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News Archive |
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Friday, 27 February 2009
Voice prompts can sometimes be a helpful feature of any kiosk solution. If they are recorded in a conversational, inviting tone, they act as a friendly guide to walk the user through the self-service process. On the other hand, the wrong voice can be a big turn off for users.
A professional voice actor or actress can be hired to create the narration, if the kiosk deployer chooses. Allison Smith is one such actress who has voiced kiosks before. Travis K. Kircher, editor of SelfService.org, spoke with Smith and asked her, "What should deployers of self-service kiosks look for when selecting a narrator for the kiosk's voice prompts?" Smith provides her insight on what works and what doesn't.
Friday, 27 February 2009
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- RidgeLogic Development, a developer of digital signage software and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has announced that a 28-acre sports and entertainment complex has extended its commitment to use RidgeLogic's software to power its digital signage deployment.
The Chelsea Piers sports facility is located between piers 59 and 62 on the Hudson River in New York City.
According to a news release, Chelsea Piers deployed RidgeLogic's SceneStudio software on digital signage in its Golf Club in the spring of 2008. The positive reaction from members, guests and staff caused Chelsea Piers to expand useage of the software to deployments in the Ice Skating Rink and Health Club. The sports center also has plans to add digital signage to its Field House.
Each venue has screens that display class schedules and the location of private parties to help guests and members find their way easily. The screens also advertise venue-specific services to enhance branding.
"SceneStudio digital signage, along with our other technological aspects, is an important part of making our communications clear and accessible to all our guests and members," said Ferdinand Lleshanaku, Chelsea Piers' director of technology. "It also helps us meet our mission of providing state-of-the-art facilities along with cutting-edge programming and a commitment to being the best amateur sports and entertainment complex in the country."
Friday, 27 February 2009
BURNABY, British Columbia -- TIO Networks Corp., a provider of self-service bill payment services, and San Antonio Water System (SAWS) have partnered to enable San Antonio residents to pay their water bills at TIO-networked bill payment kiosks, according to a news release.
SAWS cash-preferred customers can pay their bills any time, day or night, via these kiosks, which have been deployed at 27 participating San Antonio-based c-stores. The kiosks offer instructions in English or Spanish and allow the customer to view their account balance, complete financial transactions aned print or e-mail their receipts. A convenience fee is charged for this service.
"Our objective is to provide SAWS' customers with alternative solutions to manage their personal finances, making both bill payment and life a little easier," said Chris Ericksen, senior vice president of services for TIO Networks.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
LOUISVILLE, Colo. -- KIOSK Information Systems has announced a partnership with Mix & Burn LLC to offer a full DRM-free content library with direct to device digital download on a self-payment, self-service kiosk.
The Digital f.y.e. Music Store kiosk, powered by mix&burn, has a track library featuring 3 million DRM-free MP3 tracks from all the major music labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI Music. Indie artist fans can also select content from the largest Indie aggregators including IODA, The Orchard and CD Baby.
Selections made off the kiosk can also be independently transacted on the kiosk: browsing, payment and direct-to-device download are all menu driven functions created for consumers in an unattended environment. As transactions complete, the labels and their artists are simultaneously compensated for the use of their content. The MP3 downloads are compatible with the vast majority of iPod products, USB/memory cards and MP3 players. Music purchased plays immediately on the device, and transfers easily to add to a user's home computer library.
Music is the latest feature to be added to KIOSK's lineup of multifunction cafe capabilities. Through ZOOX stations, a KIOSK subsidiary devoted to development and manufacturing of pay-for-use kiosk technology, a single kiosk cafe can now offer music download, photo printing, Internet/e-mail access, office software and casual user gaming.
"Adding music download features ultimately enables any broadband-connected kiosk to attract more customers and location traffic by providing continuously refreshed content through digital music downloads," said KIOSK chief executive Rick Malone. "With the new direct-to-device MP3 format, consumers get instant purchase gratification - three words that go a long way toward feature adoption."
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Home Media Magazine: Blockbuster, a brick-and-mortar movie retailers, has begun experimenting with in-store rental prices on new releases that it hopes will compete with low prices offered at DVD rental kiosks like those operated by redbox. Redbox kiosks offer DVD rentals for $1 a day. According to sources at select Blockbuster store locations, pricing plans being reviewed include $2.49 for a 24-hour window, with subsequent days priced at $1 per day.
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Wednesday, 25 February 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Advisory Board of the Digital Signage Association met yesterday in Las Vegas on the eve of Digital Signage Expo 2009.
David Drain, executive director of the association, said there were over 40 people in attendance and that it was "a full room," which was a testament to the ongoing buzz surrounding digital-out-of-home media.
Drain told attendees that, as of the end of January, the association had 238 members; 129 members have joined in the last five months, 80 of which are deployer members including retailers, hotels, restaurants and banks.
"I think it's a pleasant surprise to people that we have members from 30 countries; 17 percent of our membership is from outside North America," Drain said. "It makes the point that we are truly a global association."
Among the new board members was Chris Borek, senior manager for in-store digital marketing for Target.
Topics discussed at the meeting included:
- An upcoming supplement on digital signage that will be published in USA Today on March 20. The Digital Signage Association partnered with Media Planet to provide editorial direction for the piece, which was edited by Lyle Bunn, principal and strategy architect for BUNN Co.
- The association's plans to roll out a speakers bureau, which would provide opportunities for speaking engagements for interested members. Members will be polled to gauge their interest in participating in the bureau, as well as their individual expertise.
- The next generation of the Association's Web site, which will launch by the third quarter of this year.
- The success of the first DSA webinar, which was held on Jan. 29. Approximately 860 people from 60 countries registered for the webinar, which was titled "Content Best Practices for Digital Signage Networks." That webinar is now available on demand at www.digitalsignageassociation.org.
- The appointment of Jeff Porter, executive vice president of Scala Inc., to the executive committee as vice president representing vendor members.
- Plans for the Content Best Practices Committee to release three more white papers focused on content at the point of sale, the point of wait and the point of transit.
The board also heard a presentation from Bill Collins, a principal of DecisionPoint Media Insights on digital signage research. The topics of launching committees related to digital signage education, ROI and environmental responsibility were also discussed.
Drain said he felt the meeting remained focused on the association's mission.
"In discussing the goals and plans for 2009, I feel confident that each goal relates to the three pillars of the association, which are advocacy, education and networking," he said.
Click below to listen to David Drain discuss the overall mood of attendees on the eve of Digital Signage Expo.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
NORTH CANTON, Ohio -- Diebold Inc., a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has been recognized as one of the world's top outsourcing providers by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals, according to a news release.
This is the third consecutive year that Diebold has received the distinction from the IAOP, which is awarded to companies that define the standard of excellence for outsourcing within the industry. Companies that earn the award are judged in four fundamental categories, including company size and growth, customer satisfaction, depth of competence and management capabilities.
"This recognition by the IAOP for the third consecutive year underscores our unwavering commitment to the industries we serve and the solutions we provide," said Charles E. Ducey, Jr., Diebold senior vice president of global development and services. "Diebold has uniquely positioned itself to offer customers a tailored, end-to-end outsourcing solution that delivers the most innovative technologies available without the need for large upfront capital expenditure."
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Home Media Magazine: A settlement may soon be in the works between Universal Studios and redbox, an operator of DVD rental kiosks. Redbox filed suit against Universal Studios late last year after the motion picture distributor attempted to force the company to sign a revenue sharing agreement that would limit the types of Universal DVDs offered at the kiosks as well as the prices charged for them. "Defendants claim they are willing to engage in settlement discussions," lawyers for redbox wrote in a letter filed Feb. 23 with the United States District Court in Deleware.
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Click here to view the full text of the lawsuit.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
MESQUITE, Nev. -- It just got easier for residents of Mesquite, Nev., to renew thei r vehicle registrations. The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has deployed a self-service kiosk at its Mesquite office, according to a news release.
The kiosk accepts cash, e-checks or any major credit or debit card. The machine dispenses the license plate decal and Certificate of Registration on the spot. Motorists can also obtain a driver history printout or reinstate a registration that has been suspended for a lapse in insurance coverage.
Kiosk transactions typically take under two minutes with no wait. The kiosk will also help speed up service for those who must wait for a DMV technician.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
(MIT) Technology Review: Massachusetts General Hospital is currently developing a kiosk that may one day help bring some relief to a healthcare system that many say is facing a doctor shortage. The kiosk can take a patient's medical history, pulse, weight, blood pressure and other vital signs, and even perform simple bood tests for glucose and cholesterol. Doctors hope the kiosk will encourage blood tests to increase the chances of early diagnosis of chronic diseases.
