This Week’s Product Pick

Epson America (Long Beach, CA) unwrapped its TM-T70 thermal receipt printer, the industry’s only all-front-access single-station printer. With front-facing controls, front paper loading, and front receipt dispensing--as well as small footprint (not quite 4.5 inches high) and flexible mounting options--the TM-T70 meets the requirements of any space-limited environment. Target markets include specialty retail, convenience store, and foodservice, as well as kiosk applications. The TM-T70 follows Epson’s best-selling TM-T88 Series and represents the first of three new Epson thermal products to be introduced over the next two quarters. Features include: superior spill resistance via sealed top with an optional cable management system for foodservice; high-speed printing of receipts and graphics, including 2D, at 170 millimeters per second and 180-dpi resolution; reliability backed by two-year warranty, MCBF of 52 million lines, and autocutter life of 1.5 million cuts; and easy integration through Connect-It interface options such as USB, Serial, Parallel, Ethernet, and wireless. In addition, the TM-T70 can be used in any setting with the TM-T88 Series, in support of existing software applications. “Our retail and foodservice customers expressed the need for a compact thermal printer designed to fit small spaces, like under a counter,” commented Mike Helm, Director of Sales and Marketing, Epson Systems Device Group. “We designed the TM-T70 with our customers in mind, with easy, all-front access and the same solid reliability they expect from Epson. There’s no other printer like it.” For more information, click here.

TM-T70 from Epson America

Worth Your While

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

RSPA Inspire 2010
Retail Solutions Providers Association
February 7-10, 2010
Cancun, Mexico

Connect 2010
Radiant Retail User Conference
February 24-26, 2010
Atlanta

ALL IN THE FAMILY

MC3100 Emerges from Motorola

Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions (Holtsville, NY) has introduced its MC3100 Series of mobile computer, which leverages the ergonomic and lightweight rugged design of the popular MC3000 and adds more computing power, advanced data capture capabilities, and innovative motion-sensing functionality. The MC3100 incorporates the Marvell XScale PXA320@624-MHz processor and runs both Windows Mobile 6.1 and Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Pro. Customers may choose from the Symbol SE950 1D laser scanner or the Symbol SE4500 1D/2D imager and from three keyboards and three distinct form factors (brick, brick with rotating turret, and gun). Targeted at mid-range, “within the walls” customer environments, the MC3100 carries 802.11a/b/g tri-mode radio, Bluetooth V2.1 with EDR, and Voice-Over-WLAN support, and operates on Motorola’s Mobile Platform Architecture 2.0.

The motion-sensing feature is particularly interesting. Utilizing Motorola’s MAX Sensor, the MC3100 automatically reverts to sleep mode when not in use or if the touchscreen display is face down. This integrated accelerometer also detects and logs device drops and allows the display to dynamically rotate or switch between portrait and landscape modes based on the orientation of the device, enhancing employee productivity and expediting applications such as signature capture. Lastly, the MC3100 comes equipped with an integrated UHF RFID tag which allows customers to track the movement and location of their mobile computers.

“Motorola’s legacy of excellence in design and ergonomics continues with the MC3100 mobile computer--helping organizations increase productivity, streamline operations, and reduce Total Cost of Ownership,” said Gerald McNerney, VP of Mobile Computing Product Management, Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions. “With an MC3100 in their hands, in-building mobile workers across multiple industries will have an ergonomically superior device that provides access to better information to make better decisions, all resulting in better outcomes.”

For more information on the MC3100, click here.

MC3100 from Motorola Enterprise Mobility Solutions

POS-X Rolls Out EVO Printer

POS-X, Inc. (Bellingham, WA) unveiled its EVO thermal receipt printer, the latest member of its recently released “Extreme Value-Oriented” product family. The new printer features 160-millimeter-per-second print speed and 180-dpi resolution for text and graphics, ESC/POS and OPOS compatibility, JamFree Autocutter Technology, and interface cable standard with all models. Multiple interfaces are offered, including USB (EVO-RP1-U), USB/Parallel (EVO-RP1-UP), USB/Serial (EVO-RP1-US), and USB/Ethernet (EVO-RP1-UE). Sensors are provided for Paper End, Cover Open, Paper Low, and Black Mark.

“There are a growing number of low-cost options, and the new EVO thermal receipt printer trumps them all,” stated Karl Schoessler, VP of POS-X. “We’ve done our homework, and I can guarantee our customers will be satisfied with the quality and performance level the EVO thermal receipt printer has to offer.”

