Our Product Pick

MMF POS (Wheeling, IL) has fashioned new Lockable Tablet Stands, suitable for both 7-to-8-inch and 9-to-10-inch devices, and respectively designated MMF-TS081 and MMF-TS101. A patent-pending design with adaptable grips allows full access to ports and functional buttons. A high security tabular lock provides maximum protection to prevent unauthorized removal of the tablet, while durable steel construction increases longevity, according to the vendor. The base stand provides optimized viewing angles with 360-degree rotation for maximum front-to-back tilt and portrait or landscape orientation. They are available in black, red, and white, with custom colors and logo imprint upon request. Target markets include retail, hospitality, industrial, and healthcare.

Lockable Tablet Stands by MMF POS

COMPANY BUSINESS

Elo's ECR for the Cloud

Elo Touch Solutions (Milpitas, CA) has entered the fray in POS for the SMB with its new All-in-One, dubbed PayPoint. Positioned directly between an iPad-based system and traditional POS terminal, PayPoint cleverly combines all necessary hardware elements, software functionality, and opportunities for recurring revenue. Significantly, Elo will embrace the channel--resellers and distributors--as its go-to-market strategy. Pricing for PayPoint has been set at $995 for hardware and $49 monthly subscription fee for cloud back-up, software updates, and technical support. It ships under one SKU.

As hardware, PayPoint integrates 13-inch flip-to-sign touchscreen, receipt printer, cash drawer, barcode scanner, card swipe, and customer-facing display--all in one sleek footprint filling counter-space of only 13.5 x 15.7 inches. In conversation with RRN.Com, Trent Waterhouse, Elo's Chief Marketing Officer, pointed to benefits from this configuration for both end-users and resellers. "You take your pretty iPad and add cash drawer, barcode scanner, receipt printer, and metal stand, and it's suddenly not so pretty anymore," commented Waterhouse. "In the case of resellers, there's money to be made on the initial sale of PayPoint."

Elo's PayPoint Targets the SMB

Near and Far at Motorola

Motorola Solutions (Schaumburg, IL) has unveiled its Symbol DS4308 2D Imager, offered in four versions to suit needs of customers. With Motorola's most advanced imaging technology, including proprietary PRZM, DS4308 features small form factor (weighing 5.7 oz., measuring 6.5 inches) for employee ease-of-use along with omnidirectional, point-and-shoot reading. Further, it allows green and red indicator lights to be mixed and matched with audio to provide flexible scanning feedback for various settings. As ruggedness, it survives 6 ft./1.8 m drops to concrete.

The DS4308-SR can scan electronic barcodes on the screen of mobile phones, drivers' licenses, and UPC codes out to 28 inches for handling large or heavy items in the shopping cart. DS4308-HD offers 16.5-inch read range for general front counter scanning and can also capture small, high-density barcodes found on electronics, jewelry, and other small items. For use at the patient bedside, the DS4308-HC provides tactile feedback for no noise, as well as disinfectant-ready plastic housing. It also captures data from curved reflective surfaces such as vials, syringes, and IV bags. Finally, the DS4308-P allows workers to switch instantly between handheld and hands-free mode by engaging or disengaging the scanner from its adjustable stand.

"Our customers could not be more impressed with the DS4308 Series," testified Richard Bissonnette, President of Strategic Systems & Technology Corporation (Suwanee, GA). "From the longer read range and more aggressive scanning on smaller codes to the brighter aiming beam in a lighter form factor, the DS4308 will be the new standard in scanning." SS&T serves as one of the Motorola Premier Solutions Partners.

Symbol DS4308 2D Imager

Worth Your While

Pack Expo
PMMI
November 2-5
Chicago

Customer Engagement Technology World
JD Events
November 5-6
New York

IAAPA
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
November 17-21
Orlando

NRF's Big Show - Annual Conference
National Retail Federation
January 11-14, 2014
New York City

TransAct 15
Electronic Transactions Association
March 31 - April 2, 2014
San Francisco

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Voyage of the Nautiz

Handheld Group (Corvallis, OR) has enhanced its Nautiz X4 rugged mobile computer on two fronts: with the Android 4.2 O/S and Verizon Wireless Certification. Measuring 6.1 in. (L) x 2.9 in. (W) x 1 in. (D), and weighing 11.6 oz., Nautiz X4 has Texas Instruments' AM3715 CPU at 1 GHz, 512-MB RAM, and 1-GB Flash. It was introduced with Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5, along with Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and 3G WAN.