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Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Paul Craig hacks into kiosks for a living.
The security consultant for New Zealand-based Security-Assessment.com has an office littered with dummy kiosks of various types. His job of late: to attempt to bypass the Windows operating system in as many ways as possible in order to hack into the hard drive where – if these kiosks were real deployments – he could conceivably gain access to the hard drive and plant a virus, or even steal private cardholder data.
The task may seem difficult on its face, but Craig says it's a cinch. In fact, he says he's already found more than 30 ways of doing it.
"The things I've found for Windows are definitely very freaky, easy and very quick," said Craig, who utilizes all the colorful lingo of a military general, with phrases like "attack vectors" and "attack surface" punctuating his conversation.
In the past, many software experts have pointed out the vulnerability of Windows, and Craig is no exception. In order to make kiosk deployers more aware of the exposure, he explained a few of them for SelfService.org. The hacker can break out of the kiosk app and into the kiosk hard drive by:
• Attempting to open a damaged .PDF file in Adobe Acrobat, causing the kiosk app to crash.
• Issuing a command to render a damaged Flash file, causing the kiosk app to crash.
• Using Windows Media Player as a browser to escape out of the kiosk app.
• Using QuickTime to bypass the kiosk app and access the hard drive’s file system.
• Writing ActiveX commands that exit the kiosk app.
• Creating and uploading a Java file that orders the kiosk to escape out of the kiosk app.
• While on a personal computer, creating a link on a Web page that’s visited by the kiosk and give it the destination File://C:/. They can then go to the kiosk, access that Web page and click on that link.
Most of these methods use a Windows-based tool – Adobe Acrobat, Media Player, QuickTime – as a sort of trap door to sneak out of the kiosk application. That, says Craig, is Windows' primary weakness: all of the unnecessary software baggage that comes with the core operating system.
"Windows, by default, comes with Windows Media Player," he said. "It comes with a bunch of different file type handlers. If you have 50 different applications installed on your base Windows OS, now you have 50 different applications that you could potentially use to escape out of the kiosk."
Craig unleashed his findings on a disconcerted audience last August at DEFCON 16, an annual convention for computer hackers. Craig said the presentation left some in the audience falsely believing that he must have a grudge against Microsoft.
He believes Linux is in some ways just as vulnerable. In fact, he's already started launching similar attacks on Linux-based kiosks to expose just how vulnerable they might be.
"I never actually said at any point that Linux is more secure," Craig said. "They may be slightly more secure, but I wouldn’t say Linux kiosks are the end-all of kiosk security. They definitely still have their own weaknesses."
Craig says if Linux has any advantage over Windows, it lies in the fact that its operating system doesn't come with the myriad tools and applications that Windows does.
"I've found that on Linux kiosks the subset of core components installed is much lower, so that means your attack vectors and the attack surface is much lower," he said.
Craig admits that he's only found three methods for breaking into a Linux-based kiosk thus far, but he says he's only getting started.
Gary Gilmer, principal for retail solutions at Chicago-based Clarity Consulting, says he believes Windows is still a relatively secure operating system, despite the holes Craig points out.
Clarity, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, develops customized software that’s based on the Windows operating system.
He says Windows is no less secure than Linux, regardless of what experts might say about its reputation.
"It's certainly true that most of the viruses out there are aimed at Windows, but the reason for that is that's where the market share is," Gilmer said. "If you're going to try to write something malicious and you want to take advantage of something, you're going to target the largest footprint out there, not the smallest footprint out there."
Regardless of the operating system being used, Craig says it is incumbent upon the kiosk deployer to strip the software down to its bare minimum. That means getting rid of tools such as Java and Flash, if they're not required by the kiosk application.
It's something that can be done relatively quickly on a Linux system, says Craig, but it often takes hours on a Windows-based kiosk.
He says the strip-down approach has always been taken when it comes to kiosk hardware.
"If you'll notice, all of the kiosks have those custom keyboards and custom mice," Craig said. "The keyboards are missing all of the useful keys – the function keys, the start key. But from a software perspective, they haven’t been removing that functionality."
In addition to stripping down the operating system, deployers can add special lockdown protection that will disable any commands other than the ones necessary for the user to interact with the kiosk app, according to "Software Security: The importance of locking down your self-service kiosk," a special report sponsored by Kioware and published by NetWorld Alliance Media.
"Using software lockdown protection is extremely important," said Stephanie Kropkowski, director of marketing and sales for Kioware. "You always want your kiosk to be used for its intended purpose."
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
NORTH CANTON, Ohio -- Diebold Inc., a provider of financial self-service ATM technology, and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, is celebrating 150 years of business, according to a news release.
The company began when Carl Diebold came to the United States from Germany in the mid-1800s with a plan to use his locksmith skills to build the most secure safes in America. Today, Diebold's ATMs have been deployed all over the world.
To commemorate the anniversary, Diebold is also announcing its new brand strategy and tagline: Innovation Delivered.
The company's new mission statements reads, "We deliver innovative technology and services that make businesses better through a powerful combination of: customer knowledge, inspired thinking and attentive associates."
"This is a very exciting year for Diebold as we reflect on our extensive history and remember the pioneers who came before us, who laid the foundation for our company," said Thomas W. Swidarski, president and chief executive of Diebold. "Looking forward to the future, our new brand reflects Diebold's goal to deliver the most innovative solutions to our customers, allowing them to be efficient and create additional value to their businesses."
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
EAST HAVEN, Conn. -- Netkey, a provider of software for digital signage and self-service kiosks, and an association member, has announced that the company is a Gold-level sponsor of the 2009 Digital Signage Expo, according to a news release.
The company will demostrate its digital signage software solutions in booth no. 1205 at the show, which will take place in Las Vegas, Feb. 25-26. Netkey will exhibit real-world examples of its digital signage software customer applications used for digital out-of-home advertising, retail, interactive digital menu boards, corporate communications and entertainment.
V. Miller Newton, chief executive of Netkey and president of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, will present a checklist for evaluating and budgeting for digital signage software as part of an educational session titled, "How to Start and Plan a Successful Digital Signage Installation." Netkey will also be presenting a Tech Talk Workshop session titled, "Understanding the Digital Signage Workflow: The Key to Operational Success."
"In today's challenging environment, businesses continue to adopt digital signage as a valuable tool for driving sales, enhancing the customer experience and increasing employee productivity," said Robert Ventresca, vice president of marketing for Netkey. "Netkey's sponsorship and participation in the Digital Signage Expo is a reflection of the growing market interest in the power and performance of Netkey digital signage software, and recognition of the sustainable business value and ROI Netkey delivers to its customers."
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
CRM magazine: As the global economic recession continues to take its toll on businesses, Forrester Research is offering a list of five service strategies it says will help organizations stay afloat. Among them: Making self-service work across all channels. "Don't put manuals up on your Web site and think that alone will work," said Natalie Petouhoff, senior analyst at Forrester and co-author of the report. "Take the content, figure out what people are asking you and store it so it can be retrieved. The basis of all self-service and agent productivity is knowledge management."
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Tuesday, 24 February 2009
DAYTON, Ohio -- On Monday, NCR Corp. unveiled software that allows consumers to deposit checks into their bank accounts without leaving the comfort of their living room chair, and more importantly, without having to throw down cash for new computer equipment.
Once installed on a user's home computer, NCR APTRA Consumer Passport software can interface with any financial institution's Web site to provide automated Check 21 deposit services.
It's a service that has been available only to businesses, until now, according to a news release.
While accessing their online banking account, consumers can make the deposits via a TWAIN-based flatbed scanner. As an industry standard interface, TWAIN enables devices such as scanners to communicate with software applications and is found in common home scanners and multifunction scanning devices.
According to the release, NCR APTRA Consumer Passport is well suited to consumers who rarely have occasion to deposit checks, such as a child's birthday check or a rebate check, mor may not have convenient access to their financial institution.
After the front and back of the endorsed check are scanned, the image can then be electronically sent to the participating financial institution for validation, processing and clearing. For select clients, this remote deposit service could allow for same-day crediting to their accounts, quicker access to deposited funds and detailed deposit records for improved record keeping.
"We live in a world in which consumers are using more self-service technologies than ever before, and they are also demanding a wider range of self-service options," said Brian Bailey, vice president of financial industry marketing for NCR Corp. "NCR APTRA Consumer Passport is a reflection of how self-service and sophisticated imaging technology can be used to help consumers connect, interact and transact with financial institutions, while maintaining a high level of security for all parties."
