This Week’s Product Pick

CipherLab USA (Plano, TX) has shipped the Windows CE Version of its CP60 industrial mobile computer. Measuring 7.3 in. (L) x 3.3 in. (W) x 1.7 in. (D), and weighing 18.2 oz., the CP60 carries TI OMAP3 CPU at 1 GHz, 512 MB DDR SDRAM, and 4 GB Flash. Communication schemes include 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 4G HSPA+, and GPS. For data collection, the CP60 employs laser reader, long-range laser reader, two-dimensional imager, and five mega-pixel autofocus camera. Additional features include 3.5-inch transflective TFT color display, Numeric or Qwerty keypad with LED backlight, and IP-65/IP-67 ratings. "The CP60 CE Version is the perfect device for you to deploy in your business to get the most productivity for your investment," stated Luis Wu, GM at CipherLab USA.

Windows CE CP60 From CipherLab

COMPANY BUSINESS

RFID, Unfettered and Widespread?

Motorola Solutions (Schaumburg, IL) has settled its Intellectual Property (IP) dispute with Round Rock Research LLC (Jersey City, NJ), eliminating one obstacle to more widespread adoption of RFID. A licensing agreement under this settlement means system installations employing fixed and handheld readers from Motorola Solutions will be considered free from patent-infringement claims by Round Rock Research. Similarly, SMARTRAC (Amsterdam), one of the primary suppliers of RFID transponders and inlays, has entered into its own licensing agreement with Round Rock Research, freeing up use of its products. Neither vendor disclosed terms of their agreement.

In January 2012, RRN.Com readers may recall, Round Rock filed lawsuits against a number of companies--including some of Motorola Solutions' customers--alleging that their RFID solutions infringed Round Rock's RFID patents. In March 2012, Motorola Solutions filed its own lawsuit in turn challenging  Round Rock. Now, with this recent resolution, Motorola Solutions and SMARTRAC have ensured the market has both RFID tag and RFID readers that together lie outside any patent problems, according to the participating parties.

Motorola's RFD5500 UHF RFID Sled for the MC55N0, MC55A0, MC65, and MC67 Mobile Computers

"Tag Up," Counsels Zebra

Another positive sign for RFID, and our channel for retail, with the debut of the ZD500R from Zebra Technologies (Lincolnshire, IL). Configured expressly for item-level exception tagging, with four-inch print width, the ZD500R represents the company's first desktop UHF RFID printer. As such, it brings significant advantages in cost, size, and technical capabilities, RRN.Com was told by Michael Fein, Senior Product Manager for RFID at Zebra Technologies.

With small form factor of 7.6 in. (W) x 7.5 in. (H) x 10 in. (D), and weight of 4.9 lbs., ZD500R satisfies space constraints at the front counter. An intuitive user interface requires little operator training, according to the vendor, and the widest variety of inlays are supported, everything from small jewelry tags to large shipping labels. In addition, chip-based serialization simplifies printing and encoding, while Zebra Link-OS facilitates networking, web-integration, and application development.

A list price of $1,995 has been set for the standard ZD500R, with 200-dpi printhead and Parallel, Serial, USB, and Ethernet. Options include cutter and peeler, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and 300-dpi printhead. "Even small stores have thousands of things to tag, whether returns, promotional items, or goods from new vendors," observed Fein. "At present, people put printers on carts and roll them in, try to pre-encode, or even make their readers produce their tags. Now, for the first time, we have an RFID printer that targets such low-to-medium volume environments, whether stores or offices, with all that implies for the channel."

Zebra's ZD500R Desktop UHF RFID Printer, With NFC Troubleshooting

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

PowerScan Bears Its Blueteeth

Datalogic ADC (Eugene, OR) has brought Bluetooth wireless communications to its PowerScan 9500, in the form of the PowerScan PBT9500. Devices in PowerScan 9500 represent the vendor's new two-dimensional handheld area imagers with rugged mechanics for industrial applications. With omnidirectional reading and advanced optical characteristics, they feature scanning range as high as 1 m/3.3 ft., dependent on the resolution of the barcode. An IP-65 rating protects against water and dust, with repeated drop resistance to 1.2 m/3.9 ft. onto concrete, and wireless radio range of 90 m/295 ft.