As features, Nautiz X4 delivers sunlight-readable 3.5-inch VGA resistive touchscreen, choice of one-dimensional or two-dimensional scanner (via Honeywell), five-megapixel camera, and 4000-mAh Li-Ion battery. Qwerty or numeric keypads are available, along with Micro USB 2.0 and vibration function. It carries an IP-65 rating for water and dust and MIL-STD-810G military standards for overall durability and resistance to humidity, shock, drops, salt, and extreme temperatures.

Nautiz X4 by Handheld Group

CL920 Put in Motion

Motion Computing (Austin, TX) has showcased the newest member of its rugged tablet family, the CL920. Weighing under 2 lbs., running Windows 7 or Windows 8, and featuring Intel's Pentium Baytrail N3540 CPU at 2.1 GHz, the CL920 is two-thirds faster than the previous CL Model. It carries 10-inch projective capacitive touchscreen, dual-band Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 4.0, front and rear cameras, and 10-hour battery life. Also, 4G LTE ensures rapid connectivity while its SnapWorks image-capture software increases performance, according to Motion Computing.

The CL920 has been tested to MIL-STD-810G and IP-52, built around an internal magnesium frame, and fortified with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It has an innovative dot-pattern design for ruggedized, non-slip surface texture. An accompanying line of purpose-built accessories includes the SlateMate sled with barcode scanner and magnetic-stripe reader, ReadyDock storage and charging cabinet, and In-Vehicle Mount.

"As benefits for the end-user, we increase efficiency, accuracy, and safety, while for the company we reduce deployment risk and lower total cost of ownership," remarked Peter Poulin, VP of Marketing for Motion Computing. "Our sleek and small CL920 platform fulfills our brand promise and does so much more than expected. With a line of productivity-enhancing accessories, it is the perfect technology partner for a commercial inspector, technician at an aviation plant, or warehouse manager."

Model CL920 Rugged Tablet for Retail and Mobile Workforce

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PARTNER PROGRAMS

An Entrance Ramp to Encryption

A trio of vendors--Datacap Systems (Chalfont, PA), Voltage Security (Cupertino, CA), and Uniform Industrial Corporation (Fremont, CA)--have joined forces to facilitate Point-to-Point Payment Encryption, so-called P2PE. Under this system, Datacap's NETePay for TSYS (host and terminal-based platform) now supports Voltage Secure Data Payments for customers using the UIC PP795SE payment terminal, which offers PIN Pad and signature capture, and handles MSR, EMV, and NFC. Additional processors and payment devices will be added in the future, reportedly.

Voltage employs an innovative, patented "Format-Preserving Encryption" to encrypt sensitive PCI data captured in the payment device so the protected value has the same format as the original. Datacap's system transmits the sensitive data fully encrypted to the payment processing partner of Voltage where it can be safely decrypted for authorization. With impending adoption of EMV and NFC in the U.S., many experts still suggest Point-to-Point (also called "End-to-End") Encryption as the best safeguard against remote access hacking of customer data.

"Datacap's out-of-scope payment interfaces are utilized by security-conscious ISVs, so the addition of Voltage E2E encryption is a natural product progression," explained Justin Zeigler, Marketing Director at Datacap Systems. "Providing a secure payments solution without compromising integration or ease of installation is our priority and I think we've accomplished that here with Voltage and UIC." Partners of Datacap Systems can now implement this capability, RRN.Com was told.

Secure Processing by Datacap, Voltage, and Uniform Industrial Corporation

D-O: Object of the Quest

Major VAR Quest Solution, Inc. (Eugene, OR) has been promoted to Premier Partner of Datamax-O'Neil (Orlando, FL). Members of D-O's Valued Partner Program (VPP) are given their status based on their business model, commitment to the printer vendor, and other qualifying requirements. Under the new 2014 VPP structure unveiled in July, resellers receive comprehensive support in one of four categories: DMAR, Authorized, Select, and Premier. Partners benefit from advantages such as lead generation services, extra discounts, and rewards. Quest Solution said it expects such additional discounts to "support competitive selling."