Monday, 23 February 2009
It seems that every industry is faced with significant challenges during the current economic recession. Today, in the early months of 2009, credit is tight, the stock market is sinking and consumer confidence is low. In that tight and unforgiving economic climate, businesses are fighting to cut costs wherever they can.
The self-service industry is no different. Experts hope for a positive recovery by the end of 2009, but for now, it's a bear market. What effect is the current economic recession having on the deployment of self-service? Francie Mendelsohn, president of Summit Research, provides some insight.
Monday, 23 February 2009
DOVER, N.H. -- Users who frequent the Web site of Telpar, a kiosk thermal printer manufacturer, are likely to notice some changes and enhancements to the site. The site was recently updated, according to a news release, to provide users with information on kiosk and receipt printer solutions and services.
Among the enhancements is a more user-friendly layout, as well as an updated look and an expanded product offering and description. An enhanced Technical section features technical FAQs and bulletins as well as product selection guides. The section provides step-by-step how-to solutions for printer and paper problems.
The new site also includes brand new features, according to the news release. A Customer Example section highlights customers' real life applications utilizing Telpar printers in innovative ways. A printer applications guide, as well as comsumables and accessories sections are also new to the site.
The Contract Manufacturing section of the site includes details of Telpar's manufacturing and engineering outsourcing capabilities featuring its design engineering, software development, product assembly and kitting offerings.
"The new layout provides users with more intuitive navigation, enhanced visual content and a comprehensive view of the company's technologies and products," said Vicki Pillsbury, Telpar's director of manufacturing. "The new layout provides users with more intuitive navigation, enhanced visual content and a comprehensive view of the company's technologies and products."
Monday, 23 February 2009
New (Malaysia) Straits Times: Muslims in Malaysia who forgot to bring cash to the mosque will soon have a new option when it comes to paying tithes. The new Maju Masjid eZakat/eDerma kiosks are being placed in mosques across the country and will enable Muslims to pay their tithes via a credit or debit card. The first kiosk was unveiled at the Kampung Baru mosque on Feb. 20.
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Monday, 23 February 2009
Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel: Deployers of four info kiosks are looking to a canine friend to help them promote the new technology to tourists. Data Dog, a 2-year-old boxer, will be featured in a television spot to advertise the technology. The TouchKnow&Go kiosks are being deployed by the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corp., which is placing the kiosks at the Knoxville Visitor Center, on Market Square and at the Knoxville Convention Center. The kiosks will give tourists information on restaurants, shops, tourist sites and other local attractions.
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Friday, 20 February 2009
 June 22-24, 2009 Shanghai Mart Exhibition Centre.
China Kiosk Show is the premier exhibition for self-service, kiosk and vending companies to expand their business in the Far East. Come meet with 120+ companies, 8000+ visitors and listed to 15+ speech presentations
Shanghai Int`l Digital Signage Show is the only exhibition dedicated to digital signage related products in Asia. Come meet with companies like: Honghe, Advantech, DT Research, Avedia, SeeYoo, ET Media, POP-Screen, General Touch, Aopen, Cayin Tech and IEI. Listen to speech presentations from Digital Signage Association, Advantech, Neo Advertising and Air Media.
Friday, 20 February 2009
PEMBROKE, Bermuda -- Tyco Electronics' Elo TouchSystems, a provider of touchscreen technology and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has announced the unveiling of the Elo TouchSystems 2240L wide-aspect, high-resolution LCD touchmonitor, according to a news release.
The company introduced the new touchmonitor at the annual International Gaming Expo in London.
Designed for use in high-traffic casino gaming, video game entertainment and self-service kiosk environments, the 2240L offers a wide viewing angle and delivers clear, bright and long-lasting performance, according to the release.
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The Elo TouchSystems 2240L Touchmonitor.
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"The 2240L truly represents a breakthrough in terms of design and performance in touchscreen technology," said Kristof Heyndrickx, product manager for Elo TouchSystems. "The 2240L offers exceptional visual performance in a wide variety of lighting environments, fully meeting the elevated consumer expectations in the age of high-definition television."
The innovative design of the open-frame 2240L provides a fit for gaming applications and can be deployed in both landscape and portrait orientations. With a front-facing, metal hardened anodised bezel and L-mounting brackets and slim dimensional profile (500 mm x 332 mm x 80 mm), the 2240L offers installation flexibility in a variety of entertainment and retail environments. In addition, the integrated on-screen display control, as well as remote OSD, allow for simplified management of the 2240L, according to the release.
The 2240L is the latest addition to Elo's existing portfolio of open-frame touchmonitors, now available in 20, 22, 26 and 32 inch screen sizes. At launch, the 2240L is available with industry-leading touch technologies including IntelliTouch surface acoustic wave, and capacitive, as well as no-touch version. The pure-glass and sealed-screen used with IntelliTouch technology helps prevent damage from spills, smoke and other potential hazards, while Elo's next generation surface capacitive touchscreen controller offers provides performance and accuracy. The 2240L features acoustic pulse recognition (APR) technology that senses touch by recognizing unique patterns of acoustic waves. It is scheduled for release in early 2009.
Friday, 20 February 2009
Hollywood Reporter: Litigation continues between motion picture giant Universal Studios and redbox, an operator of DVD rental kiosks at roughly 14,000 fast-food and retail locations across the U.S. The dispute arose in Aug. 2008 when representatives of Universal demanded that redbox sign a revenue sharing agreement that would severely limit both the number and types of Universal DVDs that could be stocked in the kiosks, as well as the prices that could be charged for their rental. Redbox responded with a lawsuit, alleging that Universal was wrongfully attempting to interfere with redbox's business practices. Now, Universal has filed a motion to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the legal action is meritless. A ruling is expected soon from the U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Del.
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Click here to read the full text of the redbox lawsuit.
Friday, 20 February 2009
TROY, Mich. -- Two more airports have deployed kiosk and digital menu board technology from NEXTEP SYSTEMS, according to a news release.
Logan International Airport in Boston and Philadelphia International Airport have added NEXTEP solutions.
"Both Boston and Philadelphia airports have moved toward the 21st century standard of providing busy air travelers with less time constraints and innovative visuals, allowing NEXTEP to enlarge our install base," said Tommy Woycik, president of NEXTEP SYSTEMS. "Not only do the self-order kiosks and digital menu boards increase revenue for the establishments, they offer better customer service."
Jet Rock Bar and Grill, located within Philadelphia International Airport in Terminals B, D and F, has implemented NEXTEP's touchscreen self-order kiosks for faster customer service for travelers. The kiosks eliminate long lines and facilitate the rapid fulfillment of food and beverages orders - a must for the demands on today's traveling public.
Earl of Sandwich, located in Boston Logan International Airport, will install NEXTEP's solution for digital menu boards at their location within Terminal E. Digital menu boards enable Earl of Sandwich to use dynamic messaging with greater impact, advertise daily specials and target their promotions directly to busy travelers.
NEXTEP was able to provide seamless integration with MICROS 9700 POS. Earl of Sandwich and Jet Rock owners are able to make pricing changes and have them immediately reflect on their digital menu boards and self-order kiosks.
NEXTEP solutions have also been deployed in JFK International Airport, Reagan National and Detroit Metro.
Friday, 20 February 2009
FOLSOM, Calif. -- RocketLife LLC, provider of new media technologies, has unveiled RocketLife Touch, a photo creation and merchandising product for touchscreen kiosks.
According to a news release, RocketLife Touch utilizes touchscreen technology, enabling the user to place his or her images on professional photo books, designer mugs, posters and several other personal photo products. Users have the option of including dramatic enhancements, such as full placement and layering of photos, graphic objects and text and even image processing and special effects.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
 Ecast is the leader in place-based interactive media. Our hospitality network delivers digital music, games, entertainment, information and interactive advertising to more than 10,000 bars and nightclubs across the United States. Leveraging the personal impact of touch combined with the interactivity and targeting of the Internet, Ecast brings unsurpassed consumer engagement to out-of-home markets and is redefining the way consumers are entertained, informed and engaged.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
DAYTON, Ohio -- A study commissioned by NCR Corp., a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has determined that U.S. healthcare providers are making moves to cut IT expenditures during the current economic recession.
One in three healthcare organizations are either postponing all non-essential projects or imposing longer IT project implementation timeframes, according to the study.
At the same time, NCR says that healthcare providers that implement self-service patient check-in applications have seen co-payment collection increase by 40 percent and insurance claim denials decrease by as much as 36 percent, according to a news release. Self-service tech adoption can also decrease the costs associated with paper-based forms by up to 90 percent and free up staff to focus on patient needs, which can help drive increased patient satisfaction.
