This Week’s Product Pick

DT Research (San Jose, CA) debuted two POS handhelds, designated WebDT 410 and WebDT 415 for mobile order-taking, ticket scanning, payment processing, and inventory management. Both terminals incorporate 3.5-inch resistive LCD touchscreens with outdoor-viewable display, dynamic virtual keyboards, and ARM 533-MHz processors, while satisfying IP-54 ratings for liquid and dust resistance. Ergonomic and small, they measure approximately 6 in. x 3 in. x 1.5 in. and weigh 10 oz. WebDT 410 offers fully-integrated magnetic-stripe and RFID readers, and WebDT 415 adds two-dimensional barcode scanning to this mix. Other features include programmable buttons, hot-swappable batteries, 802.11b/g WLAN, Bluetooth Version 2.0, and LED paging alert capability. Support for Microsoft Windows CE and Mobile 6 provide compatibility with many third-party applications. Finally, the WebDT 400 Series tenders remote management software, which proves especially useful for large deployments in retail, hospitality, and entertainment, according to the vendor. “By providing on-the-spot order taking, payment processing, and ticket scanning, businesses can quickly assist every customer with a wide range of services and real-time information,” stated Gabrielle Marshall, Marketing Manager at DT Research. “Organizations can also increase sales through instantaneous up-selling and cross-selling.”

Mobile POS from DT Research

Worth Your While

U Connect Supply Chain Conference
GS1 US & VICS
June 7-10
San Antonio, TX

GTEC 2010
Canada Government Technology
October 4-7
Ottawa

NACS Show
National Association of Convenience Stores
October 5-8
Atlanta

CTIA Enterprise & Applications
CTIA-The Wireless Association
October 6-8
San Francisco

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

Customer Engagement Technology World
(Formerly KioskCom & The Digital Signage Show)
November 10-11
New York

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Four Hands Full of Touch

3M Touch Systems (Methuen, MA) unwrapped its newest multi-touch display, dubbed the M2256PW, with 22-inch screen and 20-plus finger input capacity. Based on the company’s projected capacitive technology, this new display provides application developers with rapid response time of less than 6 milliseconds (for 20 touches). Target environments include computer-aided design, digital signage, computer gaming, security monitoring systems, education and training, and video-conferencing.

The 3M Display M2256PW features high-definition 1680x1050 LCD screen, DVI and VGA video input, audio jack, USB and RS-232 Serial ports, and durable, anti-glare front surface. It has been rated “Compatible with Windows 7,” so additional drivers are not required for that O/S. In the case of Linux and Windows XP/Vista, 3M supplies multi-touch drivers and software utilities. In addition, communication protocol documents have been offered for customers who wish to develop their own drivers, according to the manufacturer. Finally, “palm accommodation” allows manipulation with one or more hands resting on the screen and 3,358 touch points support precise draw and edge accuracy.

“With the release of the M2256PW display, 3M is helping realize the full potential of the multi-touch ecosystem,” stated Chris Tsourides, Business Manager, 3M Touch Systems. “With 20-plus finger multi-touch capability, the M2256PW display offers software developers an important development tool that they have been missing until now.”

M2256PW Display From 3M Can Take 10 More Fingers

Getac’s Power Tool E100

Getac, Inc. (Irvine, CA) has upgraded its E100 rugged tablet PC for field service with an improved CPU, expanded storage capacity to accommodate larger digital files, and sold-state drive. Weighing just three pounds, the E100 now offers up to five hours of battery life with its fanless 1.6-GHz processor. Utilizing rugged magnesium alloy casing, the notebook meets MIL-STD-810G and IP-65 environmental ratings and carries an embedded back-up battery to allow hot-swapping without closing down the system. By the same token, its sold-state drive protects files and documents from physical abuse and extreme temperatures, according to the vendor.

Getac has incorporated its advanced LED backlight and anti-reflective technologies into the E100 with an 800 NITs sunlight-readable touchscreen display. The rugged tablet PC includes an RS-232 Serial port, two USB ports, embedded microphone, and dual smart-card readers as an option. Finally, communication capability consists of 812.11a/g/n WLAN, Giga LAN, and Bluetooth Version 2.0 as standard features, with 3G network connectivity available for roaming.

“The upgraded E100 offers substantial performance improvements at a competitive price that makes it attractive for deployment to an entire field-based workforce,” observed Jim Rimay, President of Getac, Inc. “It fills a tremendous void in the rugged marketplace for a lightweight tablet PC that provides nearly every advanced feature and function essential to field operations while offering all the convenience of a compact device that can balance in the palm of your hand.”

