This Week’s Product Pick

Datalogic Scanning (Eugene, OR) presented its Magellan 1100i omni-directional barcode scanner for retail checkout environments, including convenience, specialty, and drug stores. Magellan 1100i was designed with compact form factor, the latest solid-state electronics, and advanced imaging capabilities for reading 1D and 2D barcodes. It introduces Datalogic’s new “Illumix” intelligent illumination technology, which permits barcodes to be read from backlight displays found in smartphones, PDAs, and PDTs. Illumix technology also provides enhanced motion tolerance, enabling both sweep and presentation scanning techniques to be employed. In addition, an External Read Indicator (ERI) allows the Magellan 1100i reader to integrate with third-party RFID or EAS systems. Finally, for the first time in the Magellan product line, Datalogic’s patented “Green Spot” technology for good read feedback has been made available when ordering this scanner. “Datalogic Scanning continues to offer value to our customers in products that exceed their data capture needs for today, while anticipating the demands of the marketplace in the future,” stated Matt Schler, GM, Fixed Retail, for Datalogic Scanning. “We are happy to be able to add this new innovative imager to our world-leading Magellan line of high-performance retail scanners.”

Magellan 1100i from Datalogic Scanning

Worth Your While

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

IH/M&RS
International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show
November 7-10
New York

Synergy 2009 Customer Conference
Retalix
November 8-11
Dallas

Fall 2009 Self-Service Expo
KioskCom
November 10-11
New York

NRF 99th Annual Convention & Expo
National Retail Federation
January 10-13, 2010
New York

ALL IN THE FAMILY

DAP Drops Its New Computer

DAP Technologies (Tempe, AZ and Quebec City, Canada) introduced its Kinysis rugged tablet computer for the most challenging field-service environments. Measuring 9 inches wide and weighing just over three pounds, Kinysis fulfills MIL-STD-810F for free-fall drop resistance, rain, humidity, and vibration. Sealed to IP67, the computer can withstand submersion in up to one meter of water and emerge with full functionality. Batteries are hot-swappable, with battery life designed to meet or exceed an entire 8-hour shift.

DAP’s Kinysis tablet runs on the Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard O/S with an LX800 processor and high-speed solid-state drive up to 32 GB. Customers may tailor the tablet by adding custom electronic modules, requiring either serial interface or USB port, within the sealed expansion bay. Field computing gets expedited via wireless communications, including Bluetooth and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi. Data can also be transmitted in real-time from the field to the main server, using the optional 3G WWAN, with GPS offered.

Screen options include full QWERTY keyboard and half-SVGA LCD touchscreen display (Kinysis 8900KS) or full-sized WVGA LCD touchscreen display (Kinysis 8900VS). The anti-glare passive touchscreens on both models are scratch- and shock-resistant, and can be operated with stylus or even gloved finger. In addition, both models offer an optional Universal Imager that delivers three-megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, 1D/2D barcode reader, OCR, and video capture.

Kinysis Rugged Tablet from DAP Technologies

This Safe Follows the Money

Sargent and Greenleaf (Nicholasville, KY), part of Stanley Security Solutions, unveiled its intelligent safe-locking system, Trak-IT, designed to help retailers and other cash-intensive businesses reduce and prevent cash losses. Trak-IT combines the manufacturer’s expertise in safe locks with RFID technology and Internet-based, real-time reporting to follow cash from the POS to deposit into the safe, to withdrawal, and ultimately to the bank. An accompanying Trak-IT Data Manager Service delivers 24/7 access to all deposit and withdrawal information and can generate predetermined exception alerts to help ensure cash policies are followed.

Three models are offered, with PC and color touchscreen: Trak-IT Basic, Trak-IT Cube, and Trak-IT BV. Trak-IT Basic represents an entry-level system through which customers can manage multiple safe locks while gaining visibility into user activity and safe status. Trak-IT Cube employs the “tamper-evident” deposit bag with an embedded RFID tag. An RFID antenna inside each depository compartment continually monitors and reports the deposit’s status, amount of deposit, cash denominations, depositor, and data and time through the Trak-IT Data Manager. Trak-IT BV adds integrated bill validators to Trak-IT Basic for automatic money counting and counterfeit bill detection. As options, Trak-IT lists receipt printer, IP Video, fingerprint biometrics, touch key, and swipe and proximity card authentication.

