This Week’s Product Pick

Panasonic (Newark, NJ) has upgraded its Toughbook CF-C2 semi-rugged convertible tablet PC. Powered by Intel Core i5 CPU, and optimized for Windows 8.1 Pro, this new version also features 4G LTE multi-carrier embedded wireless broadband connectivity, approximately 14 hours of battery life, Intel HD Graphics 4400, and 1.2-megapixel webcam with built-in microphone. Targeting field service and healthcare, primarily, Toughbook CF-C2 weighs 4 lbs., with 12-inch multi-touch capacitive screen, magnesium alloy case, shock-mounted hard drive, and triple-hinge design. "Even as technology evolves, at the core all our customers are looking for the same thing--performance, reliability, connectivity, and flexibility," emphasized Kyp Walls, Director of Product Management, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America.

Toughbook CF-C2

COMPANY BUSINESS

Isis: Calling Channel Disciples

First came nationwide rollout last month. Now Isis (New York), the mobile commerce joint venture from AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless, has announced its Alliance Program, which targets, in large part, POS VARs. Isis, RRN.Com readers may recall, leverages the existing payments infrastructure, which means any merchant with contactless terminal may accept transactions via the Isis Mobile Wallet. In making its announcement, Isis gathered compliments from three industry wise men: Joseph Finizio, CEO/President of the Retail Solutions Providers Association, Jason Oxman, CEO of the Electronic Transactions Association, and Randy Vanderhoof, Executive Director of the Smart Card Alliance. In order to learn more details, RRN.Com spoke with Jim Stapleton, Chief Sales Officer at Isis.

According to Stapleton, the Isis Alliance Program will focus on two member types. In the first, which revolves purely around payments, things will proceed as normal, with the added benefit of card-present rates. "Same POS partners they've been used to working with, same payment processing networks," stressed Stapleton. "There's slight nuance in that they will be supporting contactless, but in doing so, they add to their value proposition by helping merchants accept the new technology."

A smaller group of partners in the Alliance Program will participate in what's deemed the "commerce side," meaning value-added services such as loyalty programs and mobile marketing. "We want to identify and develop key partners to help pioneer the indirect channel for these areas,'" Stapleton told RRN.Com. "Some of your resellers are very much looking to get outside of the pure payments play and get involved in these new verticals." For this assembly, expect more piloting efforts, some funding, and one-to-one negotiations around the economics, according to Stapleton.

Jim Stapleton, Chief Sales Officer, Isis

Qaliber Lite: Tastes Great, Less Filling

Seiko Instruments USA, Thermal Printer Division (Torrance, CA), has unwrapped its new "lite model" Qaliber receipt printer, designated the RP-D10. Overall, RP-D10 features the same primary characteristics as its predecessor, the RP-E (10 and 11), introduced in June 2012. This includes an innovative cubic design with small footprint of approximately 5 in. x 5 in. x 5 in., both top load and front load access for flexibility, and USB, Serial, Powered USB, or Ethernet. Command emulation is also provided to enable faster printer replacement, with an extensive suite of software utilities, drivers, and SDKs for configuration. Units are available in "onyx" black and "ice" white.

In order to reduce cost, several technical specifications have been changed. For example, RP-D10 prints at 200 mm/second (8 inch/second) at 203 dpi, versus 350 mm/second (14 inch/second) for the RP-E. Service life ratings have been quoted at 62 miles of printing and 1.5 million cuts, slightly lower than the RP-E, and an LED has been eliminated. Such changes have lowered weight to 1 lb., 14 oz. from 2 lbs., 14 oz. Additional benefits of the Qaliber family include variable print speed settings, an anti-jamming cutter design, and multiple techniques for reducing paper consumption. Both RP-D10 and RP-E accommodate standard paper sizes from 58 mm to 80 mm, with direct thermal printing.

"This new lite model printer truly resonates with the channel because it is designed to help overcome real-world business and technical challenges at the POS," declared Kaz Onishi, VP of Seiko Instruments USA. "It is smaller in size, offers increased flexibility, has increased performance, and is aesthetically pleasing--all at a value-driven price point."

