This Week’s Product Pick

POS-X, Inc. (Bellingham, WA) shipped its general-purpose VLINE LED barcode scanner with entry-level pricing and mid-level performance. With its 4.3-inch depth of field, 4.7-inch maximum barcode width, and 200 barcodes per second processing engine, VLINE is the perfect choice for end-users on tight budgets, according to the vendor. Available in USB, the gun integrates with all major POS or inventory management systems for easy plug-and-play operation. It features 2-megapixel CCD sensor with 4-mil resolution and 660-nm visible red LED. This impact-resistant scanner withstands multiple drops from 6.5 feet onto concrete and contains no moving parts, ensuring high reliability. Further, its lightweight ergonomic design--measuring 6.7 inches long and 2.6 inches wide and weighing 5.1 oz. with cable--makes the VLINE barcode scanner suitable for extended periods of use. “Targeted towards the contact scanner market, our new Value Line scanner offers greater depth of field and higher maximum barcode width than its competitors,” observed Karl Schoessler, Vice President of POS-X. “All Value Line products include core level specifications that meet industry requirements, yet deliver prices to meet all budgets. In addition, they carry POS-X’s industry-leading Two-Day Advanced Replacement Protection free of charge for the entire three-year warranty.”

VLINE Scanner from POS-X

Worth Your While

FMI Show
Food Marketing Institute
May 10-13
Las Vegas

WERC Annual Conference
Warehousing Education and Research Council
May 16-19
Anaheim, CA

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

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

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Xenon Marks Honeywell’s Spot

Honeywell Scanning & Mobility (Fort Mill, SC) introduced Xenon, the company’s sixth generation of handheld area-imaging scanner. Significantly, Xenon marries two proven methodologies, Adaptus Imaging Technology and Omniplanar SwiftDecoder software, to extend depth of field, shorten read time, and boost throughput and processing, according to the company. Additional differentiators for Xenon are its custom sensor, optimized for barcodes and manufactured exclusively for Honeywell, and its single-board internal infrastructure for critical components, which improves serviceability and reliability. Two models of Xenon have been configured: the Corded 1900 and the Bluetooth-enabled 1902.

Xenon also comes equipped with Honeywell’s TotalFreedom development platform, which expands functionality by allowing image processing, decoding, and formatting application plug-ins to be loaded directly to the scanner instead of the host system. Additionally, the device is compatible with Honeywell’s Remote MasterMind scanner management scheme for IT administration, software upgrades, and asset tracking. Finally, EZConfig, Honeywell’s new scanner configuration package with an intuitive Graphical User Interface, has been launched along with Xenon.

“The Xenon series is not only a major advancement in our scanning portfolio, but also the industry, as it brings the best of two worlds together to form a scanning platform with next-generation capabilities,” declared Darius Adamczyk, President of Honeywell Scanning & Mobility. “In our internal testing, Xenon outperformed the other scanners tested in a wide variety of use case scenarios. We look forward to offering our customers this series of feature-rich scanners that will reshape the AIDC industry.” For more information on Xenon, click here

New Xenon Area-Imaging Scanner from Honeywell

Wavelink Reboots ConnectPro

Wavelink Corporation (Midvale, UT) has strengthened its Wavelink ConnectPro, formerly known as TermProxy, which allows mobile users to stay connected to host systems in all environments across Wi-Fi and WLAN. The new release of ConnectPro, which works with Wavelink Terminal Emulation, delivers several significant enhancements. Specifically, it upgrades to OpenSSL 09.8m, adds support for hosts with multiple consecutive ports, improves Telnet client protocol to better detect whether network disconnects are intentional or caused by network errors, and boosts traffic compression between ConnectPro and Wavelink Telnet clients.

ConnectPro eliminates lost data due to dropped connections because the server software maintains the session, even if the device goes to sleep or the connection gets lost. Mobile devices can roam freely in and out of wireless coverage, survive device reboot or battery charge while maintaining application state, and seamlessly reconnect to the host and existing sessions. These properties are crucial in business environments where users must maintain constant application connectivity or where wireless coverage is poor, emphasized the developer.

“As a leader in device management, we are always looking for ways to help our customers increase automation, productivity, and efficiency,” shared Jay Cichosz, Director of Marketing. “Wavelink pioneered wireless connection persistence almost 20 years ago, and we continue to deliver innovative features that help our customers maintain connectivity even in the most demanding of environments. It’s peace of mind for our customers.” For more information on ConnectPro, click here.

