Our Product Pick

MMF POS (Wheeling, IL) has unveiled its new payment terminal stands for EMV. Configured for Equinox L5200, Ingenico iSC250, and Verifone MX 915, these three pieces of hardware are constructed from 16-gauge steel for durability and come with matte-black textured powder coating. They feature 180-degree rotation capability and up to 45-degree viewing angles, as well as built-in cable management. Base dimensions are 5 x 5 inches, with post height of 2 inches. "We urge all merchants to get 'EMV Ready' now," stated Scott O'Shea, VP of Sales and Marketing for MMF POS. "Don't risk waiting until the last minute with the associated liability that comes with non-compliance."

MMF POS Stand for Equinox L5200

COMPANY BUSINESS

So Long, Softcard

A duopoly in the making? In its battle with Apple Pay, Google Wallet has snapped up Softcard, the star-crossed payment child of AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless. Originally dubbed Isis, and subsequently renamed due to world events, Softcard will be folded into Google Wallet (minus the legions of employees recently laid off). This opens the door for Google Wallet, including tap-and-pay functionality, to come pre-installed on the Android phones, running KitKat or higher and NFC-enabled, sold by these carriers (as well as by Sprint). Ironic, since AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon specifically created Isis to fend off Google Wallet.

As for Softcard, its service and accounts shut down on March 31. "Google has acquired some technology and intellectual property from Softcard and we encourage our Android users to download Google Wallet," reads the notice posted by Softcard. Payment and loyalty cards will not automatically transfer from Softcard to Google Wallet, and personal information will not be shared. As well, Softcard's Windows App, released in November 2014, will no longer be available (not that anyone will notice).

So where does that leave the mobile wallet? Having accelerated the demise of Softcard, through superior technology and command of the iPhone, Apple Pay has taken hold--both with consumers and in the channel for POS, according to conversations held by RRN.Com. Likewise, Softcard, and the new Android Pay, now significantly strengthens Google Wallet. A number of viable and just-waiting-for-offers-to-sell hopefuls continue their efforts--in the former case, PayPal, which has purchased Paydiant, the engine behind CurrentC from the merchant-owned network, MCX; Microsoft, which plans its own Wallet Hub; and Samsung, which recently bought LoopPay--but given the rock star status and resources of Apple and Google, everyone else faces long odds.

More Shake-Out for the Mobile Wallet

"Pay Grocery Charges," Sez You

NXT-ID (Oxford, CT) has staked its claim in so-called voice-directed payments, with provisional patent No. 62114357. Under this scheme, payment accounts may be accessed if both the speech (word associated with the payment account) and the speaker (registered biometrically) are both recognized. Once authorized, payment is directed to an appropriate interface, such as magnetic-stripe reader (MSR) or near-field communication (NFC). This patent also introduces the concept of "voice cards," or names given by the user to specify private information such as credit and debit cards.

"Convenience in accessing your private data is just as important as securing your private data," maintained David Tunnell, CTO of NXT-ID. "With this invention, you may simply ask for a specific payment account and the account is programmed to an appropriate emulator. To make it even more convenient, the voice may be recognized and emulated on the same device, such as cell phone or our 'Wocket' smart wallet, or recognized on one device and directed to another device, such as watch or reprogrammable smart card such as our 'WocketCard'."

"In addition, the ability to name your account further protects your information since no one knows which card you are choosing," continued Tunnell. "For instance, no private information is revealed if you say 'grocery card' or 'gas card number three'. You know the account you are choosing, but no one else does." NXT-ID's wholly-owned subsidiary, 3D-ID LLC, serves as one of the leading developers of biometric identification.

NXT-ID's Wocket Smart Wallet

Worth Your While

ProMat 2015
Material Handling Industry
March 23-26
Chicago

TransAct 15
Electronic Transactions Association
March 31 - April 2
San Francisco

Retail Realm Technology Conference
"Microsoft for the Retail Sector"
April 25-27
Las Vegas

WERC
Warehousing Education Research Council
May 3-6
Orlando

NRA Show 2015
National Restaurant Association
May 16-19
Chicago

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Zebra Stands Up

Zebra Technologies Corporation (Lincolnshire, IL) has unboxed its new two-dimensional vertical slot scanner for POS, the Symbol DS7708. Measuring 5.6 in. (H) x 5.9 in. (W) x 3.8 in. (D), and weighing 17.6 oz., the DS7708 carries two deep-red 660-nm LEDs recessed behind the scan window to reduce illumination visibility. With swipe speed of up to 100 inches/254 cm per second, and PRZM Intelligent Imaging, it reads one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and electronic codes as fast as they pass in sight.

