This Week’s Product Pick

Touch Dynamic (Irvington, NJ) unwrapped its TP20 mobile printer, which supports the company’s WF35 and WF43 mobile POS terminals in PDA format. The TP20 prints at 80 mm/second and 203-dpi resolution with direct-thermal technology, and can accept large diameter paper rolls of approximately two inches, allowing for long print runs. It works with Microsoft Windows CE and Mobile, Linux, and the BlackBerry OS. Other key features include USB/Serial/Wi-Fi or USB/Serial/Bluetooth, fast AC charger, durable plastic housing, and long battery life. Physical dimensions measure 3.8 in. (W) x 5.4 in. (D) x 2.3 in. (H), with weight of 1 lb. including battery. The WF43 mobile POS solution, also released this week, increases sunlight-readable LCD screen size to 4.3 inches, up from 3.5 inches for the WF35. Both WF35 and WF43 were designed expressly for POS, according to Craig Paritz, President of Touch Dynamic, and thus deliver enhanced Wi-Fi reliability, all necessary peripherals, and ruggedness for demanding hospitality environments.

COMPANY BUSINESS

Hold Your Horses, VeriFone

Late last week, the U.S. Department of Justice filed its civil antitrust lawsuit to block the proposed acquisition by VeriFone Systems (San Jose, CA) of Hypercom Corporation (Scottsdale, AZ). Submitted in U.S. District Court in Washington, DC, the lawsuit said that the proposed deal violates provisions of both the Clayton and Sherman Antitrust Acts and would substantially lessen competition in the sale of payment processing terminals in the U.S., likely resulting in higher prices and reduced innovation, quality, product variety, and service. According to the DOJ, three companies at the heart of the lawsuit--VeriFone, Hypercom, and Paris-based Ingenico--account for 92% of all payment terminals sold in the U.S. and 80% to 90% of such sales worldwide, raising major concerns about free market competition.

In November 2010, RRN.Com readers may remember, VeriFone agreed to purchase Hypercom in a transaction valued at $485 million. In an effort to resolve antitrust issues with the merger, VeriFone and Hypercom announced in April that they had entered into an agreement to license Hypercom’s U.S. business to Ingenico. The DOJ’s complaint contends that this divestiture does not resolve antitrust concerns since no new independent, long-term competitor has been created. In addition, the structure of the agreements between Ingenico and VeriFone, the only two significant payment processing terminal sellers in the U.S. post-merger, leaves the market open to the possibility of co-dependency and coordinated pricing.

Enter ViVOtech (Santa Clara, CA), the near-field communication (NFC) software and systems leader, which restated its interest in buying Hypercom’s U.S. assets, first expressed in March, three days before the sale to Ingenico. “We see this as a strategic and transformative opportunity for ViVOtech to enhance our next-generation NFC platform, and accelerate the adoption of in-store mobile payment, loyalty, marketing, and merchandising solutions in the U.S.,” asserted Michael “Mick” Mullagh, ViVOtech’s CEO. “ViVOtech is the only U.S.-based company in a position to support and provide continuity to Hypercom’s customer base and become a strong, viable third competitor in the highly contested U.S. market.”

VeriFone and Hypercom have responded to the DOJ action. “VeriFone and Hypercom intend to work with the DOJ to better understand its concerns and assess various options for the planned divestiture of Hypercom’s U.S. business, including the possibility of an alternative buyer,” their joint statement said. “The companies continue to believe in the compelling benefits that the merger will provide to customers, employees, and stockholders. Assuming successful resolution of this and other closing conditions, the companies believe that the merger can be completed in the second half of 2011.”

U.S. Department of Justice Blocks Purchase of Hypercom

Honeywell’s Hive of ISVs

Honeywell Scanning & Mobility (Fort Mill, SC) has launched ISVstore.com, its dedicated website that helps end-users pick and choose among data collection software packages and even test drive the solutions on Dolphin terminals. Designed primarily for end-user demand generation, this new website “seeks to remove industry jargon and speak to the customer in the simplest terms, in order to show what barcode and mobile computing really can do for the enterprise,” Mark Schmidt, VP of Business Development, Honeywell Scanning & Mobility, shared with RRN.Com. So far, 30 of Honeywell’s Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) have enlisted, representing 90 or so solutions for 10 vertical industry segments.

“We’re driving traffic and educating the end-user,” Schmidt explained. “This is not an e-commerce site. In all cases, our ‘How to Buy’ button directs the end-user back to the ISV or its designated resellers. We encourage our resellers, ISVs, and distributors to use ISVstore.com to promote themselves and the capabilities of data collection hardware. Going forward, we intend to add many more ISVs and even showcase resellers with services not offered by Honeywell.”