Significant Enhancements to Wireless Persistence

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INTEGRATION

MICROS-Retail Knotted to MerchantWARE

Merchant Warehouse (Boston) has tied its MerchantWARE BINsmart payment processing tool to the MICROS-Retail Xstore Java POS. With this integration, merchants can save up to 12% on interchange fees, according to the developer, as well as enhance cardholder data protection through an out-of-the-box solution with tokenization and SSL connections. MICROS-Retail systems are currently installed in 20,000 stories in 30 countries, opening up significant market opportunities for Merchant Warehouse.

Merchant Warehouse’s BINsmart can help process transactions at the lowest possible cost by automatically identifying the card type being used in the transaction, and prompting debit card users to enter their PIN. Interchange fees make up the majority of the typical merchant’s processing expenses, but since PIN-debit transactions are not processed on the interchange networks, as opposed to credit, such transactions are less expensive. Once the transaction is run through the MICROS-Retail POS terminal, all sensitive card data is transported via an encrypted SSL connection to the Merchant Warehouse payment gateway where data gets tokenized and returned to the POS terminal for final resolution.

“MICROS-Retail is best-in-class for POS systems in the retail market,” related Henry Helgeson, Co-CEO of Merchant Warehouse. “I believe our MerchantWARE and BINsmart integration with MICROS-Retail creates a wonderful product for the small to medium-sized retailer that requires minimal integration and support and delivers excellent cost savings. With Merchant Warehouse, the SMB retailer has a very powerful, easy-to-manage, payment processing option that helps them best administer their costs and daily operations.”

Henry Helgeson, Co-CEO at Merchant Warehouse

AirVersent Atop PEAK

PEAK Technologies (Columbia, MD) has turned to AirVersent (Owings Mills, MD) to extend its supply chain management capability to field-based, mobile workers. Under terms of the agreement, AirVersent will provide its 20/20 Delivery software product, which receives order information from back-office systems, makes the data accessible to drivers on mobile handheld devices, and then relays order status back to the central system in real-time as drivers execute their route assignments. PEAK Technologies will handle all facets of engineering, project management, and service and support for this extended mobility platform, including selection, provisioning, and kitting of mobile devices and printers.

“PEAK’s partnership with AirVersent allows us to enhance and expand our current warehouse and supply chain automation solutions with this mobile capability tailored to wholesale and food distribution, third-party logistics, and other delivery-intensive markets,” commented Tim Wills, VP of Marketing for PEAK Technologies. “We believe our customers will see tremendous value in PEAK as the single-source strategic partner for eliminating paperwork, reducing costs, improving operational efficiencies, and enabling real-time data processing for applications both within, and beyond, the four walls of their supply chain operations.”

PEAK Technologies, as many RRN.Com readers know, functions under the Platinum Equity Company imprimatur. Platinum Equity also has announced that Covad Communications, which it owns, will merge with MegaPath. Pending federal and state regulatory approvals, the transaction will fuse Covad’s national IP broadband footprint with MegaPath’s complete suite of managed data, voice, and security services. “By leveraging the strengths of each company, we will provide customers and partners with expanded expertise, broader innovative services, and a powerful network that simplifies the way they communicate and conduct business online,” declared D. Craig Young, MegaPath’s CEO and the new Executive Chairman of the combined entity.

Code Corner

Teklynx (Milwaukee) presented LabelNet, its configurable, server-based web interface that controls workflow access to production labels and allows printing from any network-accessible workstation. LabelNet pulls key printer and label data from the LabelNet database, such as printer names, work order, and product information, and displays it through Internet Explorer. When the user finalizes the label, the information gets processed via Sentinel, LabelArchive, and CodeSoft, before sending to the printer. This ensures that label designs are consistently used and an audit trail has been generated. Contents of web forms are defined by workstation location and the user’s access rights. (Users are prompted to enter variable information that isn’t known until print time, such as weight.) Overall, the icon-based web interface makes it simpler to select and preview labels before they are printed, minimizing errors and time spent on such tasks, according to the developer. Further, LabelNet helps meet 21 CFR Part 11 and other compliance requirements by tracking print history and label access across the organization. The new product can be configured to fit existing business processes or updated to accommodate any process changes, with both Windows Server 2003 and 2009 x32/x64 supported. A free, no-obligation demo has been offered by the Teklynx sales team.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Expanding Ecosystem for Autotask

Busy times for Autotask Corporation (East Greenbush, NY), provider of IT business management software for VARs and MSPs, which has been dubbed Professional Services Automation, or PSA. First the company bought the cloud-based VARStreet electronic procurement platform, which currently supports almost $1 billion in IT product sales annually, according to its new owner. Three products were immediately offered to the channel by Autotask: VARStreet XC Platform, VARStreet Back-Office, and VARStreet e-Commerce. At its core, VARStreet delivers dynamically updated feeds from 18 major distributors, allowing VARs to create their own custom product catalogs for each of their customers from among hundreds of thousands of IT SKUs.