A field of view half again as large as those of competitors reduces the need for item orientation, according to the vendor, with typical decode limits of 0-3.5 inches/8.9 cm for 5-mil PDF-417, 0-4.9 inches/12.4 cm for 10-mil QR Code, and 0-10.3 inches/26.1 cm for 13-mil UPC/EAN. Additional benefits include Powered USB, an IP-52 environmental rating, and integrated Checkpoint Electronic Article Surveillance. A recessed scan window is protected from marks and scratches, and electronics are located toward the top of the device, preventing damage by splashes and spills.

"Retailers need barcode imagers that are easy for store associates to use and highly accurate for reading damaged or poorly printed barcodes," emphasized Bob Sanders, SVP of Data Capture Solutions and Engineering Shared Services for Zebra Technologies. "The cost-effective DS7708 delivers a range of smart technologies that can help retailers quickly deploy the solution while also reducing checkout lines and enhancing customer service." It supports over 90 keyboards and employs auto-detect cables and Zebra's "123 Scan" utility.

Symbol DS7708 From Zebra Technologies

A Heron With Plumes at Datalogic

Datalogic (Eugene, OR) has uncaged its new barcode scanner, the Heron HD3100. "The Heron HD3100 linear imager is like no other scanner on the market, giving retailers more than just a device to read barcodes," proposed Giulio Berzuini, VP of EMEA Sales and GM of the Hand Held Scanner Business Unit for Datalogic ADC. "It builds upon the worldwide success of its predecessor with improved reading capabilities and new distinctive features." With Solid-State CCD, Heron HD3100 features speed of 270 reads per second and outer reading ranges of 6 inches/15 cm for 5-mils, 13.8 inches/35 cm for 10-mils, and 23.6 inches/60 cm for 20-mils.

As its name signifies, Heron HD3100 presents an elegant, curved silhouette, with dimensions of 6 in. (H) x 2.7 in. (W) x 6 in. (L), and weight of 5.3 oz. It comes in black or white. Significantly, it also offers opportunities to support the retailer's individual branding through extensive customization. Options in this area include multiple color-changing LEDs, in-mold decorative top cover with choice of carbon-fiber or silver designs, and polyphonic speakers for varying audio feedback.

As additional benefits, Heron HD3100 comes with an auto-sensing stand that allows for easy transition from handheld to presentation modes. As with all the company's scanners, it carries the patented 'Green Spot' technology for aiming and good-read feedback. As ruggedness, it bears an IP-40 rating against water and dust and withstands drops of 5 ft./1.5 m onto concrete surfaces. As ideal markets, the company cited apparel and specialty POS.

Heron HD3100 Linear Imager by Datalogic

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ALLIANCES

Ingram Micro Raises IQ

Ingram Micro Mobility (Plainfield, IN) has targeted our world via integration with RQ Retail Management by iQmetrix (Vancouver, BC, Canada). Addressing real-time point-of-sale and inventory visibility, specifically, RQ Retail Management links directly to the supplier. Integration is slated for the upcoming release of RQ Version 4.19. Founded in 1999, and now SaaS-based, iQmetrix also supplies XQ Interactive Retail, which bridges online and physical storefronts.

"Ingram Micro Mobility's vast product and accessory portfolio makes this relationship ideal for our comprehensive RQ solution," observed Christopher Krywulak, CEO/President of iQmetrix. "But beyond the products themselves, Ingram Micro Mobility brings a wealth of technology and retail industry experience to our partner ecosystem. The possibilities for our companies are endless."

"We see the successful impact iQmetrix's key technologies make in the mobility industry," reflected Bashar Nejdawi, President, North America for Ingram Micro Mobility and EVP of Ingram Micro, Inc. "We're hopeful that working together will benefit our mutual customers." Ingram Micro Mobility was formed in 2012, following the purchase of BrightPoint, many readers of RRN.Com will recall.