All EVO products include core level specifications that meet industry requirements, yet deliver industry-leading prices to meet all budgets, according to POS-X. In addition, all EVO products carry POS-X’s Two Day Advanced Replacement Protection free of charge for the entire three-year warranty. POS-X launched the new product line last month with the EVO TouchPC and EVO Touch Monitor. For more information on the EVO thermal receipt printer, click here.

EVO Thermal Receipt Printer from POS-X

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STARTS & STOPS

Feeling Secure at Ingram Micro

Ingram Micro (Santa Ana, CA) has launched its new Physical Security Division to help VARs and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in this burgeoning area. Led by Tom Burns, Director, Ingram Micro North America, the new division brings together an extensive portfolio of physical security products and services in an attempt to address the emerging trend of integrated security solutions, according to the distributor. It intends to pursue four primary technologies: alarm and fire, monitoring services, access control, and video surveillance.

“We’ve been watching the growing convergence of IT security and physical security and have established this division in anticipation of their eventual synthesis,” declared Keith Bradley, President, Ingram Micro North America. “The launch of this security division is another example of our continuing efforts to expand our reach and bring value and focus to new and adjacent markets.”

As part of Ingram Micro’s Physical Security Division, channel partners in the U.S. and Canada will benefit from specialized technical advice, pre-and post-sales support, and configuration and integration services, as well as training, education, and marketing resources to help drive business. In addition, IT manufacturers who specialize in this field, such as Axis Communications, Cisco, Sony, and Panasonic, will be given an opportunity to expand their reach across new markets and customers. Rich Donohue, VP of Strategic Development and Execution, Ingram Micro North America, cited “more focus” and “an easier way to engage with Ingram Micro across the board to proactively address the needs of customers.”

Keith Bradley, President, Ingram Micro North America

Digital Signage Shrink-Wrapped by Tatung

Tatung Company of America (Long Beach, CA) will release two new digital signage bundles for the channel. The two bundles, Independent and Enterprise, come with 42-inch monitor, media player, and most significantly, end-user content creation software. The Enterprise package adds management software for scheduling, monitoring, and controlling content across multiple signage locations, allowing service to be scaled. Tatung will take the bundles to market through its resellers and through distributors such as BlueStar (Hebron, KY).

“Digital signage is the latest and greatest vehicle to support marketing efforts, but because of content creation costs the technology is too expensive for the average store or restaurant owner,” John Sherry, National Accounts and Marketing Manager, USA and Canada, told RRN.Com. “These bundles make it affordable and cost-effective for small businesses. Users will no longer have to pay for creation of content. They will be able to create it themselves.”

Targeted at retail, hospitality, and healthcare, these bundles allow SMB end-users to highlight specific products and promotions, and open up opportunities for resellers to broaden their offerings in this discipline. Public and internal information such as news, weather, or corporate message can be created in minutes with the end-user content software, according to Sherry. Once created, content can be instantly viewed via the 42-inch monitor, which Tatung introduced earlier this year.

Tatung Digital Signage Hardware

Code Corner

Retail Hero (Vancouver, BC, Canada), the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and developer of add-on software solutions for Microsoft Dynamics RMS, has released Hero Points Version 3.0. The Hero Points solution enables retailers to award customer loyalty points for purchases made that can be redeemed for discounts on future purchases. Hero Points 3.0 offers variable mode point collection, which enables retailers to assign points per dollar value to individual items, entire categories, or departments with effective date ranges. In addition, “welcome points” give retailers the flexibility to award additional points to new customers. Finally, the new, modern, visual interface better matches the needs of today’s retailers. “We’ve listened to customer feedback on how to make Hero Points even better and have incorporated many of their requests in the latest evolution of our software,” stated Anthony Ludmilin, CEO of Retail Hero. “Version 3.0 includes more than 15 new product features that give our customers flexible, easy-to-use options to more effectively market to their customers.”

3PL Central (Manhattan Beach, CA) has added 4PL Plus to its flagship 3PL Warehouse Manager for third-party logistics firms. 4PL Plus allows remote, partner, and other fourth-party warehouses to manage customer inventories in real-time. It features special privacy controls and full warehouse functionality--shipping, receiving, reporting, and even billing management. Without any need for additional hardware or software, 3PLs are able to activate and configure the new 4PL Plus module within one day, allowing their partners to handle product immediately, according to the SaaS provider. “The new 4PL Plus feature is very useful indeed,” shared Jacob Bech-Hansen, VP at Universal Shipping, Inc. (Pomona, CA). “It has eliminated the majority of all communication delays from our partner warehouses. Now, customer updates which previously took 24 to 48 hours to complete are communicated immediately.”

