This Week’s Product Pick

Quatech, Inc. (Hudson, OH) has shipped its next-generation Enterprise Class 802.11b/g Airborne Ethernet Bridge Adapters. Available in external or embedded board versions, the units possess an integrated Network Address Translation (NAT) functionality, which provides wireless plug-and-play connectivity and simple integration to any system with an Ethernet port. Equipped with WPA2 enterprise-class security, the Quatech Ethernet Bridge supports the most flexible certificate delivery and management available in the MTM market, according to the vendor, and features built-in Web server and advanced utilities. Capable of storing multiple certificates and private keys with support for PEM, DER, P12 and PFX formats, the management interface provides full control of delivery and configuration to facilitate end-user implementation. Along with WEP, WPA, WPA2, 802.11i, and Pre-Shared Key (PSK), the integrated supplicant supports the spectrum of EAP processes. Target applications include POS, industrial control and automation, and healthcare. “Quatech is pleased to deliver the most advanced enterprise security and certificate delivery support in its latest Airborne Ethernet Bridge products,” said Steve Runkel, Quatech President/CEO.

Quatech’s Airborne Ethernet Bridge

Worth Your While

RetailNow 2009
Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA)
July 11-16
Las Vegas

VARTECH 2009
BlueStar
August 13-15         
Nashville, TN

2009 APICS International Conference & Expo
Association for Operations Management
October 4-6
Toronto

2009 IFDA Distribution Solutions Conference
International Foodservice Distributors Association
October 19-21
Baltimore

NACS Show 2009
National Association of Convenience Stores
October 20-23
Las Vegas

BAI Retail Delivery Conference & Expo
Bank Administration Institute
November 3-5
Boston

INTEGRATION

Wavelink Preloaded by Datamax-O’Neil

Datamax-O’Neil (Orlando) has selected Avalanche Mobility Center software from Wavelink Corporation (Midvale, UT) to be preloaded on its wireless, 802.11-enabled mobile printers. This includes the MicroFlash family of portable printers, the OC2 and OC3 O’Neil compact portable printers, and the LP3 label printer. The partnership demonstrates Datamax-O’Neil’s commitment to continuously increase the efficiency of its enterprise printing solutions and further solidifies Wavelink’s position as the standard in wireless enterprise management, according to the two parties.

With Wavelink, Datamax-O’Neil customers may now remotely monitor and configure their Datamax-O’Neil wireless printers, along with additional wireless devices on the network. Customers using Avalanche Mobility Center benefit from extensive functionality that includes centralized remote management, performance monitoring, software distribution, and crucial device security. In addition, Wavelink customers can now manage Datamax-O’Neil printers through the same interface they use for their other wireless devices.

“Wavelink is a complete management solution that can handle multiple device classes and brands,” commented Endre Vargha, VP of Engineering and GM for Portable Products at Datamax-O’Neil. “Partnering with them enables users that have already deployed Wavelink Avalanche in their network to easily add and manage Datamax-O’Neil printers as part of that environment.”

Endre Vargha, VP of Engineering and GM for Portable Products, Datamax-O’Neil

Bonding Time Between IEE and DuPont

Industrial Electronic Engineers, Inc. (Van Nuys, CA), the longtime supplier of electronic displays for markets such as retail, industrial, and defense, has expanded its capabilities by licensing DuPont’s Vertak direct-bonding technology. Vertak combines “an innovative lamination process with industry-leading proprietary adhesive” to attach substrates directly to the front of the liquid crystal display (LCD). In addition to licensing the Vertak technology, DuPont Display Enhancements (Torrance, CA) will supply Vertak direct-bonding adhesive material and transfer its bonding expertise to Industrial Electronic Engineers, commonly called IEE.

Vertak optically bonds substrates such as anti-reflective glass, plastic, or touch sensor and enhances display performance by improving sunlight readability up to 400% and impact and scratch resistance up to 300%, according to DuPont. It targets consumer and industrial applications requiring outdoor viewing and the durability to withstand impact, vibration, extreme temperatures, altitudes, and dust. It is also viewed as one of the key technologies for emerging products such as next-generation touchscreen devices and lighter, thinner applications, according to the two parties.

“Expanding our display enhancement program with the incorporation of the industry-leading DuPont Vertak process allows us to reduce cost and lead-time for our customers and positions us to meet the latest technology requirements for demanding applications,” remarked Steven White, President/CEO of IEE. “This technology, combined with our world-class capabilities in backlight design and control, mechanical design, and new video controllers, truly make IEE one of the premier total display solution providers in the world.”