Seiko's Qaliber Lite Model RP-D10 Printer

Worth Your While

NRF 103rd Annual Conference & Expo
National Retail Federation
January 12-15
New York City

INSPIRE 2014
Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA)
February 2-5
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

ETA Annual Meeting & Expo
Electronic Transactions Association
April 8-10
Las Vegas

NRA Show
National Restaurant Association
May 17-20
Chicago

RetailNOW
Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA)
August 3-6
Orlando

ALL IN THE FAMILY

A Pair of Portables From Microscan

Microscan (Renton, WA) has debuted its new pair of wireless Bluetooth handheld imagers, the HS-51 and HS-51X. Both devices are equipped with 1.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and dual-field optics to handle wide and high-density fields, as well as one and two-dimensional symbologies. HS-51 addresses common applications with high-contrast, black and white labels, while the HS-51X adds the company's "X Mode" decode algorithms and bright field lighting for reading difficult, low-contrast codes, including direct part marks (DPM) such as dot peen and laser/chemical etch.

In ergonomic, gun-shaped format, HS-51 and HS-51X measure 5.3 in. (H) x 2 in. (W) x 5.1 in. (D) and weigh 6 ounces. An IP-54 enclosure protects sensitive components and can withstand harsh chemical-based cleaners as well as multiple drops from six feet. Both devices feature 1300 mAH Lithium-Ion battery with life of 50,000 reads, with 32 MB of non-volatile memory and 1280x960 sensor array.

In addition to its beeper, both visual and vibrating indicators provide silent confirmation of successful reads in case of noisy or sensitive environments. A bright blue targeting bar quickly centers the imager on the code while providing feedback on the optimal focal distance. An accompanying charging station includes paging to locate misplaced devices, as well as Bluetooth.

HS-51 and HS-51X Wireless Readers From Microscan

Stratis Enters APG's Sphere

APG Cash Drawer (Minneapolis) has unveiled its Stratis tablet holder for iPad. With compact footprint of 6.7 in. (W) x 11.2 in. (D) x 4.1 in. (H), and offered in black or white, Stratis may be mounted on the countertop or cash drawer. Rubber feet or magnets hold the device firmly in place, respectively.

"APG's Stratis tablet holder is designed for retailers who are installing mobile and/or 'thin' iPad-based point-of-sale applications," commented Bob Daugs, Director of Business Development at APG Cash Drawer, which has coined the term "thinbility" to describe this evolution. "POS software is moving to tablets and to the cloud for easy accessibility and instant reporting. Designed to allow the retailer to take advantage of the small footprint of tablets, Stratis adds an elegant look with smooth functionality to your POS environment."

As an additional benefit, Stratis seamlessly slides the tablet over to the customer-facing side for signature approvals. It allows the iPad to be detached for mobile use, and provision for cabling has been made for charging. Developed in conjunction with one of APG's suppliers, Stratis may be sourced through APG's distribution channel.

Stratis Tablet Holder by APG Cash Drawer

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Week of December 2

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ALLIANCES

Datalogic Draws Developers

Datalogic ADC (Eugene, OR) has added Savant Software, Inc. (Phoenix) to its ranks of ISVs. A leading player in Automated Data Collection (ADC) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Savant serves as Microsoft Dynamics Partner, and has long supported Motorola Solutions and Psion. "We have already certified the Elf PDA, Falcon X3, and Skorpio X3 mobile computers, and Rhino vehicle mount computer, so existing Datalogic partners and prospects have access to the next technology step in optimizing supply chain performance," reported Chris Jackson, VP of Savant Software, Inc.

"The combination of Datalogic's broad range of products and Savant's suite of robust software will extend the reach of Datalogic in the channel by offering complete, cost-effective, and easy-to-use supply chain management solutions to our partners," relayed Glen Feeley, VP of North America Sales at Datalogic ADC. "The addition of Savant as an ISV partner aligns perfectly with Datalogic's commitment to support value-added solutions which enhance our value to our channel partners." As target markets, the two parties pointed to Tier 1, 2, and 3.

Elsewhere, Datalogic ADC also has partnered with Sysdev (Ilhavo, Portugal), maker of the Kalipso Application Generator. Kalipso, as many RRN.Com readers know, enhances mobile devices running Windows and Android O/S with rapid application development (RAD) tools for scenarios such as inventory, sales force, technical services, and route control. As one of its key features, this software includes voice command capability.