"With the current economic climate, we have to be very strategic with how we spend our IT dollars," said Tim Reiner, senior revenue officer for Adventist Health System. "By utilizing NCR's self-service technology, we've been able to consistently increase data accuracy, solicit outstanding patient balances and boost collections. In 2008, four percent of all payments, representing more than $4.87 million in revenue, were received through self-service channels including the on-site check-in kiosks and online bill pay."
Chakri Toleti, vice president of healthcare industry marketing for NCR, pointed to NCR's suite of self-service solutions that are designed to enable healthcare organizations to automate everyday patient interactions.
"Our goal is to facilitate customer-driven healthcare that will make organizations more efficient and profitable so they can succeed in these tough economic times," Toleti said.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Condé Nast Traveler: NYC & Company, the official marketing and tourism organization for New York City, has redesigned its visitor information center, replacing brochure racks with digital touchscreen kiosks. Visitors can move a "puck" across a map displayed on the touchscreen and be presented with a list of nearby attractions. The self-service tech is a significant improvement over the racks of print, less-eco-friendly brochures, according to Liz Granger of Condé Nast Traveler.
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Thursday, 19 February 2009
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Tactile Technologies, a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, is showcasing its digital touchscreen kiosks at The Foschini Group Store of the Near Future.
The three-day event is held by the Foschini Group, an investment holding group comprised of 13 retail and financial services companies that trade in 1,200 stores throughout South Africa. The purpose of the event is to display the readily available IT solutions in the retail industry to the Foschini Group's board and trading managers in its various divisions.
"The group is evaluating implementing Tactile Technologies' touchscreen kiosks that will serve as virtual interactive sales associates or as self-service accouunt information kiosks," said Mauro Mercuri, managing director at Tactile Technologies. "This forms part of TFG's decision to use technology to grow turnover, increase customer satisfaction and curtail operating expenses."
Mercuri says Datacentrix will coordinate the installation, support and maintenance for all kiosks and touchscreens that are deployed countrywide.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
A kiosk user interface provides the communications channel between the kiosk itself and the consumer using it. A confusing interface can discourage people from using the kiosk - especially elderly users who may feel uncomfortable with technology. Background colors, button sizes and text fonts can all play a role in making the user feel at ease, or causing them to seek out a live person instead.
At times, making a kiosk interface appeal to the tech-savvy teenager, while at the same time appearing non-threatening to the most senior of citizens, can be a struggle. How can a kiosk user interface be designed so that consumers of all ages - from 16 to 60 - feel comfortable using it? Cam Stewart, director of Phosphor Essence Limited in Auckland, New Zealand, provides some insight.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Retailwire.com: As an ever-increasing number of retailers implement kiosk and digital signage systems into their business models, many of them are realizing the benefits of the new technology. Others fail to comprehend the advantages that self-service has to offer, such as providing new channels of communication and improving collaboration with other departments. Retailwire.com has compiled a list of six imperatives that every self-service and digital signage deployment should accomplish.
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Thursday, 19 February 2009
BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada -- TIO Networks Corp., a provider of multi-channel bill payment processing, has partnered with H-E-B, a Texas retailer, to implement its self-service bill payment technology at 26 participating H-E-B stores located throughout Texas.
H-E-B will the first Texas-based retailer to implement TIO's bill payment services.
Plans are to deploy the technology by early spring 2009. Store customers will be able to make expedited bill payments on their wireless, utility and cable accounts via self-service kiosks. They will also be able to purchase prepaid products and services and reload prepaid debit cards. These kiosks will be located adjacent to or nearby H-E-B's business centers to help alleviate payment traffic during peak payment periods.
"With these kiosks, we hope to provide our customers with a convenient service that enhances their one-stop shopping experience in our stores," said Winell Herron, H-E-B group vice president of public affairs and diversity.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
The (Hillsboro, Ill.) Journal-News: A new kiosk application developed by Fujitsu Computer Products of America, an association member, identifies and registers patients via a biometric palm print scanner. The kiosk is currently being trialed at the Hillsboro Medical Center in Illinois. Patients use a touchscreen interface to set up their own appointments without the aid of a receptionist. It can also custom-tailor specific messages to the individual patient.
"For instance, if a female patient is due for a mammogram, a reminder with a date will appear on the lower half of the screen," said Jim Hewitt, chief information officer with the clinic.
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Wednesday, 18 February 2009
PARSIPPANY, N.J. -- Core Technology Solutions (CTS), a nationwide IT services provider based in Parsippany, N.J., has announced the acquisition of GA Services LLC (GAS), an Irvine, Calif. based firm that delivers similar nationwide services across a wide range of technology and infrastructure.
The merged companies will be branded under the CTS banner.
The merger provides bi-coastal operations and logistics facilities that will greatly enhance offerings to customers of both organizations, according to a news release.
"The ability to aggregate multi-vendor product, kit, stage, configure and deliver from both coasts will dovetail nicely with our existing field services offerings, ensuring complete control of large scale deployements," said Gary Dedoussis, chief executive of Core Technology Solutions. "The integration of the GAS customer base into CTS operations has gone very smoothly due in large part to our decision to standardize all service management on Computer Associates' Unicenter Service Desk software platform. Service Desk provides tremendous leverage for us to rapidly grow our customer base, while providing full visibility to our clients to all activity on-going in the field."
According to the release, CTS will maintain its focus in the retail market segment, providing services around POS, wireless devices, kiosk, digital signage and the associated cabling infrastructure. George Harris, former president and chief executive of GAS will join CTS as executive vice president of business development.
"The entire GAS organization is thrilled to join the CTS team, and together we will strive to be the premier provider of IT services to our target market segments," he said.
CTS is a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
TradingMarkets.com: In the wake of the merger between Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines, Delta has begun to rebrand Northwest's check-in kiosks, as well as its counters, gates and signage. This process is expected to take place at more than 200 airports worldwide. The airline expects re-branding in all airports in the U.S. and Canada to be complete by the end of 2009, and in international airports the following year.
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Wednesday, 18 February 2009
(Minneapolis) CityPages.com: The city of Minneapolis is poised to launch a bike sharing program where residents can rent bicycles from a self-service kiosk with the swipe of a card. But if the program doesn't get federal funding, it may be over before it begins. Under the program, 1,000 bikes would be placed at 75 kiosks throughout the city. Residents could purchase a season pass (for about $50 annually) and check out a bike any time they want, returning it at any kiosk they choose. Proponents of the program say it will help curb carbon emissions from motor vehicles and increase health awareness among residents. Detractors of the program cite theft and vandalism as their top concerns.
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Read also: The best self-service on two wheels.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Palm Beach and Broward counties are redoubling efforts to install self-service checkout machines in their libraries. In Palm Beach County, 11 of the kiosks have already been installed, and there are plans to add another 20 by next year, said assistant library director Sharon Hill. She said the county is not using the machines to cut positions.
"We are not replacing staff with self-check machines, we are changing our staffing models," she said. "We've cut back on the number of new positions because of self-checks. They have given us the luxury of not having to find and pay for more people."
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Tuesday, 17 February 2009
The Economic Times: Bartronics India, a provider of end-to-end identification technology services, has been tapped by the Delhi Municipal Corporation in India to deploy 2,000 government to citizen kiosks. The kiosks will provide Delhi citizens with information such as directories, yellow pages and download services. They'll also be able to pay their taxes and utility bills at the kiosks. Additionally, the kiosks will be equipped with ticketing functionality, so residents can purchase air, train, bus and movie tickets.
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Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Isle of Man Newspapers: Residents of the Isle of Man now have access to their first DVD rental kiosk. The Movie Booth has deployed a kiosk at the Nearbuy store in Westmoreland Road. Alan Isaac, proprietor of the store, says the kiosk as a hit as customers can get regular movies for £1 (U.S. $1.42) a day and new releases for £2 (U.S. $2.85) a day.
"I think the fact that we are more price efficient and convenient than our competitors will enable us to grow our customer base quickly," said Isaac. "It's a low cost alternative to a night out."
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Tuesday, 17 February 2009
William Phelps is quick to identify the one kiosk component that's most likely to break down.
"Think about it," said Phelps. "Most components are solid state, whereas a printer still has a lot of moving components because it's trying to move paper. So if anything is going to break down at a kiosk, it's typically going to be the printer."