“Reported cash loss figures for retailers in the form of missing deposits range from 0.5% to 2% of annual sales, and for large chains that operate hundreds or thousands of locations, these types of losses become a significant problem,” maintained Bill Dempsey, President/COO of Sargent and Greenleaf. “When the deposit goes missing, either through internal theft or simply misplaced, it is usually not discovered until days later when the deposit is to be processed by the bank.” Phil Pitt, Director of Marketing, puts payback at one year for the Trak-IT system.

RFID Powers the Trak-IT System from Sargent and Greenleaf

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ALLIANCES

BlueStar Europe Enrolls Nordic ID

Nordic ID, the Finland-based manufacturer of mobile computers and handheld terminals, has signed with BlueStar Europe to distribute its products and increase its presence in the European channel. “Both concept and know-how make BlueStar the ideal partner for us,” said Atte Kaskihalme, Sales Director at Nordic ID. Plans also include an ongoing improvement of the support offered to resellers, he noted.

“BlueStar offers the complete range of renowned manufacturers in the Auto ID sector,” observed Alexander Stahl, Manager Director of BlueStar Europe (Usingen, Germany). “With Nordic ID’s portfolio, we increase our offer further. Their mobile computers rely on user-friendly design, low weight, long battery life, and standard operating system with Windows CE 6.0. All these are elements that make Nordic ID very attractive to our resellers as a manufacturer and partner.”

Nordic ID, based in Salo, “the Mobile Valley of Finland,” offers wireless data collection products with both barcode scanning and RFID capabilities, including the Nordic ID Morphic, PL3000, and RF600 Series. The company has branches in Great Britain, Germany, France, and the Benelux countries. In the U.S., Teemu Ainasoja serves as President/CEO, out of Fayetteville, Georgia. RRN.Com readers may have met Ainasoja at BlueStar’s VARTECH Show in August.

Nordic ID’s Products are Distinguishable by Blue Color Schemes, Coincidentally

Wireless Fleet Management Drafted by Army

Pendulum Services LLC (Charlestown, IN) will supply the PowerFleet and AVRamp Vehicle Management Systems from I.D. Systems (Hackensack, NJ) to the U.S. military and other U.S. government customers. Under terms of the agreement, Pendulum Services becomes an authorized partner of I.D. Systems, providing the wireless technology provider’s comprehensive industrial fleet management solutions as sales or services. Pendulum, officially designated as a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), was formed in 2002. Its sister companies include Pendulum Management Company (another VSOB) and Pendulum Resources, designated as a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Resellers hoping to profit from the government sector should become comfortable with such distinctions--and acronyms.

PowerFleet technology was successfully demonstrated at the Sierra Army Depot in California under the project termed Centralized Fleet Automated Management System (CFAMS). The test showed that CFAMS could significantly decrease vehicle maintenance costs through improved process controls, reduce fleet size by optimizing vehicle productivity, and improve safety by establishing higher levels of driver accountability. AVRamp will be used to control, track, and manage airport ground support equipment and operational vehicles. I.D. Systems’ customers now include the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Postal Service, as well as numerous private entities.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to bring the safety, cost, and efficiency benefits of wireless vehicle management technology to the U.S. military through government service contracts,” indicated Charles Saunders, Manager of Pendulum Services. “Pendulum Services will make CFAMS available to other military installations as the service-based alternative to the government’s capital purchase process. We envision a long and healthy relationship with I.D. Systems as we introduce their technology to a broad community of users.”

Vehicle Asset Communicator Links Driver, Vehicle, and Management

Code Corner

Unitech America (Cypress, CA) introduced 12Monitor, its new monitoring software that controls access to applications on Unitech mobile computers. The software has been offered free to customers and can be downloaded onto any Windows-based Unitech device. In essence, 12Monitor puts the device into kiosk mode, allowing users to access certain applications, but not the entire O/S. Locking down parts of the system prevents users from changing settings, increases security, and ensures users will be productive and efficient while running the device, according to the vendor. With 12Monitor, the mobile computer’s desktop can be completely customized with colors, icons, and logos. Instead of standard Windows desktop, the device displays up to 10 buttons labeled for the specific application the user may access. Finally, 12Monitor can be configured to fit end-user needs by locking down and providing access to any combination of applications. “12Monitor is critical software for end-users who must lock down their devices,” noted Bill Lewis, Director of Sales and Marketing for Unitech America. “We are happy to offer the software for free on our Website and know that it will benefit both resellers and end-users.”