Datalogic's Skorpio X3 With Savant Software

Accesso's Mutual Attraction

POS solution provider Siriusware has been purchased by the Accesso Technology Group. Based in the U.K., with offices in Orlando and Atlanta, Accesso said Siriusware will retain its headquarters in Taos, New Mexico. In addition, Mark Danemann, Siriusware Founder, will become President of the new Siriusware Division, and all 60 Siriusware employees will be retained. Siriusware has supplied software and hardware to the snow sports industry since 1989, serving more than 130 ski resorts from North America to New Zealand. The firm's scope has expanded in recent years to include more than 120 clients across the attractions industry, including water parks and museums, although the ski industry remained the main selling point for this deal. Terms were not disclosed.

"This acquisition aligns two like-minded teams and two highly complementary product offerings that, together, can unlock greater value in traditional markets and in new ones," indicated Tom Burnet, CEO of Accesso. "Siriusware's solutions expand our capabilities and allow us to offer support and innovation across multiple touch points in a guest's leisure journey--from ticketing and queuing to payment processing and point-of-sale." Siriusware's range of services helps operators manage ticketing and admissions, membership and season pass processing, and onsite retail and food and beverage sales.

"We are thrilled to join forces with Accesso, which we have greatly respected for many years, and firmly believe we can deliver even more value to our current and future customers by working together to further expand our innovative solutions," volunteered Danemann. "This move also allows us to further enhance our robust technology portfolio to better meet the needs of the industry, provide more options to our clients, and open up new opportunities to expand and rapidly innovate." For its part, Accesso has about 150 installations worldwide. Steve Brown serves as COO for North America and Europe.

Accesso Purchases Siriusware

Code Corner

CodeREADr (Boston) has addressed inventory inefficiency at the U.S. Department of Defense with its new barcoding scanning capability. This app's SD PRO scan engine uses the iOS and Android camera to capture data embedded in UID barcodes. With so-called "regex" technology, this app assembles the captured data for recording to or validating against online or on-device databases. In situations where web connectivity is slow or unstable, this app works in the off-line mode. For secure environments, it bypasses CodeREADr's servers to send data via SSL directly to client-managed servers. "Purpose-built mobile computers were typically required to quickly and accurately scan UID barcodes. Our goal is to allow the defense industry to complement those devices with lower cost iOS and Android devices so inventory tracking can be less expensive, more frequent, and conducted anywhere, whether in warehouses or in the field," proposed Rich Eicher, CEO at CodeREADr.

INTEGRATION

An Illumination at Cherry

Cherry (Auerbach, Germany) has engineered its MX RGB mechanical key switch, which extends and expands keyboard performance. Employing the company's gold contacts, direct mounting of LEDs on the printed circuit board, and scattered surface lens, this new device allows specially designed keycaps in the entire RGB color spectrum of 16.7 million individual variations. It also provides even illumination and the widest variety of brightness levels, according to the company, which cited gaming as one target market.

Cherry offers the new MX RGB in four familiar versions with different switching characteristics. These include: blue switch with click pressure point and key stroke with tactile and audible contact feedback; brown switch with soft pressure point and key stroke with tactile contact feedback; red switch without pressure point and key stroke linear actuation of 45 cN; and black switch without pressure point and key stroke linear actuation of 60 cN. "Our new concept of light conductance was implemented through the use of new materials and several patent-pending technical solutions," elaborated Karl-Heinz Muller, Product Developer for Cherry.

Cherry's "Gold Crosspoint" contacts are characterized by low bounce time and high response speed. Use of gold in the contacts also maintains optimum contact resistance over the entire product life cycle, according to the company. Finally, such self-cleaning contacts resist dust and dirt, allowing durability to reach at least 50 million key strokes.

RGB Multicolor Key Switch

Where the MSR Now Roams

ROAM (Boston), an arm of Ingenico, has showcased its G5X next-generation card reader for Mobile POS, which meets Visa Ready requirements for secure payment acceptance. This new device may be used as part of the company's end-to-end M-POS system, or may be integrated with an existing mobile application via APIs. Custom branding has been offered, as well as choice of multiple form factors, notes the manufacturer.

A number of key features have been included in the G5X. Advanced encryption provides robust data protection, with features such as hardware security module (HSM) and cipher-block chaining (CBC). Dual-track magnetic-stripe reader (MSR) can retrieve multiple data types from one swipe and read additional card types such as gift or loyalty. Finally, an extended audio jack allows the device to plug into virtually any mobile device or case.

