro,” which is also offered in a pocket or network version. Label Gallery software utilizes Windows Installer technology for product installation. GalleryDriver allows users to preview the printer status in real time and the GalleryPrint Queue module facilitates print job control. The new label reprint feature also provides the ability to reprint labels to the same or a different printer. Label Gallery 3 also has new features which can improve label design, such as support for variable label sizing, support of relative positioning of label objects, and image support for Binary Large Object (BLOB) database fields. Label Gallery requires Windows Vista/XP/2003 Server or 2000, Pentium-based PC, minimum 128-MB of free RAM, 75 to 550 MB of available hard disk space, and CD-ROM drive.
HELLO GOODBYE
New CEO Lands at HighJump
HighJump Software (Eden Prairie, MN), the global provider of supply chain execution solutions, has appointed Timothy Campbell as its CEO. Campbell will also join HighJump’s board of directors. Previously, he served as President of Symyx Software, the technology provider to the life sciences, chemicals, and energy industries. His 20 years of experience also includes leadership stints at supply chain companies Steelwedge Software and Industri-Matematik International.
“Tim brings a wealth of experience in software business management and executive leadership to HighJump,” stated Dave Tabors, General Partner of Battery Ventures, which recently purchased HighJump from 3M. “HighJump has grown to have a significant market presence in the supply chain software industry. Under Tim’s leadership, the company is poised for the next phase of its growth, and is in an excellent position to aggressively expand its product portfolio and worldwide business both organically and through acquisition.”
Bixolon Adds National Service Manager
Bixolon (Carson, CA) has named Richard Delaney as its National Service Manager. In this new position, Delaney will manage the service and tech support departments and take initiative to expand the service network for the company’s products. He will also provide dedicated effort for sales support and product development. Previous to joining Bixolon, he worked as district service manager, field service manager, and service manager of system devices for Epson for over 10 years.
“I am very excited to have more excellent people on the Bixolon team,” said Sam Son, GM of Bixolon. “Our products are proving to be preferred as POS printers due to their high reliability and aggressive pricing. Richard will add more reasons why customers have to choose Bixolon.”
Richard Delaney, Bixolon
Key
Advertiser
Links
Be sure to visit these vendors for the latest in channel products and offers for resellers.
POS & Auto ID Distribution
BlueStar
Ingram Micro
POS & Peripherals
Bematech
Logic Controls
PC-PoS Inc./DigiPoS
Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic
Mobile
Honeywell
Imaging and Mobility
Janam
Technologies
ECRs / Touchscreens / Printers/
Parts and Supplies
CRS, Inc.
Receipt
Printers
Bixolon
Citizen Systems America
Star Micronics
Retail Software
Microsoft Dynamics
Screen Protection
3M
Optical Products
Thermal Print Technology
Seiko Instruments USA
Touchscreens
FireBox Displays
ALLIANCES
The Great Outdoors for Psion Teklogix
Psion Teklogix (Cincinnati) will resell Fidelity Comtech’s Phocus Array System, an outdoor extended-reach 802.11b/g phased array wireless access point, as part of its industrial solution suite. “Partnering with Fidelity Comtech allows us to further serve our strong mobile customer base in ports, railroads, airports, and automotive yard management with a rugged and reliable wireless access solution for outdoor environments,” commented Ron Caines, President, Americas at Psion Teklogix.
As suggested by its name, the Phocus Array System incorporates Fidelity Comtech’s patented dynamic beam-steering technology which allows the shape and size of the antenna to be varied on a packet-by-packet basis to increase signal range and target geographic areas. The system can support links of up to nearly 15 miles with a significant reduction in infrastructure for large-area wireless coverage, according to the company. It incorporates WPA and WPA2 wireless security with 3DES and AES encryption, respectively, and features Intel’s XScale processor. Millennium Technologies (Butler, NJ), one of Psion Teklogix’s partners, has deployed the Phocus Array System with Psion Teklogix 7535 wireless handheld computers at FAPS, Inc., one of the largest automotive port processing companies in the U.S.
“Our companies are known for high-performance and reliable mobile wireless solutions in environmentally-challenging applications, and we look forward to working with Psion Teklogix to bring our solutions to a number of new yard management customers,” remarked Joe Carey, President and CEO of Fidelity Comtech (Longmont, CO).