SpeedLine Solutions (Lynden, WA) has fattened its SpeedLine POS solution with several restaurant management tools. The new release helps restaurant managers serve customers more efficiently during rush times--without manager intervention--by providing automatic updates to quoted delivery and ready times, based on the current kitchen production load and daily trends. Operators may set up new “limited time” menu items, available only between certain dates--and then forget them. The menu items disappear automatically from the POS menu at the set expiration date, but remain in the menu file so that operators can choose to extend the availability period or re-use the item later. Staff management has been made easier with an employee dashboard that gives managers instant access to scheduling tools. The new release also integrates video surveillance, closing the loss prevention loop with built-in alerts and exception reporting. “Restaurant operators are always challenged for time,” noted Jennifer Wiebe, SpeedLine’s Marketing Manager, “so we have created a set of management tools for SpeedLine POS users that can help free up time for other priorities.”

PARTNER PROGRAMS

Service Bell to Ring Louder for Dell

Dell (Round Rock, TX) will buy Perot Systems (Plano, TX) in an agreement valued at $3.9 billion ($30 per share in cash) and approved by the boards of directors of both companies. The transaction, which is subject to customary government approvals and the satisfaction of other conditions, should close in Dell’s November-January fiscal quarter. Once the acquisition is complete, Perot Systems will become Dell’s services unit and be led from Plano by Peter Altabef, the current Perot Systems CEO. Ross Perot, Jr., Perot Systems Chairman, can be expected to join Dell’s board of directors.

Over the past four quarters, Dell and Perot Systems combined for $16 billion in enterprise-hardware and IT-services revenue, with about $8 billion coming from enhanced services and support. The move points to ambitions in the healthcare market, where Perot Systems has deep penetration, in addition to its long-standing federal business. Interestingly, both IT companies founded by Ross Perot Sr. no longer stand independently--last year, Hewlett-Packard gorged itself on EDS, which has just been renamed HP Enterprise Services.

“We consider Perot Systems to be a premium asset with great people that enhances our opportunities for immediate and long-term growth,” declared Michael Dell, Chairman/CEO of Dell. “This significantly expands Dell’s enterprise-solutions capabilities and makes Perot Systems’ strengths available to even more customers around the world. There will be efficiencies from combining the companies, but the acquisition makes such great sense because of the obvious ways our businesses complement each other.”

Peter Altabef, Current Perot Systems CEO, Will Lead Dell’s Services Unit

Seeing Signs at Tech Data

Strengthening its ability to support digital signage integrators, as well as resellers just starting their own practice in this arena, Tech Data Corporation (Clearwater, FL) has announced that more than 60 members of its Sales Division are now Digital Signage Certified Experts. These Inside and Field Sales representatives join the Digital Signage and Projectors Specialized Business Unit sales and technical professionals who already have this certification, according to the distributor. Training and certification were administered by the Digital Signage Experts Group, an industry organization formed in May 2009 by Brawn Consulting to provide vendor-neutral education across disciplines such as networking, displays, software, content creation, and project rollout and management.

“Digital signage is an opportunity more and more resellers are pursuing,” confirmed Wendy Linsky, VP, Peripherals Product Marketing, at Tech Data. “However, it takes the right knowledge and expertise to design, deploy, and support effective solutions. Tech Data has the products, knowledge, and expertise to help both resellers and integrators profitably bring these dynamic solutions to market.”

Tech Data also extended its digital signage line card with distribution agreements with two vendors, Canvys (LaFox, IL) and NComputing Inc. (Redwood City, CA). Canvys, part of Richardson Electronics, serves as worldwide value-added touchscreen and protective shield integrator of branded and non-branded LCD displays. It offers VARs installation, post-sales support, maintenance, troubleshooting, calibration, and other services. In the case of NComputing, Tech Data will distribute the manufacturer’s x550 PCI card kit with vSpace software, which enables VARs to turn standard PCs into digital signage media players by integrating SmartVine monitors from LG Electronics via Cat 5 cabling. Resellers can leverage this scheme to offer quickly deployed and easily managed solutions for their SMB customers.

[Editor’s Note:  Closer to home, BlueStar has promoted digital signage solutions from Hewlett-Packard, including the bundled solution of HP LD4200 42-inch or HP LD4700 47-inch Widescreen LCDs with the HP DC7900 computer. Time for POS VARs to get serious about digital signage, no?]