ISVstore.com utilizes Honeywell’s new Remote MasterMind for Mobility device management software to provide users with the opportunity to demo different software applications on the “Dolphin farm” at the company’s facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Through ‘Live Test Drive,’ offered for the individual ISV solutions, end-users can launch this remote-control session and run through screenshots, features, and work-flow to help evaluate the applicability of the hardware/software combination for their business problems,” Schmidt noted. “This is interactive, not simulation. Through Remote MasterMind, we took most of the burden off our ISVs to make their software work on ISVstore.com.”

ISV Store Catalogues Data Collection Possibilities

Worth Your While

NRA Show 2011
National Restaurant Association
May 21-24
Chicago

RetailNOW 2011
Retail Solutions Providers Association
July 24-27
Orlando

VARTECH 2011
BlueStar
August 15-17
Miami

AIM Expo
Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility
September 26-28
Las Vegas

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Another Dimension for CipherLab 1500

CipherLab (Plano, TX) has enhanced its 1500 scanner series with two-dimensional capability to meet the growing needs of pharmaceutical, hospital, and retail settings in this area. Based on the same ergonomic design (6 inches high, 4 inches wide, and approximately 6 oz.) as the existing 1500, this new gun carries an aggressive two-dimensional scan engine (60 frames/second) and features two versions: 1504 Corded and 1564 Bluetooth. In addition to continuous and presentation modes, both offer auto-sensing, which adds extra convenience and comfort for workers handling intensive scanning tasks, according to the vendor.

“When CipherLab initially released the 1500 series, it quickly received positive reviews from retail professionals,” recounted Sherman Chuang, President of CipherLab, which has its headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan. “Following the wide success of the original 1500, the new models now feature our two-dimensional reader option. This additional feature caters to the increasing popularity of two-dimensional barcode applications. It boosts productivity and provides the reliability your business depends upon.”

The 1500 series also comes with a range of useful software tools, RRN.Com was reminded by Teri Ellis, CipherLab’s Business Development Manager, which includes ScanMaster to facilitate custom configuration. Moreover, the Bluetooth-enabled 1564 is supported by CipherConnect, the COM-to-key utility for intensive data collection that will seamlessly integrate with PDAs and smart-phones. Model 1564 has 90-meter line-of-sight from its communication stand, with buffer memory capable of holding up to 256 scans in reserve and automatic data transmission when back in range.

1500 Now Armed With 2D Scan Engine

QuickLabel Flexes Its Plexo

QuickLabel Systems (West Warwick, RI) introduced its new Plexo family of two-color thermal label printers for use in heavy industrial environments such as textiles and chemical products. By employing two print-heads, these devices allow for simultaneous, independent printing of graphics, text, barcodes, and variable information on each side and in each color on the label or tag. Plexo 453 ($10,295) prints labels up to 4 inches wide, while Plexo 463 ($11,995) prints labels up to 6.4 inches wide. Both feature 300-dpi resolution in user-selectable speeds from 1 inch/second to 5 inch/second and the full complement of computing power, connectivity, and accessories.

“The new Globally Harmonized System, or GHS, of hazard warnings declared in December 2010 will require chemical manufacturers around the world to change their product labels,” indicated Eric Pizzuti, VP of QuickLabel Systems. “Our Plexo printers are the simplest way to get into compliance with these new regulations. Users can print GHS labels in the required black and red colors with these easy-to-use printers, which operate very much like familiar barcode units but handle two colors.”

QuickLabel Systems, which is part of Astro-Med, Inc., supplies thermal-transfer ribbons on an “economical” basis as well as an on-board ribbon-saving mechanism. Each Plexo printer comes backed by the QuickLabel Lifetime Warranty and QuickSwap Repair and Replacement Service, according to the vendor. The new Plexo duo will be demonstrated for the first time in the U.S. at the EastPack trade show held from June 7-9 in New York.

Plexo 453 Two-Color Industrial Label Printer

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ALLIANCES

WAV Dons Armor

WAV, Inc. (Aurora, IL) will distribute Armor rugged mobile computers from DRS Technologies (Parsippany, NJ) to VARs and System Integrators serving public safety, warehousing, and utility markets. As part of the agreement, WAV will support the Armor X10gx and Armor X7 tablets, which meet MIL-STD-810G certification for extreme durability in all environments and weather and feature connectivity beyond WWAN, including Bluetooth, integrated GPS, and 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi. “DRS selected WAV for their industry reach as well as their full range of expert services necessary to support this specific technology,” remarked Mike Sarrica, VP and GM for DRS Tactical Systems, a subsidiary of DRS Technologies.