“This technology is now available for any VAR or MSP that wants to make more money selling products--not just the VAR 500,” said Bob Godgart, Autotask’s Founder and CEO, in addressing the common perception that VARStreet has not penetrated down-tier in the channel. “That’s why we’ve introduced the VARStreet Back-Office product at just $99 per month and the VARStreet e-Commerce product, which also includes e-Storefront, starting at $299 per month. Every day, customers are going online to buy IT products, accessories, consumables, and supplies. This is the perfect opportunity for VARs to create new revenue streams for themselves with very little work. Orders come in from the stores, are drop-shipped directly from the distributor, and the VAR gets paid. No touch. All margin.”

In the second development, Autotask has been tied into SonicWALL’s Global Management System for network devices through an Application Programming Interface (API) introduced at the end of 2009 as part of Version 6.0 of SonicWALL GMS. Information such as customer account, contract details, and support license expiration now gets imported from SonicWALL GMS into the Autotask system. MSPintegrations (La Habra, CA) built this bridge with their cloud-based integration platform, and Autotask represents the first third-party application to be added to the SonicWALL ecosystem in this manner, according to the two major parties.

Bob Godgart, Founder and CEO, Autotask Corporation

Catalina Marketing Goes Digital

Catalina Marketing (St. Petersburg, FL) has furthered its push into emerging in-store delivery platforms with the purchase of Invenda Corporation’s pair of digital-couponing businesses, E-centives and Collabrys. For Catalina Marketing, the new properties bring three critical elements to the table: established technology, experienced industry professionals, and an extensive portfolio of intellectual property and patents. Invenda (Bethesda, MD) will retain its ConsumerReview business unit and affiliated websites.

“Delivering relevant communications to the right audience, and measuring the performance of marketing spends, is at the core of all our business initiatives,” pointed out Dick Buell, Catalina Marketing’s Chairman/CEO. “We are excited about extending this level of shopper understanding and shopper value to the digital space for our consumer packaged goods (CPG), food, drug, and mass partners. We believe this acquisition will accelerate efforts to link various forms of online advertising, mobile communications, and video couponing to support our brand partners’ overall objectives.”

This move follows Catalina’s recent appointment of Chris Henger as EVP for Digital Services. Henger joins the company from Google’s Affiliate Network business, originally part of the Google acquisition of DoubleClick in 2008. In addition, Catalina has released results of its mobile-coupon beta test with ShopRite and 60 CPG manufacturers, which indicates “double-to-triple-digit lifts” in incremental sales volume for participating brands.

Catalina Serves an Audience of 90 Million Households and 300 Million Weekly Transactions

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.

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

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Janam Sees No Fallout from Palm

HP’s purchase of Palm carries no ramifications for users of the Palm OS, according to Harry Lerner, CEO of Janam (Woodbury, NY), which has enjoyed success from its XP20 and XP30 mobile computers running the operating system. As most RRN.Com readers know by now, HP scooped up Palm last week to spearhead its push into the smart phone and connected mobile device markets. Included in the deal was the webOS mobile operating system--not Palm OS, Lerner points out.

“Palm OS is an operating system that is not owned by Palm Inc.,” Lerner reminded RRN.Com. “Like Janam, Palm Inc. licenses the Palm OS from ACCESS, the Japanese software company that acquired PalmSource Inc. in 2005. Thus, licensees of the Palm OS are not affected by the purchase of Palm Inc. by HP.”

Janam’s XP20 and XP30 are the only mobile computers that combine Palm OS Garnet with features typically required by enterprise customers, according to Janam, such as rugged construction, barcode scanning, WLAN, numeric keypad option, NAND flash memory back-up, extended-capacity battery option, and full suite of cradles and accessories. Janam’s XP Series has an international customer base with sales continuing to grow year over year, the vendor reports. In addition, Janam addresses users of Microsoft Windows Mobile and Windows CE through its XM66, XM60+, and XG100 product lines.

XP30 Handheld from Janam Targets Palm OS Users

An Aftermarket for 2D Readers

Code Corporation (Bluffdale, UT) has brought the Mobile Specialty Group onboard to serve as one of its regional government-focused resellers, in an interesting, non-traditional Auto ID channel. Code recently contracted with the Tennessee Department of Safety to supply local police departments with its two-dimensional barcode readers, which deliver plug-and-play functionality with TraCS, Titan, and any in-vehicle CAD application that the state’s public safety workers may run. Installation and support will be supplied by the Mobile Specialty Group, based in Nashville, which has dedicated its new division to specialized emergency equipment.