In yellow-black, the PowerScan PBT9500 measures 8.3 inches long and weighs 13.4 ounces. Described as well balanced and ergonomic, this cordless device utilizes an intuitive aiming system and soft-pulsed white illumination light to reduce both unnatural wrist movements and strain on an operator's eyes. A quick, three-second battery replacement, combined with single or multi-slot battery charger, allows continuous service in the field. Additional benefits include Datalogic's patented "Green Spot" technology for visual good-read feedback and Motionix motion-sensing technology.

PowerScan PBT9500 Imager From Datalogic ADC

Smooth Sledding for KoamTac

KoamTac, Inc. (Princeton, NJ) has added new features for usability to its KDC400 Series of scanner/card reader sleds. First, charging cradle compatibility has been extended for the KDC400. In addition, the KDC400 now comes with near-field communication (NFC) readers. Finally, an on-board, five-pin Micro USB connector has been added, which provides "pass-through" charging from the KDC400 to its smartphone companion.

"It's all about convenience," reflected Hanjin Lee, CEO/President of KoamTac. "Our original offering required two different cables for charging, one for the smartphone and one for the KDC, which some customers found inconvenient. Now with our optional drop-in charger and pass-through charging, both devices charge from a single AC source. The addition of NFC to certain models means that by choosing the KDC400 sled line, our clients have an entire world of barcode scanning options available to them, literally, at their fingertips."

Also, KoamTac has introduced five new custom cases for the KDC400 Series. The company's suite of sleds now includes models for use with the Samsung Galaxy S3-Mini and Galaxy Note3, Apple iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, and LG Optimus VU2. "By staying ahead of the pack to make sleds compatible with the latest smartphones and tablets, we offer convenience and cost savings because customers don't have to replace scanners, only the cases," relayed Lee.

KoamTac KDC400 Series R2 Sled in Charging Cradle

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Week of November 11

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Week of October 21

PARTNER PROGRAMS

Au Revoir, Aures U.S.

A letter to customers and partners has announced the new structure for Aures Technology and J2 Retail Systems in the U.S. At the beginning of this year, RRN.Com readers will remember, The Aures Group, based in France, purchased J2 Retail Systems, based in Britain. Both providers of POS sell through the channel in the U.S., and J2 Retail Systems recently entered distribution through ScanSource.

"My letter is to inform you that the U.S. operations of Aures Technologies, Inc. and J2 Retail Systems, Inc. have now merged for practical reasons," writes Kurt Ericson, VP of J2 Retail Systems, Inc. (Irvine, CA). "The merged business will trade as J2 Retail Systems, Inc. All processes for order placement and fulfillment will now come through J2 Retail Systems, Inc."

"We are all very excited about the opportunities for development and commercial growth that the scale of the new business will give us, our partners, and our clients," continued Ericson's letter. "The pioneering R&D which sets J2 apart from its competitors will add to the technical strength and originality of Aures development, making for a more diverse, market-leading group with a product range to meet all your needs." As part of this consolidation, Kevin Egyed, Managing Director for Aures Technology U.S., has left the company, RRN.Com has learned.

J2 625 POS Terminal

Vantiv "Sprints" to POS for SMB

An interesting triangle of Vantiv, Sprint, and NCR has been assembled has been assembled to bring cloud and tablet-based POS to the SMB. Entitled Vantiv Mobile Checkout, this bundle, powered by NCR Silver, will be distributed through Sprint's business sales channel. It includes the tablet, wireless connectivity, encrypted credit card reader, cash drawer, and receipt printer. Scanners, portable printers and other retail accessories are also available.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring leading, integrated, and innovative payment solutions to small businesses with Sprint," shared Elizabeth Rector, SVP and GM of Mobile and E-Commerce at Vantiv (Cincinnati). "Sprint's business distribution network is a perfect way to reach more small businesses and we look forward to helping them be even more effective with Vantiv Mobile Checkout."  Active in our channel, Vantiv services approximately 400,000 merchants in the U.S. and processes the third largest number of transactions.