Wendy Linsky, VP, Peripherals Product Marketing, Tech Data

A (Cyber)Source for Payment Developers

CyberSource Corporation (Mountain View, CA) has launched an upgraded Authorize.Net Developer Center, its Website dedicated to the developer community addressing electronic payments for the SMB market. The new site features technical and marketing resources, including community message boards designed to offer peer-to-peer support for developers participating in the Authorize.Net Affiliate Reseller Program, certification programs, or using an Authorize.Net Application Programming Interface (API) to integrate their products and solutions to the Authorize.Net Payment Gateway. The boards are open to anyone and simply require registration, according to the company.

“The developer community is one of our fastest-growing audiences,” reported John Bodine, VP of Sales and Marketing for Authorize.Net. “We deeply appreciate the contribution our developers have made to Authorize.Net, and we’re committed to giving them all the tools and information they need to help them go to market and maximize their revenue potential. We hope the new site will become a hub of activity for our developers and that they will visit as often as the content evolves and the community grows.”

Authorize.Net offers three developer and solution provider certification programs: Certified Solution Provider, for those who offer products that directly integrate to the Authorize.Net Payment Gateway; Certified Developer, for those who provide custom integrations for merchant Websites or products; and Certified Hosting Partner, for companies that provide hosting services for Authorize.Net merchants. Its Authorize.Net Affiliate Reseller Program welcomes “any business that serves merchant customers--shopping cart developers, POS, wireless and Web developers, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).” CyberSource provides electronic payment processing for Web, call center, and POS environments. It bought Authorize.Net for $565 million in 2007.

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Auto ID Distribution
BlueStar
ScanSource

POS & Peripherals
FEC USA
Logic Controls
Pioneer POS
POS-X

Barcode & Mobile Printers
Datamax-O'Neil

Cash Drawers
MMF Cash Drawer

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

Data Collection Software
Wavelink

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems

MICR Check Printers/Self-Service Kiosks
Source Technologies

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
Star Micronics

Retail Software
InfoTouch
Logivision

Screen Protection
3M Optical Filters

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

Video Surveillance & Access Control
ScanSource Security

CERTIFICATION

Faster 3G for CN50 and CN4

Intermec (Everett, WA) announced that its CN50 and CN4 have become the first rugged mobile computers meeting Mil-Spec testing standards to be approved for use on the new AT&T GSM/HSPA 3G network. Intermec CN50 and CN4 customers can transmit and receive cell-phone quality voice calls, and simultaneously use data speeds that are faster than any other rugged mobile computers on the market today, according to the two parties. These broadband data capabilities enhance the mobile computer experience with large data file transfers as well as interactive video applications.

“AT&T takes pride in delivering solutions that meet business customers’ needs for applications and ruggedized mobile computers that enhance their field operations and improve productivity of employees in the most demanding environments,” stated Abhi Ingle, VP, Industry and Mobility Application Solutions, AT&T Business Solutions. “We are proud to extend our business alliance with Intermec as they have been critical to our entrance into many vertical industries such as transportation, retail, and field services.”

“Through this certification our joint customers can more quickly, efficiently, and reliably leverage the most data intensive enterprise applications, maximizing service and delivery performance for field mobility applications,” added Pat Byrne, President/CEO at Intermec. “Intermec has a long heritage in the wide-area wireless rugged mobile computing market, as we were the first manufacturer to be certified on the AT&T network with our 700 Series. We look forward to expanding our relationship as both companies continue leadership in our respective industries.”

[Editor’s Note:  AT&T also has shipped its 3G MicroCell, which basically puts an Internet-based, tiny cell phone tower into your office or home to remedy spotty 3G service. Cisco provides the hardware, which covers 5,000 square feet, and Charlotte, North Carolina, has been chosen for initial rollout.]

AT&T Welcomes Intermec Handhelds to High Speed Network

MasterCard Rewards Trustwave

Trustwave (Chicago), which seems to be everywhere these days, has been accredited to perform compliance evaluations for MasterCard’s Point of Sale Terminal Security (PTS) Program. MasterCard PTS covers the POS terminal and applications that transmit card data across an open Internet Protocol (IP) or wireless connection. Security evaluation verifies that POS devices meet relevant requirements in terms of confidentiality, integrity, and communicating parties’ authentication. This complements efforts such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and PCI PIN Entry Devices (PED).

“Protecting the payment application landscape from malicious attacks is just one aspect of credit card security to which merchants must adhere,” offered Robert McCullen, Chairman/CEO at Trustwave. “Trustwave had to pass the skills test and secure its testing lab in order to gain approval to perform evaluations on compliance. We are very proud to have been certified by MasterCard and are happy to offer it as a service to our customers.”