Getac’s E100 Rugged Tablet PC

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INTEGRATION

Pizza for Paytronix

Paytronix Systems (Waltham, MA) has added SpeedLine Solutions (Lynden, WA) to its roster of POS providers running its SaaS-based loyalty solution. SpeedLine will now offer gift, loyalty, and e-mail activities for pizza and delivery restaurants--beginning with the 300-unit Papa Gino’s chain in New England. The combined technology from the two companies allows store owners to identify their best customers, track purchase and visit behavior, and design personalized promotions, according to the two parties.

“We are excited to announce this comprehensive loyalty integration with SpeedLine,” relayed Andrew Robbins, President of Paytronix Systems. “This new solution will address the unique needs of pizza restaurateurs, enabling them to increase sales by retaining more customers and compelling more visits. It was a pleasure working with SpeedLine during this integration, and I look forward to our long partnership.”

Founded in 2001, Paytronix now provides its loyalty products to 175 restaurant chains and over 6,000 locations. In addition to SpeedLine, the company partners with POS providers such as Micros, POSitouch, Menusoft/Digital Dining, Xpient, and VeriFone. For its part, SpeedLine also announced its recent contract win with Happy’s Pizza (Detroit), which encompasses 65 corporately owned and franchised locations as well as “aggressive expansion plans,” according to Happy Asker, Founder.

Andrew Robbins, President of Paytronix Systems

Cloud Cover for Buyers and Sellers

Ariba and IBM intend to match buyers and sellers in the cloud. Specifically, IBM’s LotusLive will be linked to the Ariba Commerce Cloud “spend management platform” to help the two groups collaborate and exchange information prior to entering formal RFI/RFP or contracting phases. LotusLive, as many RRN.Com readers know, leverages current communication schemes such as web conferencing, instant messaging, social networking, and file sharing, backed by IBM’s overlay of reliability and security.

“Finding the right trading partners is hard, but collaborating with them to do business better is even harder,” maintained Bhaskar Himatsingka, CTO at Ariba (Sunnyvale, CA). “Our integration plans with IBM LotusLive are designed to help make it easier for buyers and sellers to work together in new ways by taking advantage of IBM’s powerful set of web-based tools for real-time collaboration with Ariba’s sourcing and sales process solutions.”

Earlier this month, Ariba addressed the contract management automation needs of the SMB marketplace by launching Ariba StartContracts. This new subscription service combines best-of-breed technology and business processes in order to help users more effectively manage their buy and sell-side agreements, according to its developer. “Traditionally, only the largest of organizations have been able to afford a contract management solution to effectively record and manage their agreements--but that has changed,” said Steve Markle, Senior Director, Solutions Management, Ariba.

Bhaskar Himatsingka, CTO at Ariba

Code Corner

ServiceCEO (Boston), formerly known as Insight Direct, has updated its SaaS-based field service management software. ServiceCEO Web Edition automates all functions in its target area: estimating, scheduling, dispatching, billing, and marketing. The upgraded package now enables jobs to be assigned to specific geographic zones or territories, allowing dispatchers and customer service representatives to deputize the closet crew. Ultimately, this optimizes billable hours by reducing drive time between calls. Another new characteristic, the job analysis tool, provides detailed reports of completed and scheduled jobs by any number of criteria, such as type, zone, technician, and parts. Using this feature helps businesses more efficiently plan for staffing, inventory management, and marketing campaigns. “Today’s release of ServiceCEO Web Edition puts some powerful new capabilities into the hands of thousands of field service businesses,” noted Christopher Chapman, COO of ServiceCEO. Subscriptions start at $99 per month.

Ekahau Inc. (Reston, VA) published Site Survey 5.0 featuring Auto-Planner, for designing corporate Wi-Fi networks with suggested optimal access point locations and channel assignments. Auto-Planner utilizes three-dimensional mapping and matches network design to different applications (e.g., Voice-over-Wi-Fi, location tracking, or high-speed data). Ekahau Site Survey 5.0 also brings more flexibility and granularity by supporting CAD and vector-based floor plans, according to its developer. Further, the new release enhances overall performance and catalogues hundreds of antennas and access points offered by the roll of Wi-Fi manufacturers. “Ekahau Site Survey is widely considered the quickest and easiest Wi-Fi survey and planning tool on the market,” shared Jussi Kiviniemi, Senior Product Manager at Ekahau. “The addition of Auto-Planner continues our mission of providing simple-to-use, enterprise-grade tools for Wi-Fi administrators. With Auto-Planner, we’re able to reduce off-site network design to one-tenth of the time it typically would take.”