DuPont’s Vertak Laminates Substrates Directly to the Display

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PARTNER PROGRAMS

100 Free Licenses for InfoTouch’s New Release  

InfoTouch Corporation (Atlanta) will use the upcoming RSPA Show in Las Vegas to introduce Version 2.60 of both its Store Keeper POS and Store Manager ES product lines. The two products have been certified PCI-compliant by Visa--Store Manager ES for the second time. InfoTouch will demonstrate the new products at two places at the show, in its booth and in the special RetailNext pavilion. Even better, it will be giving out free Store Keeper POS register licenses to the first 100 attendees at its hospitality suite on the night of Wednesday, July 15.

“With the impending deadline of July 1, 2010 for all merchants to be using compliant software, PCI certification by Visa is more important than ever before,” Keith Neerman, InfoTouch’s President, told RRN.Com. “Version 2.60 also adds highly requested features like our loyalty program based on sales to supplement the loyalty points program, greatly increased flexibility to make changes to buttons in the 'register' module, automatic rounding option when putting items on sale, and much more. We are so confident that POS resellers will like our products, that we are giving away 100 free licenses at our hospitality suite. We know that once resellers try either of our product lines, they will come back for more.”

InfoTouch was one of nine companies selected for the RetailNext pavilion at RSPA and will use the space to showcase its “Touch POS Plug & Play” bundles, in which Store Keeper POS software comes pre-installed on HP’s rp3000 platform. The software is preconfigured to work with the complete set of HP POS peripherals. The bundles come in twelve different profiles for retail markets such as liquor stores, dollar stores, garden centers, gift stores, and beauty salons.

Main Menu for Store Keeper POS from InfoTouch

Catalyst Telecom Rings Up Motorola

Catalyst Telecom, the sales unit of ScanSource dedicated to voice, video, and data convergence distribution, has added wireless solutions from Motorola to its product line card. Catalyst will stock Motorola’s access points (APs), ports, controllers, and switches, as well as its AirDefense wireless network security solution. In making the announcement, Catalyst also pointed to Motorola’s ability to deliver wireless network planning, management, and troubleshooting solutions.

“Motorola has been an excellent partner to our ScanSource POS & Barcoding sales unit for more than 15 years, delivering exceptional products and services,” observed Bruce Meyer, VP of Merchandising at Catalyst Telecom (Greenville, SC). “The addition of their wireless solutions to our product offering was a natural. We are very proud to be offering a strong portfolio of the industry’s highest-quality wireless solutions.” Meyer joined Catalyst in March after having previously served as VP of Global Marketing, Direct Accounts, for KEMET Electronics.

Added Janet Schijns, VP of Global Channels, Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions: “As a pioneer and innovator in wireless solutions, Motorola looks forward to offering its enterprise wireless solutions through Catalyst Telecom, a leader in the unified communications space, who adds great value to their reseller partners through customized service, solutions, and support.”

Bruce Meyer, VP of Merchandising, Catalyst Telecom

Code Corner

Reva Systems (Chelmsford, MA) unleashed TAP-VM, its software-based virtual machine version of the Reva TAP RFID appliance. Reva TAP-VM runs on any hardware that supports the VMware Server 2 platform, will be delivered as part of the TAP R2.4 software release, and initially will be compatible with Microsoft Windows operating systems. The TAP R2.4 release provides new capabilities for all TAP platforms, including an open XML-based reader integration feature called XReader, enhancements to ALE and EPCIS event generation options, plus advanced configurable tag filters for detecting tag movement between locations. “Beyond RFID applications that utilize Reva’s TAP hardware, we have seen growing demand for adding TAP capabilities to customers’ existing servers and other platforms,” reported Ashley Stephenson, Chairman and Co-Founder of Reva Systems. “By allowing Reva’s award-winning functionality to be delivered as a virtual appliance, we have given our customers and partners the ability to integrate Reva’s RFID capabilities onto hardware solutions of their choice, from small laptops to the largest blade servers.”

Electric Compass (Darien, CT) launched its Enterprise Navigator GPS software for use with handheld computers and integration with fleet and workforce mobility applications such as proof of delivery, field service management, and direct store delivery. Enterprise Navigator provides complete turn-by-turn capability, including route guidance with voice prompts for maneuvers, automatic route recalculation, and address entry by numerous means. It supports both .NET and C++, carries extensive map coverage for North America and the EMEA, and offers screen text and voice prompts in over two dozen languages. “With fuel costs climbing and the competitive environment that demands improved worker productivity, Enterprise Navigator is a very compelling solution,” suggested Michael Forbes, Managing Director of Electric Compass, which sells through ISVs and VARs. “Easy integration with third-party field mobility solutions means that Enterprise Navigator can quickly deliver cost savings and greater efficiency for fleet operators.”