"The G5X is the culmination of many months of development that incorporates the very latest security features and ensures compatibility with the widest possible range of mobile devices," related Ken Paull, CEO of ROAM. "We're dedicated to providing our customers with innovative, future-proof M-POS solutions that comply with all of the major payment standards used worldwide. As such, we're very proud to be the provider of the first magnetic-stripe mobile card reader to achieve Visa Ready certification."

G5X Visa Ready Card Reader

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Auto ID Distribution
Synnex
Wasp Barcode Technologies

POS & Peripherals
Partner Tech
Pioneer POS
POS BANK USA
Posiflex
POS-X
TEAMSable
Touch Dynamic

POS Systems - Hospitality
PAR

POS Systems - Retail
Vend

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Brother Mobile
Printronix
Zebra Technologies

Cash Drawers
MMF POS

Data Collection Terminals
Bluebird/Pidion
CipherLab
Datalogic ADC

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
Merchant Warehouse
Mercury

Keyboards
PrehKeyTec USA

Keyboards & Mobile POS
Cherry, ZF Electronics Corp

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
Epson America
Fujitsu Components
Star Micronics

Scanners
Code Corporation
Ingenico

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

Touchscreens & Monitors
Elo TouchSystems

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

Above PAR for Windows Embedded

PAR Technology Corporation (New Hartford, NY) has been honored by Microsoft as an Americas Windows Embedded OEM of the Year for 2013. Given at the Americas Channel Summit, this designation recognizes Windows Embedded manufacturers of "industry devices that deliver unmatched value to the enterprise via intelligent systems," in the words of Microsoft. Examples of this relationship include ParTech's EverServ 7700 POS, as well as the EverServ SureCheck food safety management system.

"We are honored to be recognized by Windows Embedded as a key innovator for the hospitality industry," shared Karen Sammon, President of ParTech, Inc. "This demonstrates our commitment to provide the cutting-edge tools and solutions that help our customers meet strategic business goals."

"Windows Embedded is excited to award PAR with the 2013 Americas Windows Embedded OEM of the Year Award," contributed Karen Roberts, Senior Partner and Channel Marketing Manager for Windows Embedded at Microsoft. "PAR has been instrumental in driving innovative solutions through industry devices that enable unique customer value and experiences."

PAR Named 2013 Americas Windows Embedded OEM of the Year

[Editor's Note: Keep an eye on Retail Realm's Microsoft Dynamic Retail Technology Conference in April 2014 for news on RMS, Store Operations, HQ, and POS 2009.]

Zyme Time?

A look at the business of the channel. In this case, Zyme Solutions (Redwood Shores, CA), which has launched ChannelView-Incentives. Comprised of three segments--ChannelView-Rebates, ChannelView-MDF, and ChannelView-Loyalty, this suite purports to deliver comprehensive channel management automation. It allows partners to be paid more accurately, on-time, and with fewer disputes, according to its developer.

"With the ChannelView-Incentives family of solutions for rebates, market development funds, price protection, and loyalty rewards, the industry is closer to realizing the vision of tightly integrating channel sales data with incentives management," suggested Chandran Sankaran, CEO of Zyme. "Companies can eliminate clumsy claims-based rebate processes, accurately reward their partners, generate millions of dollars in savings on incentives programs, and maximize their investments." As major customers, Zyme lists Dell, Logitech, Xerox, and Plantronics; other integrations for its system include SAP and Oracle.

Built on the Salesforce platform, and offered on the Salesforce AppExchange, Channel-View Incentives deploys Zyme's TruePay, an enterprise-grade, scalable validation engine. "The future of enterprise apps is social, mobile, and connected," summarized Leyla Seka, VP of AppExchange and Partner Operations for Salesforce.com. "Partners such as Zyme are leveraging the power of the Salesforce platform to give companies the tools they need to create deeper connections with customers and their channel partners."

Chandran Sankaran, CEO of Zyme

Channel Factoid

In this holiday season, IT professionals rank their relationship with their colleagues as the top aspect of their job for which they are most grateful, while their relationship with their boss ranks sixth. Moreover, only 11% are interested in improving their relationship with their boss, according to this new survey by TEKsystems. Compensation and work-life balance afforded by their company rank second and third, respectively. Challenging work ranks fourth, followed by achieving a sense of accomplishment, which ranks fifth. If they could start their careers over, 22% of IT professionals would change their college major. Of these respondents, while 40% would choose a major related to technology and 28% named science-related disciplines, 32% would select arts and humanities. Almost half, 44%, of IT professionals believe their careers could have been enhanced has they pursued more education and certifications. In order, the top five named: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), CompTIA Server+, Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD), and Project Management Professional (PMP). More than three times as many IT professionals say they would have changed jobs fewer times during their career than those who wish they would have changed jobs more often. For 2014, 70% of IT professionals want to learn new technical skills compared to 45% who want to learn new business skills. Ranking third, 44% identify changing jobs as a goal for 2014, either by staying within their current organization or taking their talents elsewhere.