Roughly one-third of kiosk-related service calls involve the printer, said Phelps, who is the business development manager for Vernon Hills, Ill.-based Zebra Technologies Corp., a printer manufacturer. And he claims he knows why. He says it's because the printer is the one component kiosk deployers are most likely to scrimp on.
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What questions should a deployer ask before purchasing a kiosk printer?
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- What size of paper will it be using?
- What is the thickness of the paper?
- What will be the length of the typical printout?
- How often will the roll need to be replenished?
- Can the printer be remotely monitored?
- Does it have a presenter?
- What is the kiosk printer's jam rate?
- What is the kiosk printer's life span?
- How fast is the kiosk printer?
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Christopher Naasz, marketing director for Star Micronics America Inc., agrees with his assessment, adding that most deployers plunge into a project without knowing the criteria of a good kiosk printer.
"If you want a kiosk printer to do the job correctly, there are a lot of options you need to think about," he said.
The presenter
One component that experts tend to agree is a must-have on any kiosk printer is the presenter.
In the early days of printer manufacturing, the user would tear the receipt by hand. This became cumbersome as hurried users would often fail to tear the receipt completely, or leave an uneven cut. More often than not, this would result in printer jams.
Those types of "print and tear off" models are still available on the cheap, says Phelps, but he says it's a mistake for kiosk deployers to use them. Instead, he points to printers using Zebra's "looping presenter" as a means of curbing jam rates.
When a user sends a job to the kiosk printer, Phelps says a set of nip rollers clamps on to the front edge of the receipt. As the receipt continues to print, the clamped edge causes it to create a loop inside the device. At the end of the print job, a device called the guillotine cutter slices through the paper, and the rollers present 1-1/2 inches of the receipt to the user. If he tugs on the receipt, a pull detector recognizes the movement and spits the receipt out faster than the customer can pull, eliminating any pressure he might feel on the other end.
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The APU-9000-C series kiosk printer from Seiko Instruments. The specific model featured here is the 3 inch print width APU-9347-C, with looping presenter.
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"The goal of that is basically to make sure that we fully print and cut the receipt before the customer has an opportunity to pull on it," Phelps said.
Naasz, who says his company's printers have a jam rate of roughly one in 10,000 printouts, stresses that a looping presenter is practically a necessity for any kiosk printer, despite the fact that the device usually accounts for 25 percent of the printer's cost.
"If you want your kiosk to be well designed, you must have a presenter," he said.
Roll size
Another factor that's important for deployers to consider is the maximum paper roll size the printer can handle. Larger rolls last longer and require fewer service calls to restock the paper, which translates into lower costs, according to Phelps, who says his company builds a kiosk printer that fits a 10-inch diameter paper roll that holds 2,200 feet of receipt paper.
Adam Ortlieb, director of marketing for Seiko Instruments USA Inc., says the size of the paper roll used should vary depending on the nature of the deployment. The receipt printer for a through-the-wall ATM would be a fitting location for a 10 inch diameter roll, he says, because of the ATM's high traffic volume and the difficulties involved in restocking the printer. On the other hand, he says the printer in an ordering kiosk at a quick-service restaurant would require a smaller roll.
"Real estate requirements play an important factor," he said. "Every square inch of that facility is mapped out, so you can't necessarily have a bulkier design."
Also of significance is the length of the receipt the device is printing. Phelps said a price checking kiosk might typically print a receipt no longer than 2 inches, while a loyalty coupon printer at a self-checkout unit in a grocery store might print receipts of up to 3 feet at a time. The printer should be equipped to handle a roll sized to fit the requirements.
Speed
Is speed a factor when it comes to purchasing a kiosk printer? Some experts say it's not as important as it once was. Naasz says the industry standard for print speeds for today's kiosk printers is about 200 mm (7.87 inches) per second.
Ortlieb says he's seen units that print as fast as 10 inches (about 250 mm) per second.
The 250 mm appears to be a barrier printer manufacturers can't seem to crack, at least for now, according to Naasz.
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Zebra Technologies' TTP2000 series kiosk printer.
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"Only a few paper types can handle those types of speeds – above 250mm per second," he said. "It becomes a challenge now to find the right paper. What you're going to find, if you take standard paper, is that you're going to have a kind of faded receipt. It's never dark enough."
It may be a moot issue. Ortlieb says consumers aren't necessarily clambering for high-speed receipt printers, although he does note a couple of examples in which they may be appropriate. One is at ATMs in neighborhoods where the user may feel uncomfortable and have longer perceived wait times. The other is at airport kiosks that are printing out multiple documents, such as receipts and boarding passes. He says travelers in a hurry might grab their receipt but forget the boarding pass if the printer is too slow.
"If the documents are really flying out of that system, then you avoid that problem," he said.
Paper thickness
The type of paper being used in the printer can also be a deciding factor when choosing a printer, says Phelps. The most common paper size used in kiosk printers is 80mm, for standard receipts. The second most common is 8-1/2 inch, which is typically used for gift registries, maps, airline boarding passes and job applications.
Paper thickness can be even more important, says Naasz. He says paper thickness typically ranges from 2.53 mil to 6 mil (or roughly 60-150 micrometers). Printers handling paper on the higher end of this scale often can't use a looped presenter, because the thickness of the paper hinders its ability to be looped.
"But the biggest issue with the thickness of the paper is the cutter," he said. "The thicker the paper, the less times the cutter will last."
Naasz says deployers using paper thicker than 6 mil will have to get a customized printer.
Timing is everything
Most importantly, printer manufacturers say the worst thing a deployer can do is wait until the last minute before choosing the printer.
"It's often looked at as a peripheral, so they just stick a printer in there," Ortlieb said. "The longer you wait to look at printer options, the narrower your parameters are. You might have mechanical design limitations or integration issues."
The deployer who waits until the last minute to choose a printer may soon discover that the printer doesn't fit, doesn't have the functionality necessary for the application or just doesn't mesh stylistically with the kiosk. The answer, according to Ortlieb, is to consider the printer up-front in the design process.
"The earlier the better," he said.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Most experts agree that renting movies at the self-service kiosk level was a smart idea. Critics need only look at redbox to see the value in this application: With over 10,000 DVD rental kiosks in retail and fast food locations across the U.S., redbox has demonstrated that there is a huge market for cheap, self-service access to DVDs.
At the same time, another technology is slowly emerging as a contender (or in some cases, a supplement) to the DVD format. Digital download - the ability to transfer digital movie content to memory sticks or SD cards - will be the next leap in movie kiosk technology. Instead of taking home a DVD, consumers will have an SD card in hand, which can then be inserted into special slots in their home media players.
That's the question SelfService.org posed to Davis Freeburg, a technology blogger at Davis Freeburg's Digital Connection. Of the two movie kiosk formats - DVD and digital download - which, if either, would be more successful in the near future? Click here to find out.
Monday, 16 February 2009
Nation's Restaurant News: Time is money, so the adage goes. That's especially true when a slow-moving line at the service counter of a quick-service restaurant exacts a toll in customer walk-offs and lost sales. But some operators say they are successfully busting lines and boosting throughput — and increasing average checks to boot — by inviting patrons to use self-service kiosks in the dining room to order their meals. Now, executives from three restaurants are sounding off on the value that self-service technology brings to their bottom lines.
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Monday, 16 February 2009
BRISTOL, England -- Since it's obtained card processing certification with the Canadian Moneris Bank Processor, CreditCall Corp., an association member, has seen a dramatic rise in the number of Canadian parking terminals that are being equipped with the company's CardEase credit card payment system.
According to a news release, parking machine manufacturers Parkeon and MacKay Meters both offer the CreditCall service to their Canadian customers and have deployed almost 600 of the self-service machines. The largest installed base is in the city of Toronto, although there are also installations in London, Barrie and Brampton (Ontario) and Quebec.
Canadian motorists in these cities no longer have to worry about having enough change to park for the time they need. The CardEase system securely authorizes every transaction online with the bank, protecting the operator against card fraud.
MacKay Meters' customer, Fanshawne College in London, Ontario, has recently added credit card payment to its self-service parking system.
"I'm very happy with this system," said assistant facilities manager Marion Dietze. "It has certainly increased our revenue with credit cards being used. Customers often purchase more parking than needed but they feel comfortable with this choice."
Monday, 16 February 2009
POSEN, Ill. -- Corporate Safe Specialists, an association member, has announced a series of promotions across its leadership ranks.
The leaders promoted now hold these titles and responsibilities:
David Borkovec, chief financial officer. David will be responsible for all financial activities of the company. This will include all financial processes and reporting.
Mike McGunn, vice president of safe sales and service. Mike will lead all initiatives, and be responsible for all resources with respect to both traditional safe sales and safe service.