“We are excited to team with Mobile Specialty Group, since having an in-state partner will give local support to Tennessee agencies using our products,” related David Growe, Director of Government Programs for Code Corporation. “With Mobile Specialty Group’s new focus on local government, this partnership adds to their ability to completely support all emergency vehicle equipment needs.”

“We’re extremely grateful to partner with Code Corporation, and are even more pleased about the reaction we have received from local departments,” noted Jon Worstell, Sales Director for Mobile Specialty Group. MSG serves as part of the Military Systems Group, which provides weapon mounting solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense. Mobile Specialty handles all manner of aftermarket truck accessories, which now apparently includes two-dimensional barcode scanners.

Emergency Services Call for Code Corporation

Channel Factoid

The CFO is increasingly becoming the top technology investment decision maker, according to the joint survey conducted by Gartner, Inc. and the Financial Executives Research Foundation. This survey found that 42% of organizations said their IT effort reports to the CFO, 33% to the CEO, 16% to the COO, 2% to some chief administration officer, and 7% to other officers. These conclusions were fairly uniform across companies of all sizes. Further, in 41% of organizations, the senior financial executives (mostly CFOs) who answered the survey viewed themselves as being the main decision maker for IT investments. This response occurred in most situations where IT reports to the CFO, but also in the case of other reporting models. In another 34%, CFOs are among the key recommending/sponsoring executives. Thus, in fully 75% of firms, the CFO plays a vital role in determining IT investments. In addition, 20% of CFOs play a minor role by providing some input, and in only 5% of cases does the CFO not participate in such decisions. Major hurdles to successful collaboration between the CFO and CIO include poor perceptions of IT, parochial CFO or CIO perspectives, and the failure to invest in the CFO-CIO relationship, according to Gartner.

HELLO GOODBYE

Aldata Lengthens Executive Bench

Aldata Solution (Atlanta) has added Alain Poirier as VP of North America Sales, Logistics. Poirier has more than 15 years of enterprise software experience and an extensive background in supply chain management software and solutions. Before joining Aldata, he served as VP of Sales at TrueDemand Software. He also worked at Manhattan Associates for seven years as VP of Sales, Retail and Latin America. During his tenure with Manhattan Associates, revenues more than quadrupled, increasing from $50 million to $240 million.

“As the economy begins to strengthen, the market is primed for solutions like ours that give retailers competitive edge by helping them respond quickly to customers’ evolving shopping patterns and to streamline their supply chain operations,” stated Jean-Francois Le Garrec, EVP at Aldata Solution. “With his strong background and depth of knowledge about the supply chain and retail industry, Alain is an extremely strong addition to our executive team.”

“Aldata is clearly a leader in software solutions for retailers and understands the importance of providing them with greater visibility into the supply chain,” Poirier said. “I look forward to working closely with our sales team creating new sales strategies, increasing overall sales, and pushing deeper into the industries we serve.”

Alain Poirier, VP of North America Sales, Logistics at Aldata Solution

Mocapay Designates Sales Driver

Mocapay (Denver) has hired Marilyn Benson as SVP of National Sales. In this position, Benson will lead efforts to bring Mocapay’s mobile-enabled marketing, gift, loyalty, and coupon solutions to national merchants. Founded in 2006, this privately-held, venture-funded company recently forged relationships with hospitality VAR Micros Retail Systems, loyalty marketing association Loyalty 360, and electronic payments provider VeriFone.

“As we expand our footprint to regional and national merchants, Marilyn will bring a wealth of experience to support our growth,” offered Kevin Grieve, CEO of Mocapay. “After two years of rigorous market tests, Mocapay has seen strong merchant results and consumer demand for mobile access to merchant-branded programs. Merchants benefit from the addition of this cost-effective mobile channel while consumers no longer need to carry plastic to participate in gift and loyalty programs. Consumers can receive real-time offers, direct to their mobile phone for immediate redemption, and stores can track marketing ROI down to the individual consumer.”

Benson’s experience in the payment and loyalty industry spans over 25 years with Fortune 500 companies. She was an EVP at Citicorp Diners Club where she successfully tripled the acceptance network to 1.7 million merchants. Prior to that, she held senior management sales and marketing positions at American Express. She currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the National Restaurant Educational Association.

Marilyn Benson, SVP of National Sales, Mocapay