CERTIFICATION

Smart Power “Lines Up” Posiflex

Posiflex USA (Hayward, CA) has certified Smart Power Systems’ line-up of power protection products following tests by its engineers to ensure satisfactory performance. For POS, Smart Power (Houston) offers its Smart Power Guardian and Smart Cord devices, which exploit the company’s patented Transformer-Based Filter (TBF) technology. Smart Cord targets environments where computer grade filtering is required but space is limited. This power conditioner employs “smart ground” technology to eliminate ground loop current in networked systems. POS Guardian offers comprehensive power protection for mission-critical equipment.

“We are excited to have Smart Power Systems’ power protection equipment certified to work with Posiflex POS systems and peripherals,” related Dana Davis, National Sales Manager for Smart Power, which now joins the Posiflex roster of third-party valued partners. “We are confident that bundling our power quality products with Posiflex POS systems will provide increased margin opportunity for our POS reseller community.”

“Posiflex USA is pleased to have Smart Power Systems join our network of strategic hardware partners,” added Tim Becerra, EVP at Posiflex USA. “We look forward to working with Smart Power Systems and value the added security their power protection equipment can provide to our channel associates and their customers.”

POS Guardian Power Filter Solution from Smart Power Systems

An App Layer for Vigilix

Vigilix (Greenville, SC) has completed technical integration of the Guest Snapshot enterprise reporting application from GuestMetrics (Leesburg, VA) for use with its Total Support Manager/Virtual Technician remote monitoring and control solution. This enhanced capability allows POS VARs to offer above-store enterprise reporting to their customers despite the use of various POS systems, and represents “the first partnership where we can leverage our agent to deploy and configure another application,” Bradley Smith, VP of Sales and Marketing for Vigilix, told RRN.Com. According to Smith, Vigilix intends to pursue this “app store” concept with other companies addressing the needs of the POS world. Total Support Manager/Virtual Technician, RRN.Com readers may recall, delivers real-time monitoring, alerting, and remote control for POS through its Web-based user console.

Guest Snapshot provides multi-store restaurant operators comparative reporting on key metrics, labor cost, fraud detection, employee performance, and promotional campaigns. By using the information available in these reports, restaurant owners can improve menu options, gauge promotion effectiveness, and identify training issues and employee problems. GuestMetrics currently supplies its technology to national accounts such as Chili’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Friday’s, and Marriott.

“In today’s environment, restaurant owners are trying to do everything they can to be as profitable as possible,” noted Andrew Kurtz, CEO at Vigilix. “Guest Snapshot provides them with the information they need to stop guessing and start knowing if what they are doing is having an impact. Our dealers know a lot about restaurant operations. This reporting tool allows them to work with their customers to understand the data and to help identify efficiencies in their operations--efficiencies that can lead to profits.”

Labor Reporting Screen from GuestMetrics

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
pcCashDrawer
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

Keyboards
Cherry Electrical Systems

MICR Check Printers/Self-Service Kiosks
Source Technologies

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
Star Micronics

Retail Software
InfoTouch

Screen Protection
3M Optical Filters

Video Surveillance & Access Control
ScanSource Security

ALLIANCES

Tag Team Payment Processing

Two payment processing heavyweights, First Data (Atlanta) and VeriFone (San Jose, CA) have partnered to “promote and enhance secure payment solutions.” Under the relationship, First Data has become a preferred distributor and reseller of VeriFone’s countertop payment solutions in the U.S., through First Data’s TASQ Technology subsidiary. TASQ (Rocklin, CA) delivers value-added repair, maintenance, and deployment services for payment devices to merchants of all sizes.

In turn, VeriFone will design, build, and manufacture new, high-volume, co-branded countertop payment systems that will expand First Data’s line of payment solutions. Together the two companies will explore other opportunities, including non-U.S. reseller and distribution relationships, EMV countertop products, and Class A certification of additional VeriFone devices. TASQ deals in big numbers, by the way. Last summer, it expanded its relationship with Hypercom and announced plans to purchase and roll out for resale up to 100,000 countertop and mobile payment terminals over 12 months.

“We are pleased that two leaders of the payment industry are working together to better serve the merchant community,” said Ed Labry, President of Retail and Alliance Services at First Data. According to Douglas Bergeron, CEO of VeriFone, “First Data’s confidence in VeriFone is a tremendous honor and we will work diligently to continue to validate that trust.”