Ingram Micro Mobility Embraces RQ Retail Management by iQmetrix

A Simple Twist of XT1

Janam Technologies (Woodbury, NY) has partnered with prominent distributor of T-Mobile, One Shop Wireless (Tampa, FL). A resulting "In-A-Box" solution combines Janam's XT1 Rugged Mini Tablet and T-Mobile's DataStrong Network. A "Simply Connected" promotion has been rolled out for this bundle. Introduced in September of 2014, Janam's XT1 features Android 4.2 O/S, 5.9" display, weight of only 13 oz. with battery, and street price of $700 to $900.

Each WWAN-enabled XT1 will ship with T-Mobile SIM card already installed. Via T-Mobile's "Simple Choice for Business" plan, customers receive unlimited text and data. Additional features include no-contract coverage, unlimited international texting from the U.S., and up to 3 GB of high-speed data on 4G LTE. In addition to its 802.11a/b/g/n, Janam's XT1 holds two-dimensional imager, Bluetooth 4.0, and RFID/NFC.

"Janam is committed to providing mobile solutions with the right features at the right price, while eliminating the frustrations customers face when working with long-term industry incumbents," declared Harry Lerner, CEO of Janam. "The Simply Connected promotion aligns us with like-minded industry challenger T-Mobile to shake up the mobile computing industry with highly competitive offerings." Soon, this offer will be extended for Janam's XM5 Rugged Mobile Computers.

Janam's XT1 Rugged Mini-Tablet

Code Corner

KoamTac, Inc. (Princeton, NJ) has released its Version 3.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) for barcode and payment functions, while simultaneously launching its new recruitment program for ISVs. Version 3.0 SDK supports Android, iOS, and Windows, including Windows PC/RT/Phone 8. It features "ease of programming and simplicity of upgrade," according to the hardware vendor, with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that communicate between all major devices such as PCs, KoamTac's KDC Bluetooth scanners, and transaction terminals and mobile POS. All programming will refer to the KoamTac proprietary developer program known as KTSimpleDemo, delivering integration without need of extensive source code knowledge. Above and beyond the updated SDK and APIs, the new KoamTac Developer Program for ISVs will offer demo units and collaborative marketing opportunities.

KDC500 Mobile POS Companion

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

Closer Clip-to-Card, Courtesy of POS

Accelitec, Inc. (Bellingham, WA), which supplies cloud-based digital and mobile marketing solutions, has launched "BroadCast Offers," its new in-store beacon-based marketing platform tied to POS. This new service allows retailers to pass store and brand campaigns directly to shoppers for immediate redemption--including consumer packaged goods, private-label digital coupons, and other store promotions used in the company's "WalletBuilder." Further, completing the cycle through the POS lets BroadCast Offers deliver key performance reporting and promotion measurement, according to Accelitec.

Accelitec's service encompasses three key pieces of retail technology: loyalty, beacons, and integration to POS. "Tying campaigns to the POS is where the heavy lifting is," elaborated Tom Bartz, CEO of Accelitec. "Our ability to link in-aisle campaigns seamlessly and securely to the POS is unique. A POS-connected solution allowing personalized clip-to-card offers in the aisle is powerful enough to drive shopper activation and product movement."

Utilizing Apple iBeacons, Accelitec has its widest following in the independent grocery segment. Last month, it announced contracts with four key wholesale cooperatives--Associated Food Stores, Olean Wholesale Grocery Cooperative, Unified Grocers, and Associated Grocers of New England. It also has achieved Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Status and Google Wallet Integration Partner. "Third-party beacon-triggered advertising apps can't reward shoppers in the store, so the risk is that they'll annoy shoppers, be ineffective in lifting sales--or both--so opt-out rates will be high," reasoned Bartz. "The sustainable play with beacons in retail is to deliver campaigns to the shopper and to the POS."

Tom Bartz, CEO of Accelitec

Southern Fried IT

OnsiteRIS, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) has taken over the IT function for two more restaurant chains, The Krystal Company and Stevi B's Pizza Buffet. With locations across the Southern U.S. (350 for Krystal, 40 for Stevi B's), both brands are owned and operated by Argonne Capital Group. As sole provider, OnsiteRIS will run everything from point-of-sale, to back-office, to corporate data centers.