"Our retail customers have been asking for secure, integrated tablet-based point-of-sale," recounted Ben Vos, VP of the Emerging Solutions Group at Sprint (Overland Park, KS). "Our goal is to seamlessly integrate the latest in storefront technology to help retailers support their customers while also receiving valuable data key to critical decision making." Individual benefits such as affordable start-up cost, encrypted transactions, and simple financing were cited, as well as the capacity for both fixed full-service checkout and mobile credit card reading.

A POS Bundle by NCR, Vantiv, and Sprint

Code Corner

Isis (New York) has announced nationwide availability of the Isis Mobile Wallet, which allows consumers to shop and pay using their smartphone, by storing virtual copies of their participating credit or prepaid cards, as well as coupons and merchant loyalty registrations. To use the Isis Mobile Wallet, consumers select their preferred payment card and tap their smartphone on the point-of-sale terminal. A redesigned version of Isis Mobile Wallet delivers simplified user interface with clean, white background and easy-to-navigate toolbars, according to the company. It also carries integration with American Express Serve to load funds, pay bills online, and send gifts. A joint venture between AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless, Isis now supports more than forty smartphones from those carriers. At no cost, consumers receive enhanced SIM cards and may download the Isis Mobile Wallet from the Google Play app store. So far, merchants such as Toys "R" Us, Jamba Juice, and Coca-Cola vending machines have announced acceptance for Isis. "Today's nationwide launch of the Isis Mobile Wallet is a milestone for consumers, merchants, and banks," suggested Michael Abbott, CEO of Isis. "Together, with our partners, we've built a seamless mobile commerce experience. We're pleased to bring the magic and simplicity of the Isis Mobile Wallet to consumers across the U.S."

ALLIANCES

An ERP Entry for Sato

Sato America (Charlotte, NC) has forged an exclusive strategic relationship with TGI (Toledo, OH), an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software provider. Under this agreement, Sato will provide software project management services as well as its printers, print/apply systems, wireless devices and peripherals, and consumables such as labels, ribbons, print heads, and supplies. TGI's Enterprise 21 ERP software is utilized by small and mid-market manufacturing and distribution companies across vertical industries.

"A priority for TGI was to ensure that our software solutions continue to be professionally installed and integrated as expected by our customers," reported Scott Smith, CEO/President of TGI. "It's the very reason we selected Sato America, a Tier 1 provider, to be our exclusive hardware partner and project management services provider. We strongly believe that our relationship will be a long-term win-win for both companies, and most importantly, for our combined customer base."

Sato America's GL4e Label Printer

A Keystroke of Genius

Another leading ISV, Specialized Business Solutions (Dillon, CO), has embraced the Genius Customer Engagement Platform from Merchant Warehouse (Boston). SBS, of course, supplies Keystroke POS, its full-featured retail store management system supported by an extensive reseller network. Debuted in 2012, Genius allows customers, and merchants, to choose their preferred payment methodology--whether cards, NFC, QR Code, or mobile wallet--while extending loyalty schemes and PCI Compliance.

"We pride ourselves in delivering reliable retail solutions for our customers," declared Michael Gebb, President of SBS. "With the integration of Merchant Warehouse's Genius solution, we can expand on this promise as a result of enhanced PCI compliance and the flexibility of a POS solution that can evolve with the market, removing the need for any expensive hardware or software updates. We're thrilled to bring this integrated solution to our customers and look forward to the additional benefits Genius presents, as well."