Douglas Bergeron, CEO of VeriFone

[Editor’s Note:  Similarly, in pursuit of “end-to-end encryption,” VeriFone has joined forces with Chase Paymentech and Semtek. The companies will work together to market and distribute VeriFone’s VeriShield Protect solution to the Chase Paymentech base of retail merchants. Semtek supplies its proprietary swipe encryption technology.]

Windows to RFID Open at Newport Digital

Newport Digital Technologies, Inc. (Newport Beach, CA), which seeks to deliver cutting-edge technologies through strategic collaboration, has signed the licensing agreement with Microsoft (Redmond, WA) to develop applications for the Windows Mobile platform. In addition, Newport, which refers to itself as NPDT, reports progress in their distribution agreement previously announced with Ingram Micro (Santa Ana, CA), which will serve as its initial primary sales channel. NPDT’s strategic partners include two Taiwan-based R&D technology incubators, the Institute for Information Industry (III) and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).

With Windows Mobile, NPDT plans to extend the capabilities of RFID across the entire spectrum of asset tracking, inventory management, and POS. The company’s first product is the N37B ruggedized handheld RFID reader and computing device that was unveiled this week at the Voluntary Inter-Industry Commerce Solutions Association (VICS) conference hosted by the University of Arkansas’ RFID Research Center (which NPDT sponsors). The N37B will soon add 3G cellular communications and GPS-based location and navigation capabilities, according to its manufacturer, thereby further enhancing the opportunities for ISVs.

“Newport Digital has developed truly innovative RFID technologies and we are thrilled to work with them to being these to the Windows Mobile platform,” indicated Daren Mancini, GM in the Windows Mobile Sales Division at Microsoft. In the view of Gary DeMel, NPDT’s CEO, this licensing agreement may prove to be the springboard that launches Newport Digital into name recognition in the wireless space. DeMel previously served as Intel’s Senior Director of Worldwide Sales and Business Development.

Gary DeMel, CEO, Newport Digital Technologies

Channel Factoid

Worldwide industry vertical market IT spending is projected to total $2.28 trillion in 2009, 6.8% below 2008, according to Gartner. Analysts predict the market will return to positive numbers in 2010, when it will grow at 2.3% to reach $2.34 trillion. Financial services will lead all industry vertical markets, with IT spending totaling $502.6 billion in 2009; however, this segment will decline 8.3%. The agriculture, mining, and construction market will experience the steepest decline in IT spending this year, dropping 9.2%. The national and international government industry will show the slowest decline in IT spending as revenue decreases 3.6%. IT spending in the retail trade area is projected to fall from $147.2 billion in 2008 to $136.5 billion in 2009, or 7.2%. “Our expectations for when the market will return to positive growth in IT spending--and for how strong that grow will be--vary significantly by industry sector, with the majority of industries expected to enter a period of sustained, positive growth in 2011,” said Kenneth Brant, Research Director at Gartner. “The three largest industry segments in 2008--financial services, manufacturing, and government--will remain the largest industry markets worldwide through 2013.”

INSTALLATION

CipherLab Hits the Books

CipherLab (Plano, TX) has supplied its Model 1166 Wireless BT scanners to COMPanion Corporation (Salt Lake City, UT) for use in library automation in the U.S. and in overseas countries such as Saudi Arabia, Japan, Chile, and Mexico. COMPanion’s two products, Alexandria and Textbook Tracker, have been paired with the CipherLab 1166 to manage book inventory and circulation within both libraries and classrooms. This joint solution helps schools cut their textbook losses by 50% or more, according to the two parties.

“Overall, the 1166 has proven to be extremely durable, easy to use, and flexible, resulting in increased productivity for school employees,” reported Randy Everill, Hardware Selection Team Manager at COMPanion. “Since the 1166 requires minimal training and is not overly complex, our customers say they can be up and running in a matter of minutes. Furthermore, its wireless range enables employees to update information in real-time from anywhere in the library. When librarians need to go to remote book storage locations, they can utilize the 1166’s large memory mode to store information until they return within communications range.”

The CipherLab 1166 supplies safe and fast image reading within its wireless range of up to 328 feet, according to the vendor. It can capture up to 256 scans while out of range, or work in batch mode and store up to 8,195 scans. It supports multiple interfaces such as RS-232, USB HID, and keyboard wedge, and communicates with any host with BT Class 2 profile. Windows-based ScanMaster software facilitates set-up. Finally, the charging/communications cradle can simultaneously handle up to seven individual scanners.

CipherLab’s 1166 Wireless Linear Imaging Scanner