ALLIANCES

Welcome to Banc of America Merchant Services

Bank of America N.A. (Charlotte, NC) and First Data Corp. (Denver) have joined forces to form Banc of America Merchant Services, LLC, which will deliver payment solutions to merchants ranging from credit, debit, and prepaid cards to merchant loyalty, check, and e-commerce solutions. The new company will be 46.5% owned by Bank of America and 48.5% by First Data, with the remaining 5% held by Rockmount Investments. Thomas Bell, Chief Strategy Officer and President of First Data’s Financial Services Business, was named CEO of Banc of America Merchant Services.

“The First Data, Bank of America alliance will create a payments company with more than 70 years of combined merchant experience,” noted Michael Capellas, Chairman/CEO of First Data. “Together, we will help clients keep pace with the dynamic virtual marketplace by delivering secure, scalable, and reliable payment processing and the broadest set of innovative payments solutions at highly competitive prices.”

Bell pointed to the “combination of First Data’s world-class technology and industry experience with the power of Bank of America’s brand and branch referral channel” as the new company’s greatest strength. Bank of America will contribute 240,000 merchant relationships and First Data will add another 140,000 merchant relationships to the new effort. Following the transition period, First Data will provide the merchant processing and related services. The combined entity will process over one billion transactions per month, incidentally.

Michael Capellas, Chairman/CEO, First Data Corp.

IntelliTrack Certified by LXE

LXE (Atlanta) and IntelliTrack (Hunt Valley, MD) have allied themselves to further the cause of inventory management in the SMB space. The companies’ new relationship includes the recent certification of LXE’s MX7 and MX8 rugged handheld computers with IntelliTrack’s Asset-Management software. Further, customers now may run IntelliTrack applications on LXE hardware optimized for use in cold-storage applications--the MX7CS handheld computer that includes built-in heaters and other special features for that environment.

Will Daniel, COO of IntelliTrack, stated:  “We are excited to partner with LXE and to offer their tough and reliable mobile computers to IntelliTrack’s more than 13,000 installations worldwide. By combining LXE’s rugged hardware expertise with IntelliTrack’s comprehensive off-the-shelf software systems, customers now have new options to control, track, and manage anything that can be tagged or barcoded.”

“IntelliTrack will extend the reach of LXE in the channel by offering affordable, easy-to-use inventory management software for use by its partners and customers as well as alternative hardware choices for existing IntelliTrack customers,” predicted Tom Riecke, LXE VP of Sales-Americas. “The addition of IntelliTrack as an ISV partner aligns perfectly with LXE’s commitment to support value-added solutions for resellers and improving value to our channel offerings.”

[Editor’s Note:  LXE has also announced its new MX9 rugged handheld computer for the port logistics environment. The new device, which carries an IP67 environmental rating, 62-key and 38-key backlight keypad options, and built-in GPS, is scheduled for general availability in August.]

Will Daniel, COO of IntelliTrack

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Auto ID Distribution
BlueStar
M-S Cash Drawer
ScanSource

POS & Peripherals
Aures Technologies
FEC USA
Logic Controls
Pioneer POS
POS-X
Touch Dynamic

Barcode & Mobile Printers
Datamax-O'Neil

Cash Drawers
MMF Cash Drawer

Data Collection Software
Wavelink

Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic Mobile
Janam Technologies
Motorola

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
Star Micronics

Retail Software
InfoTouch
Logivision

Screen Protection
3M Optical Filters

Video Surveillance & Access Control
ScanSource Security

HELLO GOODBYE

NCR Canada Enlists President, Targets Self-Service

NCR Corporation has named Luc Villeneuve as the new President of NCR Canada (Mississauga, Ontario), with responsibility for all sales, client services, marketing, and management of NCR Canada’s businesses in vertical markets for financial, retail, travel, gaming, entertainment, and healthcare. Prior to joining NCR, Villeneuve spent five years at Sun Microsystems Canada as VP of Sales. During his 20-year career, he also held senior executive positions at BCE, GE Capital ITS, and CNC Global Ltd.