"For consumers to complete a seamless transaction, merchant platforms must accommodate a customer's preferred means of payment, a strong security solution to keep any card data or personal information secure, and a stable system to ensure transactions can be processed quickly and efficiently. All of this together can dictate the ultimate experience for both merchant and customer," observed Henry Helgeson, CEO of Merchant Warehouse. "Genius integrates each of these assets into a single platform, allowing merchants to deliver a high-quality, unified experience while effectively managing transactional data."

Genius Platform by Merchant Warehouse

Janam's Rosetta Stone

Janam Technologies (Woodbury, NY) has been chosen as the recommended hardware provider by Inner-Net, Inc. (Houston), which develops end-to-end direct store delivery (DSD) and presale solutions for wholesale and manufacturing. This designation covers Inner-Net's ProTrack suite of applications. Janam, of course, supplies its XG Series of rugged gun-shaped mobile computers and XT, XM, and XP Series of handheld mobile computers.

"Among the numerous features built into our solution is the ability to easily toggle between English and Spanish," explained Merlyn Osbourne, CEO/President of Inner-Net. "This bilingual feature brings distinct benefits for distribution companies in the Hispanic food wholesale market. With the growing Hispanic population and the increasing popularity of authentic ethnic food items, this industry continues to expand." Research has put the value of this market for food and beverages at $8 billion per year, reaching $11 billion by 2017.

"Purpose-built technology delivers to enterprise customers the ability to do things faster, better, and more efficiently," related Harry Lerner, Janam's CEO. "Janam's rugged mobile computers coupled with Inner-Net's user-oriented software is a great example of how the right tools can help businesses achieve competitive advantage. The resulting solution is optimized for this highly competitive and cost-conscious market, and Janam is gratified to be the top hardware choice."

Janam's XM66 With Windows Mobile

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

POS Systems - Apple Based
LightSpeed Retail

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Brother Mobile
Printronix
Sato America
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

INSTALLATIONS

Taking Wegmans Temperature

ParTech, Inc. (New Hartford, NY) will deploy the PAR EverServ SureCheck solution for food safety and "intelligent checklist management" for Wegmans Food Markets. SureCheck combines mobile application, multi-mode wireless temperature measuring device, cloud-based enterprise configuration, and reporting server application to automate the monitoring of quality risk factors, including Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP). Founded in 1916, Wegmans operates 83 supermarkets in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts.

"Wegmans is a highly respected, innovative company and a leader in the grocery industry," indicated Karen Sammon, President of ParTech. "We are very pleased to play an integral role in its food safety program. Both Wegmans and PAR share common core values on food safety and customer satisfaction."

Through real-time data delivery, SureCheck enables exception-based reporting and alerts while capturing time-stamps and operator names for audit trails, ParTech noted. In addition, key tasks and performance metrics are seamlessly integrated with centralized enterprise systems, thereby eliminating manual inputs and inaccurate data. Finally, easy-to-use workflow, reporting, and administrative methodologies combine to minimize training required for managers and store associates, according to ParTech, with Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) speeding implementation and lowering capital expenditures.

PAR EverServ SureCheck Food Safety System

One-Two Combination for PunchTab

PunchTab (Palo Alto, CA) will power the loyalty program for the Yankee Candle Company. With PunchTab's platform, Yankee Candle customers can earn points for in-store purchases and social engagement and are rewarded with vouchers in exchange for their points. As expected, e-mail, web, mobile, e-commerce, and POS will be engaged, in addition to social media, with monitoring and reporting of marketing efforts and ROI for merchants.

"CPG brands and retailers are looking for insights into purchase behavior to create better consumer profiles, to influence purchase decisions, and to establish brand differentiation and preference. And always, to get consumers' attention," volunteered Angela Sanfilippo, PunchTab's CMO. "PunchTab offers companies like Yankee Candle the opportunity to create loyalty programs that exist everywhere consumers engage, while enhancing the lifetime value of each customer by continued fidelity to the brand." Yankee Candle sells its products through approximately 35,000 store locations in North America, including more than 550 company-owned outlets.