STARTS & STOPS

British Invasion in Chip and PIN

YESpay International Ltd. (Toronto) has received certification for its Emboss EMV Chip and PIN technology with both Chase Paymentech and First Data. Emboss is an online IP-based payment processing service that has been generically pre-accredited by major card acquirers in Europe, Canada, and Mexico--all of which have embraced Chip and PIN, which stores cardholder account data on the microprocessor and not in magnetic-stripe and adds the PIN to further boost fraud protection. Compliant with PCI DSS Level 1, Emboss allows merchants to accept integrated payments for POS, self-service, and e-commerce schemes, according to YESpay, which has roots in the U.K.

The announcement follows news that Wal-Mart intends to implement Chip and PIN processing in all payment terminals throughout its retail empire. By itself, this development should jump-start U.S. acceptance of the technology (and attract greater numbers of experienced overseas providers). Also, by October 2015, as RRN.Com has reported, magnetic-stripe cards will no longer be accepted in Canada. Adding to international validity, the United Nations Federal Credit Union has plans to start issuing EMV-compliant credit cards to its customers in the near future.

“This is a very exciting period for the industry, and indeed a tremendous opportunity for YESpay to serve its North American customers with the same impeccable service we have been offering to our European customers for the last five years,” professed Rohit Patni, EVP of Sales and Marketing. “YESpay has the solution to EMV migration and is absolutely ready to face the challenge.”

YESpay at Work on Hardware From Fidelity Systems PLC

Cash Back on RFID

RF Code, Inc. (Austin, TX) has launched “Tag-In,” its new trade-up program that rewards customers for switching to its RFID technology. Under the promotion, customers currently using an active RFID solution from one of the company’s competitors receives $5 in credit for every active tag and $250 in credit for every active reader turned in, applied toward the purchase of RF Code’s products. Such solutions include, but are not limited to, tags and readers from ActiveWave, AeroScout, Axcess International, Ekahau, Radianse, and Wavetrend, RF Code helpfully pointed out.

RF Code’s 433-MHz active tags fulfill asset tracking needs for data centers, distributed enterprises, and throughout the supply chain. Customers include some of the world’s largest technology, e-commerce, aviation, financial services, pharmaceutical, and government organizations. The R150 Temperature Tag, R155 Humidity Temperature Tag, and R200 Reader are not covered by the Tag-In program, which runs through August 31, 2010.

“We recently implemented what’s thought to be the world’s largest RFID deployment,” declared Mitch Medford, CEO of RF Code, referring to Container Centralen, which serves the European horticultural industry. “This demonstrates our solution is actively bringing value to customers. Now with the RF Code Tag-In program, any organization looking to get real-time, fully automated asset tracking can easily and affordably implement the market’s most capable, easy-to-use, and easy-to-deploy active RFID technology.”

“Tag-In” Gives Credit Towards RF Code’s Products

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
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.

Keyboards
Cherry Electrical Systems

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

INSTALLATIONS

DecisionPoint Keeps Truckin’

DecisionPoint Systems (Foothill Ranch, CA and Shelton, CT) has delivered an integrated and fully customized mobile tracking system for Corporate Transit of America (Little Rock, AR), one of the largest regional courier and logistics companies in the U.S. Within 60 days, DecisionPoint reportedly deployed X Mobile from CXT Software (Phoenix) to several hundred Motorola MC55 mobile computers used by drivers. This new solution, which provides barcode scanning, electronic signature capture, and chain of custody tracking, was deemed instrumental in winning new business for Corporate Transit of America.

“Corporate Transit of America is very pleased with the implementation of the MC55 using DecisionPoint at multiple locations, and we are confident in our choice,” reported Randy Edmonds, SVP at Corporate Transit of America. “Our customer is extremely satisfied with the technology we have provided them and in the timely manner that users were trained on the device’s functionality.”

“We are delighted to have delivered an integrated field mobility solution for Corporate Transit of America,” added Brent Felker, DecisionPoint’s VP of Field Mobility. “The increased tracking capability required by many of the ‘last mile’ carriers’ customers can be difficult, but Corporate Transit of America took the proactive approach and accepted the challenge.” Along the same lines, DecisionPoint has released MobileArc for Couriers, an out-of-the-box solution for continuous delivery tracking.

CXT Software’s X Mobile Goes the “Last Mile”

[Editor’s Note:  Pinpointing freight congestion just got easier with FPMweb from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, incidentally. This new freight performance measurement tool gauges operating speeds for trucks at any given place and point in time along two dozen interstate highways that are considered significant shipping routes.]