The tenth-generation Armor X10gx weighs 4.7 lbs. and carries an IP-67 rating, which means it is fully protected against dust and can withstand immersion in water up to three feet deep. Other features include 10.4-inch sunlight-readable touchscreen display, Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and 64-GB solid-state hard drive (user-replaceable to 160 GB). The Armor X7 weighs 2.9 lbs. and carries an IP-65 rating, with 7-inch sunlight-readable touchscreen display and Intel Atom N450 processor. Significantly, the X7 carries m-SATA solid-state drives from Intel, in both 40-GB and 80-GB capacities. Both platforms run Windows 7.

“Our VARs and Integrators have been asking for portable, rugged tablets for their first responder and commercial accounts,” stated Norm Dumbroff, CEO/President at WAV, Inc. “We’re pleased to add Armor to our portfolio of high-quality product and service lines. Our agreement significantly increases the value we can provide to our customers in the rugged arena.”

Armor X7 Rugged Mobile Computer

Putting the POS in Processing

UP Solution (Hackensack, NJ) will provide its computer-based POS terminals for distribution to resellers and merchants serviced by iPayment, Inc. (Thousand Oaks, CA). Under this pact, UP Solution will handle all facets of POS services to end-users, including software configuration, installation, training, and ongoing support. Founded in 2007 by CEO/President Jay Yoon, UP Solution offers products such as its UP-3000 POS terminal with Intel Atom processor, designed specifically for small restaurants, salons, and spas. The company has received RSPA Certified Retail Technology Provider status for the past two years.

“We are extremely pleased to announce this strategic venture with one of the major players in the payment processing industry,” declared Bryan Daughtry, VP of Sales and Marketing at UP Solution. “With this program, iPayment will continue to provide its payment processing services to its own merchant base with the choice of offering UP Solution’s world-class hardware and software. This partnership will open up an entirely new market for iPayment sales partners, allowing them to target high-volume merchants and reduce attrition at the same time, increasing the overall value of their portfolio.”

“UP Solution was the logical pick as our partner for POS services due to their flexibility, experience, and elegant product offering,” added Mike Ackerman, SVP of Sales and Marketing for iPayment. “This deal gives our sales partners another solution that strategically differentiates them from their competition, meaning they no longer have to walk away from opportunities which require POS systems. Under this agreement, our sales partners will continue to utilize our processing platform in conjunction with UP Solution’s hardware and software to create the perfect all-in-one solution for our merchants.”

UP-3000 Provided by UP Solution

Code Corner

Paymetric, Inc. (Atlanta) released Data Intercept for SAP, which leverages its XiSecure On-Demand tokenization technology and captures credit card values prior to them entering the SAP landscape. Once the token returns to SAP, the original payment card field is populated and may be utilized for authorization. User experience is seamless, normal work-flow may be resumed, and day-to-day business activities may be completed without further payment protocols. By preventing sensitive cardholder data from touching SAP, Data Intercept removes the system from the scope of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, PCI DSS, and minimizes the risk of incurring fees, fines, and legal costs associated with any data breach, according to the developer. Data Intercept for XiSecure On-Demand currently comes in two versions: Data Intercept for eCommerce and Data Intercept Stand-Alone. “Paymetric continues to drive innovation in the payment security space,” said Larry Wine, CEO. “Many of our clients are already using one of the versions of Data Intercept already on the market and are experiencing solid results, not to mention sleeping better at night. We want to take worry about cardholder security off their minds completely.”

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Feed Your Zebra

POS Supply Solutions (Danvers, MA) has expanded its product line to include thermal receipt paper rolls for printers from Zebra Technologies (Lincolnshire, IL), including all mobile, kiosk, and desktop models. This new family of consumables has been specifically engineered for Zebra printers to optimize performance, according to the company. POS Supply also announced it will offer competitively priced generic thermal receipt paper rolls compatible with Zebra devices.

“While they may look similar, the chemical make-up of each printed receipt paper roll affects its life span,” observed Stephen Enfield, President of POS Supply. “Most documents look fine when they are first printed, but the true test is how they will hold up. When printed data is unreadable, problems with returns, service, warranties, and compliance can arise.”