"Many companies are very frustrated by fragmented IT support where--when something goes wrong--the point-of-sale provider blames the help-desk provider," suggested Mike Gardiner, CEO/President at OnsiteRIS. "We take that headache away, saving our customers time by giving them one partner to call." In addition to the two new customers, OnsiteRIS handles major foodservice players such as Chick-fil-A and Burger King.

"I have worked with OnsiteRIS previously and have found them to understand the restaurant space better than any other IT infrastructure support team in the marketplace today," testified Fred Beilstein, President and COO of Stevi B's Pizza Buffet. "They have invested the time and resources to think like operators, which is exactly what we were looking for in a technology partner." Significantly, OnsiteRIS emphasizes "per-location" pricing, rather than the traditional "per-call" method, thereby offering customers more predictable cost structure.

OnsiteRIS Captures Two More Restaurant Chains

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Peripherals
Bematech
Harbortouch
Hewlett-Packard
Partner Tech
Pioneer POS
POS BANK USA
Posiflex
PowaPOS
TEAMSable

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Brother Mobile
CognitiveTPG
SATO America

Cash Drawers
MMF POS

Data Collection
CipherLab
Code Corporation
Datalogic

Integrated Payment Solutions
Cayan
Datacap Systems
Discover
Mercury/Vantiv

Keyboards & Mobile POS
Cherry, ZF Electronics Corp
PrehKeyTec

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
CognitiveTPG
Epson America
Star Micronics

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

Touchscreens & Monitors
Elo TouchSystems

INSTALLATIONS

Of ISVs, HP, and "Hot Docking"

PCMS Datafit (Cincinnati, OH) will deploy its Vision BeanStore POS for all 117 sites of Half Price Books in the Western and Central U.S. Half Price Books reportedly selected PCMS after being impressed by its inventory management capacity around the buying and selling of new and used books, comics, and records. Additional benefits include reduced transaction times, ease of training, increased system reliability, and improved security, according to the two parties. Notably, PCMS also has promoted "Hot Docking" for the HP MX10 Retail Solution via Vision BeanStore. As posted on the company's blog:

"Traditional POS devices and peripherals have used device drivers (for printers, scanners, and cash drawers) that get locked down and 'claimed' once the peripheral loads the device driver. While this was okay in the days of fixed registers, it doesn't lend itself to today's style of retailing where a device such as a tablet can be docked one minute acting as a register and then the next minute un-docked and used as a portable sales device for looking up stock or performing a customer special order."

"The problem with traditional device drivers though is that once you 'disconnect' the tablet from the peripheral (by undocking it) the device driver won't work unless it is re-initialized by rebooting or restarting the POS application and driver. PCMS and HP have worked together and solved this problem by keeping the device driver layer active in the event of the tablet being un-docked so that when it is re-docked the drivers are automatically re-initialized and can be used with no intervention from the sales associate."

An Active Device Driver Layer for the HP MX10

Agilysys Flexes Muscle

Agilysys (Alpharetta, GA) has supplied its InfoGenesis Flex Mobile POS and rGuest Pay payment gateway for foodservice management company, the Compass Group North America (Charlotte, NC). Initially installed in the Cafe 2400 dining facility at headquarters of Compass Group, this solution will be rolled out to other locations across the U.S. InfoGenesis Flex offers full functionality and scalability delivered on Dell Venue Pro Tablets, and rGuest Pay deploys security schemes such as point-to-point encryption (P2PE), tokenization, and payment information proxy (PIP) for e-commerce, while providing support for the full range of fixed and mobile payment terminals.

"Compass Group is a leader when it comes to using technology, and we are thrilled the company is expanding its partnership with us," indicated Michael Buckham-White, SVP of Sales and Marketing for Agilysys. "InfoGenesis Flex and rGuest Pay are powerful solutions that work together to address the top concerns of corporate foodservice venues--convenience, speed of service, and security. They will allow Compass Group to streamline efficiency, protect customers' financial data, and minimize their own operations risk." Widely considered the leading foodservice management and support services company, Compass Group North America had revenues of $13.6 billion in 2014.