Tom Hartmann, vice president of ACCS Global. Tom will be responsible for all aspects and resources of CSS' Advanced Cash Control System Platform around the world.
David Murch, director of engineering. David will head all R&D and engineering activities for the Advanced Cash Control System product platform.
Jason Ercoli, production manager ACCS. Jason will oversee all production activities and capacity planning for Advanced Cash Control Systems.
"Along with bringing exceptional talent to the company, one of my top priorities is growing Corporate Safe's existing leadership team," said Ed McGunn, president and chief executive of the company. "Each of these individuals will play a critical role in leading CSS in 2009 and into the future. Today's promotions are a result of their demonstrated ability to think strategically, the respect they've earned from their peers, customers and partners, and their ability to move this company forward every single day."
Monday, 16 February 2009
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Dynamic Card Solutions, a provider of instant card issuance, PIN selection and PIN change for financial institutions, and Postilion, a provider of software solutions for self-service banking and payments and a division of S1 Corp., have announced a partnership to offer financial institutions a fully integrated solution for card management, instant issuance and PIN selection, by connecting DCS' patented CardWizard solutions with Postilion for Card Issuers.
According to a news release, instant card issuance provides banks with improved service for new account holders and allows for the immediate replacement of lost or stolen cards for current customers. DCS' CardWizard instant issue software fully personalizes the chip, encodes the magnetic stripe and prints or embosses cardholder details on each card. Postilion for Card Issuers provides complete life cycle management for an extensive range of card products with full support for EMV, including contactless and PIN control. The integrated solution also enables customers to select their own PINs at the time of issue, which increases activation rates, allows for the immediate use of the card, and eliminates the costs of PIN mailers.
Fraud associated with the interception of cards in the mail is a known area of concern for issuers. The end-to-end solution from DCS and Postilion offers built-in security and removes the risk of sending cards and PINs through the mail. Instant issuance provides and attractive, low-cost alternative, particularly in countries where mail delivery services may be less reliable.
"We are pleased to be partnering with DCS in the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions to offer this innovative capability to our card issuer customers," said Mark McMurtrie, marketing director of Postilion International. "Instant issuance is now both cost-effective and easy to implement thanks to to advances in technology, and it makes an ideal complement to our product suite. This unique service, which includes immediate card replacement and the freedom for customers to choose their own card designs, can support card issuers with customer acquisition, retention and portfolio profitability."
Monday, 16 February 2009
Nashville Business Journal: Two Nashville-based tourism and technology companies are merging, combining their talents to create a host of products for the hotel industry including touch-screen kiosks and restaurant guides. Uniguest is a seven-year-old $5 million company that installs and services computers for hotels and offers software to keep them secure. U.S. Hospitality Publishers Inc. is a 22-year-old $5 million firm that prints in-room hotel guides, funded with restaurant advertising.
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Friday, 13 February 2009
Wincor Nixdorf International opened its doors to some 7,000 international visitors during its annual Wincor World trade fair Jan. 20-22 in Paderborn, Germany. Tracy Kitten, editor of ATM Marketplace, was there and snapped images of the latest ATM and self-service technologies that were featured at the show. That slideshow is now available to SelfService.org users.
Click here to see the slideshow.
Friday, 13 February 2009
The Times of India: By 2010, all train passengers would have instant access to unreserved tickets from even the most remote corners of the country. What is more, they would be able to buy a ticket, not just from the stations, but several public kiosks as well. At present, the Unreserved Ticketing System developed by the Centre for Railway Information System provides access to 60 percent of the 16 million passengers who travel on such tickets every day. Only one million passengers travel daily in reserved compartments.
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Friday, 13 February 2009
The Financial: The annual ski holidays in Finland can mean long check-in and security inspection lines at airports. Self-service check-in kiosks can be an effective way of avoiding those lines. "We recommend that passengers use Finnair's Internet or text message check-in services or the check-in kiosks at the airport as this can speed things up significantly," said a statement from Finnair. "When check-in is done in advance, baggage can be left at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport at a Baggage Drop desk within minimum check-in times."
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Friday, 13 February 2009
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Coinstar Inc. has announced plans to purchase the remaining stake of Redbox Automated Retail LLC, an automated DVD rental service, from GetAMovie Inc. and other minority interest holders.
That will make Coinstar the 100 percent owner of redbox, according to a news release.
With 35 million unique customers and 12,000 locations, redbox is a leading renter of DVDs through self-service kiosks in the United States. Redbox rents the latest movie releases for $1 per night and allows consumers to rent in one location and return to another location. Redbox can be found nationwide in select McDonald's restaurants, grocery stores and Wal-Mart and Walgreens stores in select markets.
"Redbox has been a great addition to our 4th Wall product portfolio, and we are very enthusiastic about the DVD rental kiosk market having seen tremendous growth and acceptance over the past few years," said Paul Davis, chief operating officer at Coinstar Inc. "Redbox has a strong business model and management team and we look forward to seeing continued growth as a combined company."
Industry research indicates that the majority of consumers prefer physical media such as DVDs, and while emerging technologies such as digital downloads and video on demand are growing, consumer acceptance is still low. Other research shows DVD rental transactions in 2008 increased 1.8 percent to 2.6 billion over the prior year. Redbox represents about 9 percent of the overall DVD rental market.
"Redbox has a very positive and cooperative relationship with Coinstar and we're pleased with today's announcement," said Gregg Kaplan, chief executive officer of redbox. "The growth of the self-service DVD rental market continues to be brisk, and the combination of $1 per night pricing and the extreme convenience offered by redbox continues to be enthusiastically embraced by consumers."
On Feb. 12, 2009, Coinstar entered into an agreement with GetAMovie Inc.. Coinstar has agreed to acquire GetAMovie's 44.4 percent voting interests in redbox, as well as it's rights, title and interest in a $10 million promissory note made by redbox, in exchange for a combination of cash and Coinstar common stock.
Coinstar will initially pay GetAMovie $10 million in cash and 1.5 million shares of Coinstar common stock on the closing date, which is expected to be Feb. 26, 2009. In addition, Coinstar will pay deferred consideration to GAM that will be payable in cash and/or shares of Coinstar common stock at Coinstar's election and subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. The agreement with GetAMovie also provides that in no event will the shares of Coinstar common stock issued to GetAMovie as consideration exceed 5,653,398 shares. At least 50 percent of the deferred consideration is payable by July 31, 2009, and the remaining portion is payable by Oct. 30, 2009. The total consideration to be paid to GetAMovie is expected to be between approximately $134 million. GetAMovie will be entitled to registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the shares of Coinstar common stock acquired in connection with the transaction.
In addition, Coinstar is expected to purchase the remaining outstanding interests of redbox from minority interest and non-voting interest holders in redbox. Consideration will be paid on similar terms to those of the GetAMovie purchase agreement. The total consideration to be paid in these transactions is expected to be between $21.5 million and $24.9 million. The closing of these transactions are subject to various closing conditions.
Coinstar has amended its credit agreement to facilitate the transactions.
Thursday, 12 February 2009
DAYTON, Ohio -- NCR Corp. has announced the appointment of Elton Birden as the new managing director of the U.K., Ireland and Nordics for NCR, according to a news release. In this newly created role, he will be responsible for leading the technology company in the region as it extends its focus beyond the financial services and retail industries into new travel, healthcare, hospitality, entertainment and gaming and public sectors.
Prior to joining NCR, Birden headed up IBM's Business Process Outsourcing group in the Financial Services Sector across Europe. Previously he spent over 20 years working at Unisys in general management, sales leadership, client management and service delivery roles. This included the position of managing director of a business process outsourcing company in the Netherlands owned by Unisys.
Thursday, 12 February 2009
(Billings, Mont.) The Billings Gazette: An ATM being deployed at a Butte, Mont., jail will enable users to post bail in a more timely fashion. The Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners recently approved the creation of a petty-cash account to keep the ATM filled with cash. The machine will have $2,000 in cash on a typical day, but up to as much as $15,000 during big events such as St. Patrick's Day or Evel Knievel Days.
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Wednesday, 11 February 2009
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — CO-OP Financial Services is now offering credit unions a turnkey entry into mobile banking and contactless card payments, according to a news release.
CO-OP announced its mobile banking offering in Oct. 2008, with the selection of mFoundry's financial services platform to deliver mobile banking offerings to credit unions via a downloadable client application. Mobile banking allows credit union members real-time access to verify balances, view transaction history and transfer funds among their accounts, all through the use of mobile devices.