"We are delighted with the efforts Quest Solution has put forth in promoting our printers in the marketplace, and their dedication to the Datamax-O'Neil product line," exclaimed Tom Park, VP of the Portable Business Unit at Datamax-O'Neil. "Our success in the Automatic Identification and Data Collection market depends on the hard work of our channel partners. Quest Solution is a valuable member of our channel community, and as a Premier Partner, will be positioned to expand sales of our printers in the future."

Tom Park, VP of the Portable Business Unit, Datamax-O'Neil, Announces Elevated Quest Solution Partner Status

Code Corner

Agilysys (Alpharetta, GA) has fielded InfoGenesis POS Version 4.4.5 with several noteworthy enhancements. Designed to handle any combination of dining, bar service, and retail in hospitality environments, InfoGenesis POS features touchscreen operation, real-time reporting, package and prix fixe menus, signature capture, and multi-language capability. It ties with a range of host systems, such as gift card and guest management providers, and comes in either on-premise or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), naturally. As enhancements, Version 4.4.5 includes more secure payment processing with the company's rGuest Pay gateway, embracing PCI-Validated Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) and tokenization. In addition, this latest release offers full functionality on both 8-inch and 11-inch tablets. Finally, it furnishes integration with Agilysys Analytics, as well as capacity for new scenarios such as line busting on refund disputes and better password management (via Universal Desktop). "InfoGenesis POS has always been an industry leader, and this latest version of the solution is even more powerful, more flexible, and more secure," suggested Maris Berzins, VP of Product Engineering at Agilysys.

Agilysys InfoGenesis POS Version 4.4.5

ENVIRONMENTS/PLATFORMS

Monolithic MDM?

LANDesk (Salt Lake City, UT) has added more muscle for Mobile Device Management (MDM) by buying Naurtech (Issaquah, WA). Significantly, Naurtech currently offers the only SAP-recommended mobile browser in the market. It will become part of the larger LANDesk business, with its product offering kept separate, reportedly. Back in 2012, RRN.Com readers will recall, LANDesk snapped up Wavelink, perhaps the most prominent supplier of such dedicated software, with leading products such as Avalanche, Wavelink Terminal Emulation (TE), and Speakeasy.

"We have been impressed with the product offerings Naurtech has developed," indicated Steve Bemis, VP of the Mobile Productivity Business Unit for LANDesk. "Naurtech brings complementary expertise that will strengthen support for our mobile operating systems and provide support for additional ruggedized devices." Indeed, on its website, Naurtech identifies an impressive roster of scanner and mobile computing vendors beyond the typical marquee names, as well as its ties to SAP.

LANDesk Snaps Up Naurtech

There's Fanfare at VeriFone

VeriFone Systems (San Jose, CA) will support the new Fanfare Loyalty Solution from Elavon (Atlanta, GA). A pair of countertop payment terminals will feature this new capability, specifically VeriFone's VX 520 and VX 820, with MSR, EMV, and NFC. "Our terminals are familiar to customers and consumers alike, and when coupled with Fanfare, provide user-friendly ways for small customers to securely accept payments and enable commerce during the check-out process," volunteered Shan Ethridge, VP and GM of the North America Financial Services Group at VeriFone.

With this bundle, consumers may enroll in the program and track and redeem loyalty points at the POS (or website for Fanfare). This eliminates the need to print coupons, carry loyalty cards, or wait for credit card statements. Also, small-to-midsized businesses may utilize the dedicated dashboard to create targeted offers based on stored consumer information--including purchase histories and birthdays--and to track their success. A turn-key solution, Fanfare conforms to industry standards for payment data security.

Elavon's Loyalty Program for the SMB Now Supported by VeriFone

Key Advertiser Links

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

POS & Auto ID Distribution
Wasp Barcode Technologies

POS & Peripherals
Harbortouch
Hewlett-Packard
Pioneer POS
POS BANK USA
Posiflex
POS-X
PowaPOS
TEAMSable

POS Systems - Hospitality
PAR

Barcode & Transaction Printers
Brother Mobile
Citizen Systems America
CognitiveTPG
Intermec by Honeywell
Printronix
SATO America
Zebra Technologies

Cash Drawers
MMF POS

Data Collection
CipherLab
Code Corporation
Datalogic
Honeywell Scanning
Intermec by Honeywell
Trimble MCS