Earlier this month, Trustwave announced it had purchased Vericept (Denver), one of the leading providers of Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and Intellectual Property Protection solutions. Vericept’s DLP solution revolves around its Content Analysis Engine, which identifies and compares content against policy, helps to detect, classify, and monitor structured and unstructured content, and specifically supports standards such as PCI DSS, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), and GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Modernization Act). This patented technology extends to data-in-motion to address Web 2.0 threats through blogs, social networking sites, and Web mail. David Parkinson, former CEO of Vericept, became Trustwave’s GM of Security Services.

The Trustwave Seal of Approval

Channel Factoid

The number of community banks offering merchant Remote Deposit Capture (RDC) is expected to jump from 62% today to 78% by 2011. Not surprisingly, RDC adoption rates are strongest among the largest community banks, with 97% of those with more than $500 million in assets offering merchant RDC, versus 32% of community banks with assets of less than $100 million. While debit cards ranked as the most important payments vehicle, with checks the second most important, the outside fraud associated with both products challenges community banks, according to the 2009 ICBA Community Bank Payments Survey, conducted every two years. Fully 91% of respondents cited the need to reissue debit cards due to fraud, with 78% reporting monetary fraud loss. In the case of checks, 56% of community banks experienced monetary fraud losses last year. Overall, more than half of community banks (52%) increased their payments-related spending, while only one in ten (11%) decreased spending. “It’s evident that most community banks now understand the benefits their investments in payment technology bring to operational efficiency for both the bank and the customer,” mused Viveca Ware, ICBA SVP of Payments and Technology Policy.

MILESTONES

3M’s Name Shines More Brightly

3M’s Optical Systems Division (St. Paul, MN) has received the Alliance to Save Energy’s “Innovative Star of Energy Efficiency” Award for its Vikuiti Dual Brightness Enhancement Film for LCD TVs and monitors. Since 1993, the Alliance to Save Energy, a non-profit coalition of business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders, has recognized the efforts of “those working to save energy, money, and the planet.” The Innovative Star Award, as its name would suggest, recognizes an emerging technology that has the potential to transform an industry sector.

3M’s Vikuiti Dual Brightness Enhancement Film, or DBEF, recycles light normally absorbed by the polarizer inside LCD TVs and monitors. Recycling this light maximizes the brightness of LCDs and reduces the number of watts required to operate TVs and monitors. By utilizing this multi-layer reflective polarizer, manufacturers can eliminate two or more bulbs in the backlight assembly of these units, increasing overall energy efficiency as much as 32%.

“Power consumption has become an increasingly important issue in today’s electronic devices,” commented Mike Kelly, 3M’s EVP of Display and Graphics. “We remain committed to innovation and diversified focus in energy efficiency. In fact, 3M has created its division to solely focus on this effort--our 3M Renewable Energy Division.”

George Buckley, 3M’s CEO, Receives Innovative Star of Energy Efficiency Award

You’re Okay, RSPA Tells Preh

PrehKeyTec (Buffalo Grove, IL) has been named an RSPA Certified Retail Technology Provider by the Retail Solutions Providers Association (Charlotte, NC). According to RSPA, PrehKeyTec has demonstrated its “commitment to excellence and an exceptional level of professionalism.” In addition, Preh has been designated as “ethical and fair and stands behind the products and services they sell and support.” To date, two dozen companies have received the new RSPA blessing, including three vendors--PrehKeyTec, Posiflex Business Machines, and VeriFone--and 21 POS resellers.

“RSPA is very pleased to bring an industry association supported certification program to the retail technology marketplace,” said Joe Finizio, RSPA President/CEO. “This program was developed to set and maintain the bar of professionalism for retail technology vendors and resellers. PrehKeyTec has proven its worthiness of this certification by demonstrating superior products and customer service.”

Stephen Bergeron, President of PrehKeyTec USA, stated, “We have long been supporters of the RSPA and its goals as our retail association. We were excited in July to learn of the certification program and were quick to respond. Achieving the certification further strengthens the Preh brand and validates our commitment to the retail industry. We are proud to be recognized by the RSPA.”

[Editor’s Note:  RSPA also announced its Thought Leadership Summit, Inspire 2010, will be held in Cancun, Mexico, on February 7-10. For more information, or to register, click here.]

Preh’s MCI3100 Telephony Keyboard