Founded in 2011, PunchTab also has made recent advances in the fast-casual and quick-service restaurant arenas. Three major brands--Arby's, Bareburger, and Cosi--have adopted the omnichannel loyalty and engagement program to bridge their store, online, and mobile activities. PunchTab offers both an out-of-box product and fully customizable white-labeled solution with partners along the lines of Magento, Constant Contact, and Shopify.

More Customers for the Loyalty and Engagement Platform

Channel Factoid

U.S. companies cling to checks as their main method of business-to-business (B2B) payment, reveals the recent report by the Association for Financial Professionals. According to this research, the typical organization makes half its B2B payments by check, down from 81% in 2004. Wire payments and ACH payments are being adopted at a slower rate than in the recent past, as paper checks now can be converted directly into images of ACH debits. Meanwhile, the use of mobile payments at the corporate level is becoming increasingly popular. Respondents identified the following reasons why companies may be reluctant to adopt electronic payments methods: 82% experience difficulty convincing their customers; 74% have difficulty convincing their suppliers; 71% lack IT resources for implementation; 70% lack formats for remittance information; and 66% lack integration between electronic payment and accounting systems. A number of respondents are evaluating use of mobile payment tools in the next three years in the following areas: 37% reviewing payments sent or received; 37% reviewing balance and other payment information; and 36% approving payments. "This year's survey affirms the multitude of barriers that practitioners face when attempting to adopt new electronic payment trends," summarized Diane Quinn, Managing Director and Global Large Corporate Sales Executive for J.P. Morgan Treasury Services, which underwrote this survey. "Practitioners who overcome these challenges and break through the status quo of limited electronic payment adoption are well positioned to achieve renewed growth, improved fraud control, and efficiency gains."

HELLO GOODBYE

D-O Prioritizes Portability

Datamax-O'Neil (Orlando) has enlisted Brian Bukowski as VP of its Portable Printer Business Unit. With 25 years of experience in technology sales, Bukowski most recently served as VP of North America Enterprise Sales for Motorola Solutions, leading his team of 200 associates addressing the mobile, wireless network, software, and services portfolio across vertical markets of retail, manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare. Previously, he served as VP of Sales for the Eastern Region for Motorola Solutions. Earlier, he worked at Symbol Technologies, prior to its acquisition by Motorola, with titles such as Director of OEM Sales, Senior Enterprise Account Manager, and Product Marketing Manager.

"Brian's proven track record of sales success, his unique combination of skills that covers sales, product marketing, and channel development, and his strategic vision will help Datamax-O'Neil expand in the thermal mobile printer market," commented Paul Sindoni, President of Datamax-O'Neil. "The portable printer segment represents a significant opportunity for growth, and we look forward to Brian applying his strong results-oriented sales, marketing, and channel experience to build our business."

"Datamax-O'Neil has great products and a team dedicated to success, so the opportunity to grow the portable printer business in a marketplace that is both dynamic and fast-paced is exciting," remarked Bukowski. "I look forward to working with the Datamax-O'Neil team as we develop and implement the strategies that will lead to highly competitive products, strong partnerships, and impressive growth."

Brian Bukowski, VP, Portable Printers, Datamax-O'Neil

Succession at Cynergy Data

Cynergy Data (New York) has named Afshin Yazdian as its new CEO. Former CEO Kim Fitzsimmons will remain on the company's board of directors and take a strategic role with Comvest Partners, Cynergy's private equity investor. Yazdian joins Cynergy with over 14 years of experience in the point-of-sale industry, most recently serving as President of TouchSuite, one of the aggregated merchant processor, ISV, POS providers cropping up. Previously, he served as EVP & General Counsel for iPayment, Inc.

"Cynergy is now a proud leader in the industry, with systems and products that are designed for the next era of merchant processing," offered Fitzsimmons. "I am so excited about everything that we have worked hard to build over the past few years, and believe the company is now well positioned for the future. I welcome the opportunity to work with Afshin and believe he is the perfect leader for this company."

Afshin Yazdian, CEO, Cynergy Data