Integrated Payment Solutions
Datacap Systems
Discover
Merchant Warehouse
Mercury Payment Systems

Keyboards & Mobile POS
Cherry, ZF Electronics Corp

Receipt Printers
Bixolon America
Citizen Systems America
CognitiveTPG
Epson America
Star Micronics

Thermal Printers
Seiko Instruments USA

Touchscreens & Monitors
Elo TouchSystems

Weigh Scales
Detecto

INSTALLATIONS

The Scoop at Voxware

Voxware (Hamilton, NJ) has deployed its cloud-based Voice Management System (VMS) for frozen dessert distributor, Mt. Pleasant Ice Cream, which ships 75,000 cases of goods per month between Boston and Washington, DC. With Voxware VMS, Mt. Pleasant has decreased its number of pickers and eliminated the need for permanent auditors in its 30,000-square-foot facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey, according to the two parties. It also has leveraged VoxPilot, an accompanying analytics tool, to improve the picking process.

"We expect to see measurable savings from accuracy and efficiency gains," observed Michael Muray, President of Mt. Pleasant Ice Cream. "We have improved our accuracy from 99.5% to 99.8%. Although 99.5% sounds great, it translates to one mis-pick out of 200. With deployment of Voxware, we are now able to pull 500 cases with potentially only one mis-pick. It helps us save money on costly redeliveries while keeping our customers happy."

Voice Picking at Mt. Pleasant Ice Cream

. . . And Revel Sprinkles Its POS

Meanwhile, Revel Systems (San Francisco, CA) has bagged one of the biggest contracts yet for iPad POS. Starting this fall, Smoothie King, based in New Orleans, will roll out Revel's iPad POS as the primary system for its 700 global franchisees. In making its decision, Smoothie King credited the system's functionality--from order entry and payment processing to inventory and back-end-management--as well as perceived benefits in plug-and-play deployment, familiarity for young team members, and lower cost of entry. Also, Revel added features such as brand-level customization, centralized management tools, and enterprise-level reporting for this project.

"We're confident that our robust point-of-sale technology will improve their guest experience and reduce overhead costs for franchisees while aligning perfectly with Smoothie King's innovative vision," remarked Lisa Falzone, Revel's CEO and Co-Founder. "Revel Systems is eager to fuel Smoothie King's continued growth and franchise development with our quick, intuitive, and powerful POS." No mention of resellers.

Smoothie King Adopts iPad POS From Revel Across 700 Sites

Channel Factoid

A vast majority of consumers have used self-checkout stands--fully 90%--according to the new world study commissioned from the NPD Group by NCR Corporation. If asked what they like about self-checkout, consumers' top three responses were convenience (42%), ease-of-use (40%), and speed in comparison to cashier lanes (39%). When consumers were asked what could be done to improve self-checkout, the top three suggestions included larger bagging area (45%), having an attendant always available to assist (43%), and making it easier to purchase produce or non-barcoded items (37%). When asked where shoppers would most like to have access to self-checkout, the top responses were supermarkets (62%), mass merchants (50%), do-it-yourself/home improvement (37%), and convenience stores (35%). "While many of us have a great deal of experience with self-checkout technology, it is important to note that there are many countries around the world that are only now being introduced to this option," observed Dusty Lutz, GM of Self-Checkout Solutions at NCR Retail. "This new study reveals that some of the emerging markets for self-checkout are home to many of the most loyal users of the technology."

Emerging Markets
for Self-Checkout

Channel Chatter

A nice gesture by TouchSuite, which has donated several of its restaurant-specific POS systems for job training at Cafe Joshua in The Lord's Place in Palm Beach, Florida, near its offices. A non-profit community organization which seeks to break the cycle of homelessness with health and human services, The Lord's Place expects to train 100 needy individuals over this year, preparing them for positions in the area's busy hospitality industry. "A familiarity with industry tools and technology is important in today's competitive landscape, even for an entry-level hospitality position," stated Sam Zietz, Founder and CEO of TouchSuite. "We realized we were in a unique position to support this effort."