Because it requires minimal set-up, the mFoundry platform integrates into CO-OP's Next Generation Network (NGN) switch to provide mobile banking to members of all credit unions participating in its network. Credit unions do not have to make any changes to their host or home banking system to participate in CO-OP Mobile. CO-OP NGN provides the members with access to their share and loan accounts with up to 30 days of account history.
Tony Rasmussen, senior vice president of $2.7 billion Mountain America Credit Union, said his credit union was one of the early adopters of mobile banking three years ago, and is eager to partner with CO-OP to expand its offering to its members, especially now that consumer awareness and usage of the service has grown.
"We knew mobile banking would pick up in a big way, and we didn't want to lack the ability to compete," he said.
CO-OP Contactless Processing Services will debut at GAC. As the name implies, contactless payments are payment transactions that do not require physical contact between the payment device and the point-of-sale terminal. The consumer holds the contactless card or device in close proximity to the merchant POS terminal and the payment account information is communicated wirelessly via radio frequency in a secure environment to the terminal. The transaction is debited from the consumer's checking account without having to enter a PIN, sign or swipe a card for most transactions.
"With contactless cards, credit unions can offer additional convenience and speed to their members while improving retention and card usage," said Stan Hollen, president and chief executive of CO-OP Financial Services.
CO-OP's support for contactless card processing, debuting at the GAC conference in Washington D.C., will initially support MasterCard's PayPass service for contactless debit card processing. CO-OP also plans to support other payment form factors, such as key fobs, watches and stickers that have been approved by MasterCard or Visa.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Minneapolis Daily: As the bike-share movement gains momentum around the world, bringing the program to Minneapolis has taken longer than expected. Complications in securing the $1.75 million in federal funding necessary to implement the program have pushed the projected start date from May to September of this year. Using Web-based subscriptions and self-service, solar-powered kiosks, the program would start by bringing 1,000 bicycles to 75 stations. Despite the delay, program planners remain hopeful.
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Wednesday, 11 February 2009
(MASON CITY, Iowa) Globe Gazette: Redbox DVD rental kiosks have been deployed in Mason City, Hampton and Charles City in northern Iowa. Those kiosks are placed at restaurants and retail outlets, such as Wal-Marts, Hy-Vee stores and McDonald's locations. "It's really efficient," said Jackie Quasdorf of Mason City as she chose a movie from the redbox kiosk at a Hy-Vee store. "It's really easy to use."
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Read also: Redbox says it won't bow to Universal Studios.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Hamacher Resource Group Inc. has announced an exclusive alliance with in-store kiosk pioneer ReadyTouch Inc., according to a news release.
"With increased focus on in-store influence and the overall shopping experience, we are extremely confident and excited about this new relationship that will allow innovative health, beauty and wellness retailers to step out of the shadow of conformity and into an era of leadership," said Dave Wendland, vice president of HRG.
ReadyTouch is a Menlo Park, Calif.-based provider of retail marketing systems designed to seamlessly bring the latest product expertise to consumers at the point of decision. The technology was first deployed to wine and spirit retailers and the unique browser-based search capabilities are also ideally suited for retail healthcare.
ReadyTouch is a RealPartner with NCR. The ReadyTouch System leverages content management technology on an NCR hardware platform to enhance the consumer shopping experience, to allow product promotions, and ultimately boost retail ROI and sales. NCR provides customers with the reassurance of dependable hardware support.
"HRG is the ideal partner for us in retail healthcare," said Peter Bostwick, president and founder of ReadyTouch. "They have a thorough understanding of the market, enjoy an unprecedented level of respect and have a robust library of content that will enhance the consumer's experience with our technology."
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
In late October, Heartland Payment Systems, a Princeton, N.J.-based company that provides payment processing for roughly 200,000 U.S. businesses, was contacted by Visa and MasterCard about reports of fraudulent activity taking place on cards it had processed. A forensic examination revealed vicious malware on the company's server that was recording private cardholder data, and presumably transmitting it to a third party.
It was disturbing news for a company that processes roughly 100 million transactions per month, 40 percent of which are for small-to-medium-sized restaurants.
In light of this and other cases, such as the infamous T.J. Maxx breach, what are the responsibilities of consumers and the card associations when it comes to preventing major card data breaches? David Shackleford, chief security officer at Configuresoft Inc., weighs in.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
DUSSELDORF, Germany -- Wincor Nixdorf has received an order from real,- SB Warenhaus GmbH to deliver and install reverse vending self-service systems, according to a news release.
The retailer's German stores will be equipped with a total of 120 systems in a rollout that is expected to conclude this year. According to the release, this order means that Wincor Nixdorf has become the primary supplier of reverse vending to real, - SB Warenhaus GmbH, a METRO Group company. It also strengthens Wincor Nixdorf's position as a supplier of self-service and automation solutions for retail chains.
The contract conclusion was preceded by a very intensive project phase, in which Wincor Nixdorf laid the foundation for its relationship with the retailer through an internal optimization of the individual processes. The retailer has ordered Wincor Nixdorf's Revendo 7000 system for processing cans and disposable PET bottles, and the Revendo 8000, which accepts every kind of returnable container: glass bottles, PET bottles, cans and entire beverage crates.
At EuroCIS 2009, Wincor Nixdorf will demonstrate how its reverse vending systems can be integrated in the IT infrastructures of retail stores. The presentation will focus on the secure processing of transaction receipts. Through automatic posting of the receipts at the POS system, retailers can ensure that an individual transaction receipt issued by the reverse vending system is only paid or credited once. This results in a significant reduction of inventory discrepancies. And at the end of the day, an overview of transactions can be produced at the touch of a button.
Another feature, according to the release, is intelligent couponing -- the generation of discount coupons based on the type of empties returned. This generates considerable advantages for sales control of the store's beverage assortment. These functions are enabled by the open, standards-based interface concept in Wincor Nixdorf's Revendo systems, which ensures seamless communication between the reverse vending systems and the POS.
Customers can also use the system's donation function to donate to the cause of their choice, according to the release.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
The (London) Times: When Vélib bike rental kiosks were introduced in Paris 18 months ago, they were hailed by environmentalists and cycling enthusiasts as one of the self-service industry's most worthwhile achievements. The kiosks enable residents to rent damage resistent grey bicycles at the swipe of a card. The future of the kiosks is now in doubt, however, after roughly 11,600 of the bicycles have been vandalized. Another 7,800 of them simply vanished, only to be recovered in parts of Eastern Europe and Africa. The bicycles are worth roughly €400 (U.S. $520) each.
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Read also: The best self-service on two wheels.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
(Fallbrook, Calif.) North County Times: A California man has pled guilty to trying to scam elderly victims out of roughly $20 million. Edward U. Bevilacqua was sentenced to seven years in state prison for selling pay phones, Internet kiosks and jukeboxes as investment opportunities to the elderly. His co-defendant, Charles Castro, pled guilty in Feb. 2008 and has already been sentenced to a three-year term. The company promised to pay investors monthly revenues at an annual return of 12 percent, but only a fraction of the equipment was installed.
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Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Oregon Public Broadcasting: Washington Governor Chris Gregoire wants to close 25 Department of Licensing offices and eliminate more than 150 boards and commissions. The announcement Monday was part of her broader proposal to "re-boot" state government. Department of Licensing offices that don't see much traffic will be closed and replaced with ATM-style kiosks.
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Tuesday, 10 February 2009
The Boston Globe: Virgin America is spending nearly half a million dollars to make its new home at Logan International Airport more comfortable for air travelers. Among the changes: self-service check-in kiosks designed to appear as white acrylic tables that could pass for minimalist living room furniture. The only problem is that the kiosks made at least one passenger feel too comfortable. According to The Boston Globe, that passenger decided to water the fake orchids that had been placed on top of the kiosk with leftover soda. The soda leaked through the fake orchid, into the kiosk and fried the computer processor. Since then, Virgin has redesigned the kiosk tables with smaller computer processors and interior pathways to funnel fluids away from the electronics.
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Tuesday, 10 February 2009
LAS VEGAS — Attendees to next month’s Globalshop are in for much more than just the latest in shelving and mannequins. Exhibits will run the gamut from digital signage to lighting, flooring and fixtures to point of purchase displays, a special emphasis on digital media at-retail.
Doug Hope, group vice president of retail design for Nielsen Business Media, which owns and operates Globalshop, said there is a greatly increased emphasis this year on the retail channel as a media marketplace.
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Globalshop 2009
Sands Expo & Convention Center
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March 23-25, 2009
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"There's a lot of attention on shopper marketing initiatives," he said. "The challenge is for those brands and retailers to figure out the way that they're going to source those solutions for the in-store part of the business that has become a greater focus for them."