Stopping the E-Mail Killings

Roundy’s Supermarkets will implement Store Ops-Center from Opterus, Inc. (Toronto) in its 154 locations in Wisconsin and Minnesota in order to distribute all store communications for daily and weekly activities such as price changes, merchandising plans, corporate news, and product recalls. From the technical perspective, Opterus Web Services Description Language (WSDL) will provide Roundy’s with seamless, real-time integration with its PeopleSoft structure for user authentication. Roundy’s also runs Opterus within its SharePoint intranet portal, giving the stores one simplified user interface for all corporate communications, according to the two parties.

“The Roundy’s team reviewed operational compliance solutions from several application vendors,” indicated John Boyle, Group VP at Roundy’s. “In the past, we had been killing the stores with redundant information and requests via e-mail. We had no way to monitor which stores were reading e-mail messages, which stores were taking actions to complete directives, and no visibility as to which stores were compliant with those activities.”

“Roundy’s is recognized as one of the most innovative supermarket retailers in the U.S., and Opterus is extremely pleased to welcome them as our newest client,” said Ron Blackwelder, VP of Sales and Marketing, Opterus, Inc. “Throughout this very diligent process with Roundy’s, Opterus proved that Store Ops-Center was the best industry solution to automate one of its most pressing challenges--how to better communicate with its operations team and monitor compliance with corporate objectives.” Recently, Opterus introduced its training center module to help users get up and running on its platform.

Metro Market, Roundy’s New Concept Supermarket

Channel Factoid

Small business employment grew by 0.1% in May, equating to 1.6% annual growth, according to the latest Intuit Small Business Employment Index. This translates to approximately 25,000 new jobs in May and the revised estimate of 240,000 total new jobs since October 2009. Data also shows an increase in compensation per employee of 0.3% in May, translating to $2,566 in overall wages per month. Hours worked each month declined by 0.1% in May to 101.6 hours, compared to the revised estimate of 101.7 hours in April. This translates to wages of about $30,800 per year for all employees and 23.5-hour work weeks for hourly employees. “While the May growth in employment is not as strong as last month, it’s still going up,” explained Susan Woodward, the nationally recognized economist who worked with Intuit to create the monthly index, which is based on small businesses that draw upon Intuit Online Payroll. “Despite the slower growth rate and slight decline in hours worked, the recovery is still unambiguous in the Intuit data: employment and compensation per worker continue to show that the recovery is underway. The new hire rate continues to rise slightly, as does the hourly rate of pay.”

HELLO GOODBYE

Barcoding Betters Marketing Communications

Barcoding Inc. (Baltimore) has named Jody Costa as its new Marketing Communications Manager. In addition to overseeing brand messaging and communication strategies for the company’s data capture and RFID offerings, Costa will manage relationships with business partners such as consulting firms, ISVs, and OEMs. Her background includes strong experience in lead proposal writing and technical editing.

“Jody brings many fresh ideas to the Barcoding team, and we are confident that her hard work will produce measurable results,” stated Jay Steinmetz, President of Barcoding Inc. “Her writing abilities, leadership skills, and experience in business development make Jody a great fit for our company. We look forward to working with her well into the future.”

“I am excited to take on the role of Marketing Communications Manager at Barcoding Inc.,” Costa said. “This is a great opportunity to utilize my writing and communication skills to enhance the marketing efforts of an industry-leading company. I hope to bring a creative energy to this position.”

Jody Costa, Marketing Communications Manager, Barcoding Inc.

New Hats at First Data

First Data Corporation (Atlanta) has recast its senior leadership team. Kevin Kern, former CTO, has been promoted to EVP Global Operations and Technology, while Controller Ray Winborne has been elevated to EVP and Acting CFO. Kern succeeds Bob DeRodes and Winborne replaces Pat Shannon, both of whom will leave the company following an interim period. In addition, Grace Chen Trent, EVP Communications and Marketing, has been wished well in future endeavors.

Kern joined First Data in 2009 as SVP and CTO and earlier this year assumed responsibility for international operations and technology. Before First Data, he served as CIO for CA Technologies and Unisys. Winborne also came to First Data in 2009, as SVP of Finance and Controller. He began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers and later passed through the ranks of financial management at BellSouth and Delta Air Lines.

Chairman/CEO Joe Forehand remarked, “I’m excited to put in place a senior leadership team comprised of highly dedicated and experienced executives all aligned with the long-term success of First Data. They are all proven leaders who are 100% focused on better serving our customers and meeting the company’s strategic, financial, and operational goals by driving top-line growth through continued innovation while carefully managing costs.” Forehand took the helm at First Data in March.

Kevin Kern, EVP, Global Operations and Technology, First Data