CHICAGO - May 23, 2005 - Today at the Retail Systems 2005 Conference & Exposition, Microsoft Corp. announced the worldwide availability of its new Windows(r) Embedded for Point of Service software platform. Directly addressing the top challenges at the point of service faced by retail and hospitality organizations, Windows Embedded for Point of Service simplifies setup, deployment and management, includes support for new technologies designed to improve the customer experience and offers low system life-cycle costs. Windows Embedded for Point of Service is launching with tremendous support from retail industry system providers, peripheral suppliers and application vendors, offering retail customers a range of solutions to choose from to update existing or create new point-of-service systems.
Two of these customers are OfficeMax Inc. and Rite Aid Corp., both of which are in the process of evaluating and testing Windows Embedded for Point of Service. Windows Embedded for Point of Service is available to retail and hospitality organizations from their Windows Embedded original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
"Windows Embedded for Point of Service is the easy-to-use, retail-optimized software platform that will give back time to retailers and enable them to focus on their No. 1 priority: helping their customers," said Jane Gilson, director of marketing for the Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft. "Together with our industry partners, we are excited to launch this new offering and help revolutionize the point-of-service industry."
Based on Microsoft(r) Windows XP Embedded with Service Pack 2, Windows Embedded for Point of Service supports a broad range of retail applications, device peripherals and service scenarios. With solutions being developed by more than 40 industry partners, companies in the retail and hospitality industries can immediately start exploring the range of new opportunities enabled by Windows Embedded for Point of Service. Rite Aid, one of the nation's leading drugstore chains, has identified Windows Embedded for Point of Service as a smart progression of the point of service system and is currently testing for possible deployment, with the goal of continuing to provide the best experience for customers. OfficeMax, a leader in both business-to-business and retail office products distribution, is also testing Windows Embedded for Point of Service.
"This new operating system from Microsoft supports our ongoing efforts to deliver exceptional customer service by providing a stable and easy-to-deploy platform for point-of-service systems," said Randy Burdick, chief information officer at OfficeMax. "Windows Embedded for Point of Service will enable OfficeMax to deliver innovative experiences for our customers, using advanced technologies such as Windows Media(r), RFID, biometrics and wireless networking."
As the only point-of-service software platform on the market to support peripheral plug-and-play functionality - the feature most requested by retailers - Windows Embedded for Point of Service will make implementation and integration with existing systems easier for retailers. Strong default security settings such as a hardened Internet Explorer, Windows Logon and buffer overrun protection, as well as a minimized operating system surface area to reduce system vulnerabilities. Additional support for Windows Update management technologies simplifies update identification and installation on Windows Embedded for Point of Service systems, providing network protection and enabling a more secure experience for customers. Further, support for third-party security solutions from companies such as Computer Associates International Inc. and Sygate Inc. provides customers with enhanced security for their point-of-service systems.
With Windows Embedded for Point of Service, customers can lower service and maintenance costs through the use of familiar deployment technologies and management technologies such as Software Update Services (SUS) 2.0 and Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003. In addition, the Windows Embedded for Point of Service system offers the longest published support policy, 10 years. Retail and hospitality organizations can also create new and richer interactive experiences at the point of service by utilizing the advanced multimedia technologies available in Windows Embedded for Point of Service including Windows Media; emerging technologies such as RFID and biometrics; and full network technology support for wireless communications. Retail-specific features such as remote boot, multiuser logon and dual-display support help to create a flexible POS environment that retail and hospitality organizations can use to interact with, support and provide additional value to customers in exciting, new ways.
In conjunction with the product launch, Microsoft is also announcing the availability of the Windows Embedded for Point of Service Product Catalog, which will make it easy for retail and hospitality enterprises to quickly identify the retail peripherals and applications verified to work with Windows Embedded for Point of Service. Conducted by Microsoft's third-party verification organization, VeriTest, the verification program ensures that customers have access to a database of retail peripherals and applications optimized for use with Windows Embedded for Point of Service.
Windows Embedded for Point of Service launch participants include the
following:
* 360Commerce
* ACA Group BV
* Altiris Inc.
* Anker Systems
* APG Cash Drawer Inc.
* BSQUARE
* BT
* Cherry Electrical Products
* Citizen Systems America Corp.
* Computer Associates International Inc.
* CRS Retail Systems Inc.
* Dell Inc.
* Ecometry Corp.
* Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc.
* FullArmor Corp.
* Hand Held Products Inc.
* HP
* IBM
* InfoGenesis
* InfoTouch Corp.
* Ingenico
* Korea Printing Systems Co.
* M-Systems
* MagTek Inc.
* MICROS Systems Inc.
* MMF Cash Drawer Co.
* M-Systems
* NEC Corp.
* NSB Group
* Preh GmbH
* Retalix Ltd.
* Seiko Epson Corp.
* Siva Corp.
* Sorimachi-Giken Co. Ltd.
* Star Micronics
* Sygate Inc.
* Symbol Technologies Inc.
* Telequip Corp.
* Trade Link Retail Systems
* Ultimate Technology Corp.
* Wincor Nixdorf
* xpient Solutions
Availability
Device-makers and retailers can obtain Windows Embedded for Point of Service through Windows Embedded OEMs. More information is available by contacting Microsoft or visiting www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/wepos.
About Windows Embedded for Point of Service Windows Embedded for Point of Service is the first retail optimized software platform to provide plug-and-play functionality to enable retail peripherals to be easily installed and managed. Easier integration and management of retail device peripherals through plug-and-play functionality will help lower device life-cycle costs and help reduce time spent connecting devices. The Windows Embedded for Point of Service Product Catalog is available at www.windowsembeddeddevices.com/wepos.
New Offering Within Microsoft Smarter Retailing Microsoft is featuring Windows Embedded for Point of Service as a core offering within Microsoft Smarter Retailing, which is designed to help retailers dramatically improve how they sell and operate through better access to customer and product information. Based on proven technologies, Smarter Retailing provides a business and technology infrastructure that incorporates retail industry best practices.
Designed to optimize business processes, the Smarter Retailing architecture enables retailers to reduce costs, run more efficiently, gain greater business visibility, and make better and faster business decisions. More information can be found at www.microsoft.com/smartretail.
Microsoft
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is opgericht in 1975 en is een bekend innovator op het gebied van software, diensten en technologie voor zowel zakelijk als persoonlijk computergebruik. Het bedrijf levert een brede reeks aan oplossingen en diensten die mensen en organisaties overal ter wereld in staat stelt hun ambities te verwezenlijken.
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