“Luc’s primary objective will be to help businesses in the Canadian financial and retail industries,” according to John Di Leo, NCR’s Regional VP of North American Sales and Marketing. “Luc will work with business to adopt and optimize self-service solutions to help lower their costs and open new channels of revenue. There is tremendous growth of the self-service market in Canada. Luc will have close contact with our customers in Canada, helping them to be successful with their self-service strategies.”

Stateside, NCR recently announced its plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to Duluth, GA, where its retail business has been based. NCR will concentrate additional activities in Georgia, including its Global Center of Excellence in Peachtree City and its new NCR SelfServ ATM manufacturing facility in Columbus. The move ends NCR’s historical ties to Dayton, OH, where the National Cash Register Company was founded in 1884 and where only the company’s data center and support for local customers will remain. More than 2,000 jobs are expected to be created in Georgia, which was praised for its pro-business environment by NCR’s Chairman/CEO Bill Nuti.

[Editor’s Note:  Indeed, North American consumers continue to embrace self-service technology, with transactions at kiosks likely to surpass $775 billion in 2009, according to the recently released survey by the IHL Group. That figure was projected to grow to more than $1.6 trillion by 2013.]

Luc Villeneuve, President, NCR Canada

NRF and RILA: “Never Mind!”

The proposed union between the National Retail Federation (Washington, DC) and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (Arlington, VA), announced in April, has been called off following two months of deliberation. “RILA and NRF have ended discussions aimed at merging the two organizations,” said the two boards of directors in their joint statement. “NRF and RILA will devote all resources to continuing the work they are each doing to address the serious issues that America’s consumers and retailers are facing in today’s economic environment.”

Concurrent with the proposed merger, Tracy Mullin, NRF President/CEO since 1993, had announced her retirement. “At this point, it looks like my retirement has been put on hold,” Mullin has written to NRF members. “I will continue to serve at the pleasure of NRF’s Board of Directors and, while I do dream of the beach, I can honestly think of nowhere else I’d rather be than in our offices in Washington.”

“We have big plans on the horizon, and I can honestly say for a certainty that NRF’s staff is more committed than ever to serving the needs of all our members,” continued Mullin. “With an economy in crisis and unpredictability on Capitol Hill, it’s going to be quite a ride.” As specific action items, Mullin pointed to passage of healthcare reform retailers can live with, as well as defeat of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would change federal law with regards to the rights of workers to unionize.

Tracy Mullin Stays Onboard as NRF President/CEO

Channel Factoid

More than 70% of IT decision makers in the manufacturing industry worldwide are looking to leverage mobile and wireless solutions to streamline their operations. According to the Motorola Enterprise Mobility Manufacturing Barometer, 80% of these IT decision makers feel mobility is more important today than it was in 2008, and this represents an increase of 9% from previous research. Over one-quarter of those surveyed identified inventory/materials management and sales force automation as the top drivers for continued mobility investments. Manufacturing IT decision makers cited total cost of ownership (TCO), return on investment (ROI), and internal rate of return (IRR) as the main tools they use to justify their mobility investments. In fact, more than 50% of surveyed enterprises utilizing an ROI analysis indicated they expected return within 15 months of their initial investment. The study also found that manufacturers with mobility applications saved the daily average of 42 minutes per employee.

INSTALLATIONS

Netkey Enters the Wireless Zone

Wireless Zone, the largest independent Verizon Wireless dealer in the U.S., has selected Netkey’s SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) to operate digital signage in the company’s stores. Located primarily in the Northwest, Midwest, and South, more than 350 Wireless Zone stores will participate in the digital signage project. Wireless Zone expects to have 400 locations open by the end of this year.

As part of an effort to enhance the customer experience and drive new sales, the company will install up to eight digital signs in each Wireless Zone store. The signs display up-to-the-minute information about new wireless products, services, and special carrier promotions, and all content can be remotely updated and managed from a single PC at Wireless Zone headquarters (Middletown, CT) using Netkey digital signage software. Founded in 1983, Netkey (East Haven, CT) has over 70,000 kiosks and screens deployed in retail and financial services. The company holds three patents core to self-service kiosk software technology.

“In the highly competitive wireless market, providing current information about products and services to customers is a must,” said Jose Olmeda, Executive Director of Store Development for Wireless Zone. “The flexibility and ease-of-use of the Netkey digital signage software has allowed Wireless Zone to generate immediacy with our in-store marketing communications and guarantee a consistent brand experience across all our outlets.”

Wireless Zone Seeks Benefits of Digital Signage