Unleashing Evidence Hound
Teklynx International (Milwaukee) and Data Support Inc. (Nanuet, NY) have jointly developed Evidence Hound, an evidence-tracking solution built on Teklynx’s BackTrack asset and inventory tracking software. The application has been custom-designed to document law enforcement evidence chain-of-custody and will be marketed by Data Support.
“Evidence Hound leverages BackTrack’s outstanding asset-tracking capabilities and focuses them specifically on logging, storing, and controlling the movement of evidence,” explained Tom McDonald, Data Support’s President. “We researched evidence-handling best practices and built the fields and interface to be easy and intuitive for law enforcement officers, while always keeping chain-of-custody in mind.”
Evidence Hound employs an on-screen form to enter evidence information into the database. The evidence can be grouped into a case or multiple cases to associate the item with other evidence or even other investigations. Drop-down menus are provided and photos can be included. Each item is assigned its own unique barcode and gets labeled for proper handling and easy location. When investigators, law enforcement, or court personnel access evidence, the attendant scans his or her own authorized barcode as well as another barcode corresponding to the officer receiving the evidence, and enters the destination and other relevant information. Evidence Hound automatically notes the date, time, and other standard fields and prints the receipt. Evidence returns are handled in the same way.
[Editor’s Note: Better watch out, O.J. Simpson!]
Channel Factoid
An IBM survey indicates that SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture) has moved from adoption to deployment phase. 50% of customers are deploying SOA, with another 27% piloting it. In addition, 42% of customers surveyed indicated SOA was their company’s top spending priority in 2008. SOA adoption is shifting from technology to business led: business-centric SOA more than doubled, from 30% in 2006 to over 70% in 2007. Indeed, business expertise is ranked as the top criteria in selecting an SOA vendor, up 24% year to year. The Link Group performed this research for IBM.
Reseller Rewind
If you missed the most recent “Retail’s in the Bag” presentation, don’t despair. Microsoft Dynamics RMS has given you another chance to benefit from these deep-dives into POS.
-For Microsoft Dynamics “Retail’s in the Bag: PCI Security Compliance—the New Y2K?” which took place on May 13, click here.
ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS
QuickBooks on Lockdown
Enhanced data and identity theft protection for Intuit QuickBooks has been incorporated within Trend Micro’s newly launched Worry-Free Business Security 5.0 for small businesses. This protection feature for QuickBooks users, which has passed the Intuit Developer Network’s technical review, helps guard QuickBooks financial accounting data from theft, corruption, and unauthorized changes, according to Trend Micro (Cupertino, CA).
QuickBooks protection is easy to deploy for customers of Worry-Free Business Security 5.0, according to the developer. Users simply check the “Enable Intuit QuickBooks Protection” box found within the program, and the Behavior Monitoring component of Worry-Free Business Security 5.0 is activated to help protect QuickBooks data from unauthorized changes. The QuickBooks “folder lockdown” capability included in Trend Micro’s solution is a layer of added security to help protect QuickBooks users from data or identity theft.
“Small businesses have a lot on their plate, and dealing with security issues is a distraction from their core business,” stated Steve Quane, Executive GM, SMB Business Unit, Trend Micro. “By building QuickBooks-specific protection into our leading solution for small business, we’re bringing added security that goes beyond what is expected.”
Developer Portal Opens at PayPal
Looking to “help developers support growing merchant demand for online payments,” PayPal (San Jose, CA) has opened its new Developer Central Portal and introduced two dozen new APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). Developer Central, ready to go in July, will offer free business and technical kits to help developers market their services, identify customer leads, complete integration projects more easily, and share knowledge with community peers, according to the company.
Developer Central will also proffer 25 free APIs to enable merchants to send and receive money online, refund transactions, manage subscriptions, and track transaction histories. Examples include the Recurring Payments API for subscription billing and the Reference Transaction API for handling repeat customers. In addition, the Developer Central site will provide a directory to connect merchants with PayPal Certified Developers.
“Our active developer community is one of the drivers of PayPal’s growth, and supporting their success is a top priority for us,” asserted Glenn Lim, GM of PayPal’s Alliances and Developer Services. “We’ve created a wealth of new resources to help developers respond to the skyrocketing demand for safer, easier online payments.”
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