Receipt paper rolls may also be printed with company logo, watermarks, return policies, warranties, or terms and conditions, according to POS Supply, as well as various colors. Another option is to preprint standard fields, which proves valuable in mobile printing by reducing workload in the field and extending battery life. Custom printed paper roll orders start at as little as five cases, and the manufacturer recently went green with recycled cores in its line of POS consumables.

Consumables Line Extended at POS Supply Solutions

A Radiant Apple

Radiant Systems (Atlanta) debuted its entry into the Apple iOS for POS race, dubbed CPMobile. Targeted at specialty retail, and tied to CounterPoint, the new build lets store personnel deliver mobile checkout and customer service through Apple’s iPod Touch and iPhone platforms. “We showed this solution at our User’s Conference at the end of April and it got tremendous response from both our end-user customers and our resellers,” RRN.Com learned from Jack O’Malley, Product Marketing, Specialty Retail Division, at Radiant.

Following pilot testing, this new software, developed by Radiant, will be offered through App Store and will be supported by Radiant’s resellers, who will provide the “sled” of integrated magnetic-stripe reader and barcode scanner. “Our resellers see this as an exciting opportunity to expand their customers’ overall POS footprint and even talk with some retailers they haven’t been able to approach in the past,” O’Malley related. He added that CPMobile will be offered on the monthly subscription basis, allowing for great seasonal flexibility, which should have the further benefit of helping to boost reseller engagement with their customers.

“We’ve even talked with some of our resellers about setting up rental or lease programs for the hardware,” O’Malley continued. Following launch of CPMobile later this summer, Radiant will focus its efforts on extending the Apple iOS platform into retail functions beyond POS. An inventory module is already in the works, to be followed by gift registry and other components from which customers may pick and choose.

Jack O’Malley, Product Marketing, Specialty Retail Division, Radiant

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Auto ID Distribution
BlueStar
ScanSource

POS & Peripherals
Logic Controls
Pioneer POS
POS-X
Touch Dynamic

POS Software - Retail
Tri-Technical Systems

POS Systems - Hospitality
PAR

POS Software - Hospitality
Aldelo Systems

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Datamax-O'Neil
Zebra Technologies

Cash Drawers
APG Cash Drawer
MMF POS

Data Collection Terminals
CipherLab
Datalogic Mobile
Janam Technologies

Data Collection Software
Wavelink

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
Merchant Warehouse

Keyboards
Cherry, ZF Electronics Corp.

Pay at Table
Bellatrix Systems

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
Epson America
Star Micronics

INSTALLATIONS

Fort Worth Branded by RFID

The City of Fort Worth, Texas, has tapped Radiant RFID’s asset-tracking system, Virtual Asset Tracker, to inventory and locate all items purchased through federal grant money. This includes everything from radios to computers to the robots used by the bomb disposal team, according to the two parties. Delivered through Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Virtual Asset Tracker gets loaded on the Motorola MC3090-Z RFID handheld computer.

“Speed and accuracy were important to us,” relayed Eric Carter, Homeland Security Grants Manager, City of Fort Worth Office of Emergency Management. “We knew Radiant RFID from their work with the State of Texas for Evacuation Management and were comfortable with their level of expertise with RFID and asset tracking. Once we set up our data and selected RFID tags, we were able to instantly track and locate items. As we continue to add assets to our databases, this will prove tremendously helpful during inventories and audits.”

“Radiant was able to rapidly deploy this complete solution to the City of Fort Worth by hosting the software and completing all set-up activities prior to going on-site for training,” said Kenneth Ratton, VP of Sales at Radiant RFID (Austin, TX). “We spent time with the City of Fort Worth to understand their requirements and challenges and now they are moving from their time-intensive, manual inventory process to an RFID-based solution that enables them to quickly and effectively track the physical location of assets.” A mixture of RFID tags is used to provide desired read ranges on plastic, metal, and other surfaces, according to the two parties.

Motorola MC3090-Z Runs Virtual Asset Tracker by Radiant RFID

Heartland Fills the Tank

United Refining Company will roll out the SmartLink network service from Heartland Payment Systems (Princeton, NJ) to all of its locations in New York and Pennsylvania, which are branded under Kwik Fill, Red Apple Food Marts, and Country Fair. SmartLink consolidates multiple in-store devices--including store systems, automatic tank gauges, environmental control, and digital signage--onto one high-speed broadband line, saving owners time and money while increasing the efficiency of their operations, according to its developer. Its payment gateway supports POS, money order, check cashing, ATM, and fleet card terminals.