Training on POS
by Charity Group

HELLO GOODBYE

M.W. Revs Up With Ken Paull

Merchant Warehouse (Boston, MA) has enlisted Ken Paull as its Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), responsible for overseeing the company's sales, marketing, and business development functions. Paull's career spans more than twenty-five years in the payments industry, most recently as CEO at mobile commerce provider, ROAM. Earlier, Paull served as SVP at RBS Lynk (now WorldPay) and GM at VeriFone, where he built the Retail Division.

"Merchant Warehouse entered the industry nearly seventeen years ago as one of the first companies to move the acquiring model onto the Internet, then in 2008 they became one of the first companies to enter the M-Commerce space, putting an iPhone App into the iTunes Store for their customers," recounted Paull. "More recently, the company has embarked on a complete transformation from top-tier ISO to payment technology leader. I'd had enough of casual observing from the sidelines and wanted to be a part of this action!"

"We're at an impelling point in the company's evolution where we're enabling businesses to embrace the future," commented Henry Helgeson, CEO of Merchant Warehouse. "Recent high-profile security breaches and technology deadlines only accelerate the need for a solution like our Genius Customer Engagement Platform. Ken's leadership experience and recognized impact across several top payments companies will help us realize our vision of protecting and improving the experience for each stakeholder in the value chain."

Ken Paull, Chief Revenue Officer, Merchant Warehouse

A Bond With MMF

MMF POS (Wheeling, IL) has recruited Mark Bondzinski as its OEM Account Manager, covering both key customers and the company's resellers. Bondzinski joins MMF POS from ZF/Cherry, where he spent seven years as CID Product Manager/Security Sales Manager. Previous experience in our industry includes time at Toshiba TEC, Casio, and Omron.

"We are excited to have Mark on the POS team," reported Phil Oyos, Sales and Marketing Manager for MMF POS. "His POS background and keen knowledge of sales and marketing make him an excellent resource as we look to build and expand the POS business. We look forward to working with Mark."

MMF Industries supplies the full line of cash handling devices, key cabinets, and desk accessories. Long prominent in our channel, MMF POS supplies cash drawers, mounting systems, and other accessories for POS. Both are part of Block and Company.

Mark Bondzinski, OEM Account Manager, MMF POS

Vantiv's New Voice

Vantiv (Cincinnati, OH) has named Larry Drury as its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In his new role, Drury will lead the company's marketing and communications efforts, including strategic brand positioning, research, thought leadership, demand generation, and sales support. Formerly, Drury served as CMO at First Data Corporation, as well as EVP at Visa and CEO of the Americas at Future Brand.

"Larry is a dynamic leader who comes to Vantiv with deep experience in both marketing and financial services," relayed Charles Drucker, CEO of Vantiv. "In addition to his deep payments experience, Larry also brings our team marketing perspectives from across a variety of industries, both domestic and international. I'm pleased to have him join the Vantiv team, and I look forward to his contributions."

"Vantiv is helping shape the face of payments, and I can't think of a more exciting company to join," shared Drury. "They continue to be at the leading edge of the industry, and I look forward to working with the entire Vantiv team as the company works toward reaching its next level of success." Of particular interest to readers of RRN.Com, Mercury's Matt Taylor now holds the position of President, Vantiv Integrated Solutions, which encompasses the businesses of Mercury Payment Systems, Element Payment Services, and Vantiv's Internal ISVs.

Larry Drury, Chief Marketing Officer, Vantiv

Squire of the Channel at Preh

PrehKeyTec has hired Dwight Squires as its North American Channel Sales Manager for PrehKeyTec USA (Buffalo Grove, IL). Squires brings two decades of sales and management experience in technology, including time as VAR Channel Manager/BDM at CognitiveTPG. As additional employers, he lists Archon Automatic Doors, Connectec RF, and Therm O Webb, where he was repeatedly honored by the President's Club.

"Dwight's proven success in business development worldwide will be instrumental in helping us achieve our long-term business goals," predicted Gaius Obi, Director of Sales for PrehKeyTec. "His proven track record of driving profitable, new growth revenue will be the perfect complement to our core business."

"I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with the PrehKeyTec USA team and bring our current and prospective customers an exceptional line-up of solutions designed to simplify operator training and enhance data input," stated Squires. PrehKeyTec, of course, provides dedicated keyboards for grocery, retail, banking, and healthcare.

Dwight Squires, North American Channel Sales Manager, PrehKeyTec USA