Channel Chatter

Better watch your back . . . of the POS. So-called cash register skimmers were discovered by one Nordstrom location in Florida in October. Video cameras caught six men involved in this scheme. A first trio distracted sales associates, examined the back and inside of the POS terminals, and took photos. Later, the second trio returned, distracted sales associates once again, and installed keylogging devices which mirrored standard PS/2 keyboard connectors, down to the color purple. It's not known if the thieves returned to the store to retrieve their devices and the information they contained, although with today's wireless technology that might not have been necessary.

HELLO GOODBYE

Turning to Brown at TouchSystems

TouchSystems (Hutto, TX) has enlisted Gregory Brown as its VP of Business Development. Brown will be responsible for leveraging and supporting key accounts and building relationships with new partners, distributors, and value-added resellers, according to the manufacturer of desktop monitors and large-format displays. He brings more than 25 years of experience in sales and management, most recently serving as Strategic Sales Director and Global Account Manager at WYSE.

"Greg's experience will strengthen TouchSystems' position as a leader in the touchscreen industry," reflected Carol Nordin, President of TouchSystems. "He has a proven record with enterprise solutions, a fact that will help us continue to move in the right direction in the next few months and years. I couldn't be happier about Greg joining our team."

TouchSystems recently extended its X Series with the 46-inch multi-touch display, which comes ready for Windows 8, and features three choices--dual-touch, six touch points, and twelve touch points. Aimed at retail and hospitality, the X 46 accommodates extreme environments, 24/7 operation, and multiple users. Its slim bezel, even with addition of touch sensor, makes it easy to install, according to the company, and multiple connectivity schemes simplify use for digital signage.

Gregory Brown, VP of Business Development, TouchSystems

No Quagmire for Quaglia, Obviously

Tech Data (Clearwater, FL) has knighted Joseph Quaglia as President, the Americas, encompassing the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. Quaglia has served as SVP, U.S. Marketing, since November 2007. He joined Tech Data in 2006 as VP, East and Government Sales, following ten years with CA Technologies.

"Joe has actively led several of our strategic initiatives in the U.S. over the past five years, including the successful launch of our award-winning StreamOne platform, TDCloud business unit, and TDMobility offering," noted Bob Dutkowsky, CEO of Tech Data. "Most importantly, Joe has a true passion for winning and is committed to Tech Data's culture and the success of our people. I am confident that he will continue to contribute to strengthen Tech Data's position as a trusted partner for our vendors and solution providers in the Americas."

"In this period of rapid change in the IT ecosystem, our team at Tech Data remains laser-focused on execution and driving results," stated Quaglia. "We have never been more committed to growing our solution providers' businesses, driving go-to-market strategies for our vendor partners, and providing the best customer experience in the industry." Although Tech Data no longer addresses POS nor Auto ID, many, if not most, RRN.Com readers draw networking products from this distributor.

Joe Quaglia, President, the Americas, Tech Data Corporation

An Entrepreneur at Alien

Alien Technology (Morgan Hill, CA) has named Weijie Yun as its new CEO. Yun has been an active member of Alien's Board of Directors. He replaces Peter Green, "who has left the company to pursue other opportunities," according to the RFID vendor.

"Weijie's strategic vision and leadership are ideal to drive innovation and market leadership for Alien," observed Duane Zitzner, Chairman of the Alien Board of Directors. "Weijie comes with a wealth of entrepreneurial experience, an excellent track record of growing technology companies, and demonstrated skills in organizational development." In his remarks, Yun pointed to "explosive growth opportunities" created by the "maturing of the RFID ecosystem."

Described as "serial entrepreneur," Yun was the founding CEO of Telegent Systems, one of the pioneers in the so-called mobile television market. As such, he was recognized as the 2008 Northern California Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young. Also, Dr. Yun serves on the board of directors for several technology companies in the Silicon Valley.

Weijie Yun, CEO, Alien Technology