Agilysys has announced general availability of InfoGenesis POS Version 4.4.6 and InfoGenesis Flex Version 4.4.6. Improvements include: compatibility with Apple Pay and NFC, accompanying 11" tablet stand, and support for USB peripherals such as cash drawers, scales, scanners, and receipt printers. Both InfoGenesis POS and InfoGenesis Flex are provided as on-premises or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). "We continue to expand our POS offering to more fully address customer needs, often in the same venue, and we are excited to bring this state-of-the-art version to market," stated Maris Berzins, VP of Product Engineering at Agilysys.

Advancements for InfoGenesis Flex Mobile POS, Shown Here at the Compass Group North America

Channel Factoid

An interesting take on cybersecurity in the Age of Internet of Things (IoT). According to the recent survey by Tripwire, Inc., breaches of POS ranks second among such retail IT worries--yet only reaches 18%. In descending order, the list of top four security concerns shows: 35% for router, firewalls, modems, and switches; 18% for POS; 15% for printers, 3-D printers, and scanners; and 12% for sensors such as badge readers and physical security. Thirty-four percent of retail executives were "not confident" all the devices on their networks were authorized. (For purposes of comparison, just 18% of financial services respondents and 20% of energy sector respondents expressed the same doubts.) Thirty-six percent of retail executives were "not confident" that all the devices connected to their networks were running only authorized software. (Only 25% of financial service respondents and 32% of energy respondents shared the same concern.) Twenty-five percent of retail executives expected to receive additional budget to support the expanded security necessary to protect IoT devices. (Fully 59% of financial respondents and 52% of energy respondents expected to receive additional budget.) Forty-five percent of retail executives said they were "not concerned at all" about security risks associated with IoT, although only 20% were "confident" in the security of their POS! "It's imperative that enterprises establish the ability to continuously monitor their network for unknown devices and applications, validate them against a trusted reference pointand quickly remediate weak or unsafe configurations," noted Dwayne Melancon, CTO for Tripwire.

HELLO GOODBYE

Chair and PIN

The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) has named Bruce Rutherford, SVP and Group Head, Enterprise Security Solutions, MasterCard, as its Chairperson for 2015. This is Rutherford's second time serving in this capacity. He succeeds Lib de Veyra, VP of Emerging Technologies for JCB International, who held the position in 2014.

"Last year, the industry experienced increased threats and large-scale data breaches. So implementing PCI Standards is more important than ever before," remarked Rutherford. "With cybersecurity threats leading news headlines, and the global adoption of EMV chip technology, we are in a great position to drive cross-industry collaboration to protect cardholder data across all channels."

"Bruce's experience in product management and the development and evolution of industry security standards is especially critical as we head into this crucial time in payment card security," commented Stephen Orfei, GM of the PCI SSC (Wakefield, MA). "I am confident that with his leadership, and the increased involvement and collaboration of the global PCI community, we will be able to provide the solutions and resources that merchants need to protect payment data."

Bruce Rutherford, SVP at MasterCard, Named PCI SSC Chairperson for 2015

Bernie on Board

Guard RFID Solutions (Vancouver, BC, Canada) has enlisted Bernie Maroney as its Director of Business Development for New Markets. Rutherford brings both industry and academic qualifications. He founded Magnolia Composites, an early digital imaging firm, and later served as Senior Analyst at Telus, the wireless carrier in Canada. His career includes terms as Professor at the University of Regina from 2002 to 2005, and since 2010, as Visiting Professor at Simon Fraser University.

"I am excited to have Bernie on board, given his diverse experience and business acumen," shared Zahir Abji, CEO/President of Guard RFID. "Our solutions have primarily been utilized in the healthcare industry, where the total number of implementations is approaching 200. By design, the attributes of our technology lend themselves well for industrial and enterprise applications, and several Fortune 500 companies have already adopted it. There has been enormous interest in our technology from many other organizations globally, and Bernie's addition as part of our team will help us capitalize on this."

"I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge to develop new markets for Guard RFID's products and services," relayed Maroney. "I find it rewarding to join a dedicated team implementing new technologies for new applications, in an entrepreneurial firm where the culture is to succeed and we realize the fruits of our efforts. The sky is the limit here."

Bernie Maroney, Director of Business Development for New Markets, Guard RFID