“Managing multiple petroleum and c-store sites requires secure connectivity,” observed Jack Yates, CIO of United Refining Company. “SmartLink technology not only helps us protect sensitive payment data and meet PCI compliance standards, but it has revolutionized our operations by enabling us to enhance our loyalty program and use our POS system to its fullest potential.” In all, United Refining Company has almost 400 retail outlets, in addition to its petroleum refining activities.

David Munson, Heartland’s Executive Director of Petroleum Services, noted, “Heartland is proud to be able to provide SmartLink technology to United Refining. SmartLink solves several common industry problems such as dial connectivity issues, transaction security, and processing times. Because it is available in several solutions and can accommodate single-store and multi-store, all operators will benefit from this technology.” SmartLink has been endorsed by the CITGO Petroleum Corporation and just recently incorporated third-party fuel inventory and decision support technology into SmartLink ProDistributor.

SmartLink Consolidates All Systems From Fuel to POS

Channel Factoid

Seems consumers, lead by 18 to 34 year olds, not surprisingly, have their sights set on mobile phone payments. According to research by MasterCard, fully 63% of the younger, digital generation would welcome using their mobile phone for payment, versus 37% of those 35 or older. Indeed, 65% of such upstarts said they feel more naked without their phone than without their wallet, compared to 34% of those in the more mature group, who actually carry wallets. Such demand has been building for the past few years, according to MasterCard. Between 2009 and 2010, respondents showed an increase of 67% (from 15% to 25%) in the number of purchases made with mobile phones. Over this time period, not coincidentally, this audience also boosted their daily mobile phone access to online banking services by 79% (from 14% to 25%). As the mobile wallet goes mainstream, gender could play an interesting role in how it’s perceived and used. Right now, more men than women (51% vs. 40%) who have mobile phones would be comfortable using them to make purchases. While women appear more conservative about mobile commerce, they might value the content stored on their phones more highly. Women more than men (50% vs. 38%) feel uncomfortably exposed without their mobile device. “Consumers are already living a mobile lifestyle, so using their phones to make payments on a daily basis is a natural next step,” remarked Mung-Ki Woo, Group Executive, Mobile, at MasterCard Worldwide. “2011 is the beginning of the NFC mobile payments era, and consumers are eager to get their hands on the first commercial deployments in the U.S.”

HELLO GOODBYE

APG Knots Bow Tie

APG Cash Drawer (Minneapolis, MN) has enlisted Stephen D. Bergeron as its VP of Strategic Initiatives, charged with accelerating the company’s global business activities, particularly in Asia. Well-known throughout the retail and hospitality IT markets, both for his many years of experience as well as omnipresent bow tie, Bergeron comes to APG from PrehKeyTec, where he served as President for the past five-and-a-half years. Prior to that, he was VP of Sales at Transaction Printer Group, now part of CognitiveTPG.

“As we work to leverage our products and brand in worldwide markets, our management team at APG needs to continue to grow,” commented Mark Olson, President of APG. “Stephen provides in-depth knowledge of the industry as well as extensive experience with customers, products, and services. These skills are required to meet the needs of the retailers and POS solution providers worldwide and he will help APG achieve those goals.”

“APG’s strategic intent is to be able to participate in the explosive growth of Asia as both a source and a market, and to enhance our ability to support our existing customers with appropriate products and services as their expansion plans include that geographic region,” Bergeron said. In addition to his executive roles at hardware manufacturers serving the channel, Bergeron also has been active in advisory groups within the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA).

Stephen Bergeron, VP of Strategic Initiatives, APG Cash Drawer

Fast Lane at Merchant Link

Merchant Link (Silver Spring, MD) has moved Dan Lane into the big corner office as its CEO/President. Lane is one of the founders of the payment gateway and data security provider, and formerly served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). His appointment will bring renewed focus on product development and customer service, according to the company.

“The world of payments is only getting more complicated with evolving payment types, regulations, compliance requirements, and security threats,” declared Lane. “Merchant Link’s solutions need to remain on the cutting edge of innovation to ensure our customers can focus on their core business and not worry about managing cardholder data. I will drive the development of these solutions and expand the breadth and depth of our services to support merchants well into the future.”

Lane joined Merchant Link in 2002, following four years as VP of Technical Services for NXT, Inc. At Merchant Link, he led teams responsible for development of the company’s entire product line, including TransactionVault, its tokenization scheme, and its new point-to-point encryption solution, TransactionShield. He also played an integral part in growing the company’s network of customers and partners so that it now secures three billion transactions for more than 150,000 hotels, restaurants, and retailers annually, including such brands as T.G.I. Fridays, IHOP, and InterContinental Hotels Group.

Dan Lane, CEO/President, Merchant Link