Hope pointed to new research from retail consultancy Booz & Company which suggests that 95 percent of brands are maintaining or increasing their spending on in-store marketing in the coming year, while decreasing traditional advertising like television and newspaper.
"You've got companies that are reallocating their resources," he said. "They're taking their funding and their best people and putting them on the in-store channel."
Hope said the other big trend this year is an emphasis on store fixtures that are built with in-store technology in mind, rather than as an afterthought. Just as new homes are increasingly wired for home theater and Internet, retail fixtures are increasingly being designed and built with in-store tech in mind.
"It's really in the past year, that's been revolutionized," he said. "A lot of it is stuff you can't see – things that are completely invisible to the shopper."
As for the show's digs in Sin City, Hope said his show's location is a true blessing this year, especially to would-be attendees with tightened travel budgets. Thanks to the drying up of tourist dollars, Vegas hotels are hungry for business, which has helped the show cut some major package deals.
"Last year, to travel to the show and stay for a few days would have cost me $1,300 to $1,500," he said. "This year I can fly there, stay two nights, and get change back from $500. If we were in any other city, we wouldn't be able to make that claim."
Monday, 09 February 2009
TORRANCE, Calif. -- Seiko Instruments USA Inc. Thermal Printer Division, a provider of thermal kiosk printer technology, has introduced the 24-volt LTPD and CAPD series direct thermal printer mechanisms for OEM applications. The LTPD (printer only) and CAPD (printer and auto-cutter) embedded thermal printers offer two-inch and three-inch print widths and EZ-OP clamshell-style paper replacement, in a wide range of form factors.
According to a news release, this mechanism features up to 60 percent reduction in footprint, improved reliability and a menu of configuration options. For engineers designing point of sale (POS) systems, self-service kiosks, medical equipment, and other printer-dependent OEM applications, the competitively priced mechanisms significantly ease integration, speeding time to market.
"The new 24V LTPD and CAPD printer mechanisms demonstrate the engineering excellence for which Seiko Instruments is renowned," said Kaz Onishi, vice president and general manager, Seiko Instruments USA. "By shrinking the size of the thermal printer mechanism and providing a wide range of configuration options, we give our OEM customers a cost effective thermal printing solution with substantial reliability and design flexibility."
Both LTPD and CAPD mechanisms are significantly smaller than preceding models, and incorporate many space-saving features to help reduce OEM device size. Depth of the 2 inch CAPD247 model is reduced by 60 percent, compared to previous generations. The mechanism now measures just 3.27 inches (83.1mm) wide by 1.01 inches (26.9mm) high and 1.39 inches (35.4mm) deep. All printer models feature a redesigned paper guide, to shrink the distance between printer and paper and reduce overall design depth. A new, smaller pitch, flexible print circuit (FPC) cable adds further space savings. The FPC includes a framed ground line to protect the device against electrostatic shock, without additional wiring. The mechanisms also incorporate fixing points within the footprint of the printer to reduce overall mechanical design width.
The new thermal printers offer exceptional reliability. Each is rated for a minimum 62.1 miles (100 km) printed output and 100 million pulses. A platen latch redesign adds durability by eliminating accidental release from external shock. And the CAPD series is reengineered to house the printer and auto-cutter in a single, rigid assembly, enabling precise positioning of the cutter blade for reduced cutter errors and further reliability gains.
New mechanism configuration options provide a boost in flexibility and substantially ease mechanical integration. LTPD models offer a choice of horizontal and vertical orientation, with options to mount the motor either behind or below the print head. ASIC and interface boards are available for all models, supporting USB, Parallel, and Serial interfaces, and drivers are available for Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista, OPOS, and Linux operating systems.
Monday, 09 February 2009
SAN BRUNO, Calif. -- Nexxo Financial Corp., a provider of self-service money transfers to Hispanics in the U.S., has announced that it has facilitated more than $200 million in self-service money transfers.
Money transfers facilitated by Nexxo typically originate in California, with destinations for Mexico, as well as both Central and South America.
The transactions, which take place via Nexxo's network of more than 100 Cajeros kiosks, recently exceeded 60,000 per month and saw growth at a rate of more than 200 percent last year. Cajeros are small, ATM-like machines that allow the sender to use a touchscreen to conduct a money transfer transaction by simply following the prompts and submitting the cash they want to send into the secured machine.
In addition to its own proprietary kiosks, Nexxo Financial has expanded its footprint through partnerships with financial services companies via its turnkey remittance program. The Nexxo solution is now available in more than 500 kiosks overall throughout California, Texas and Arizona and should surpass 1,000 kiosks.
Monday, 09 February 2009
San Antonio Express-News: When Tony Alvarez, founder of iKiosk Solutions, tried to explain his motivations for creating his company to an audience of high school students, his eyes filled with tears. "Once I went to a parent-teacher night," he said. "And my teacher said I'd be nothing but a blue-collar worker. It's been with me (since), and it hurts, because I'm sure a lot of kids are told that in the country." It took Alvarez three years to create a digital kiosk that displays and prints information and applications for financial aid, admission to Texas colleges, exams and high-demand job information and statistics. He hopes that through the kiosks he can encourage more students to attend college and help lower the number of high school dropouts in San Antonio.
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Monday, 09 February 2009
TORONTO -- Espresso Brand Infiltration, a Toronto-based integrated marketing agency that provides consulting services for deployers of digital signage and self-service technology (and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association), has named a new chief executive officer.
Jacquelyn Corbett Cyr was named to the post by the company's board of directors. At 31, Cyr is one of the country's youngest agency chief executives.
Cyr joined Espresso (then named RetailCom) in 2004 as an account director and quickly rose through the ranks within the agency. In 2008, Cyr was promoted to chief operating officer and guided the agency through a major relaunch that included rebranding the company as Espresso, developing an internal philosophy around brand infiltration and expanding client services to include stronger consultative strategy, event marketing and social media tactics.
"I've been a passionate member of this brilliant agency for nearly five years and I am beyond thrilled to officially take the helm as its CEO," said Cyr. "Last year's relaunch was truly exceptional. Careful business design and an intense focus on client objectives have served us well, and I have no doubt that 2009 will bring even more success and growth for Espresso and its clients."
While providing overall agency direction will be Cyr's chief responsibility, she will continue to have a guiding hand with Espresso clients, including Samsung, Sorenson Communications Inc., United Way Toronto and emerging new businesses.
Friday, 06 February 2009
NORTH CANTON, Ohio — Despite a 2008 fourth quarter that saw a decline in sales from 2007's numbers, Diebold Inc. reported a slight increase in full-year profit compared to 2007.
Diebold reported fourth-quarter sales of $823 million, a 6 percent drop from $880 million fourth-quarter sales in 2007.
For the year, Diebold earned $93.4 million, on sales of $3.2 billion, up from 2007 income of $39 million, on sales of $2.9 billion.
The company used several cost-cutting measures in 2008, including plans to reduce its global workforce by 800 full-time positions, or about 5 percent of its overall workforce.
"During the year, we met or exceeded our targets in the areas of improved supply chain, manufacturing efficiency, quality and cost-reduction initiatives. Our company achieved the highest year-end non-GAAP earnings from continuing operations and free cash flow in its 150-year history, largely as a result of our significant improvement in profitability, continued growth in key international geographies, progress in our cost-savings efforts, and improvement in our already strong customer loyalty scores," said Thomas W. Swidarski, Diebold president and chief executive officer.
"As we look ahead, we believe the global economy will remain extremely challenging throughout 2009. While we're obviously concerned about this negative environment, Diebold is in a unique position to deliver value. The solutions we provide enable customers to reduce costs and improve efficiency, and market demand for financial self-service solutions remains relatively stable. Additionally, more than half of our revenue comes from services - much of which is recurring in nature. Finally, we have developed the infrastructure and expertise to continually focus on improving operational efficiency and reducing costs."
Friday, 06 February 2009
SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. -- MediaTile, a provider of cellular digital signage solutions, has announced that company founder and executive chairman, Keith Kelsen, has been selected as the 2008 Man of the Year by members of the Digital Signage Forum, Digital Signage News, Online Buyer's Guide and Network Database, according to a news release.
Kelsen was selected for his contributions in advancing the digital signage medium in retail promotions, branding campaigns, and in corporate communications activities. Kelsen's projects within the past year have reached executives in a growing number of vertical markets, demonstrating the advantages of digital out-of-home (DOOH) media. His knowledge and leadership have provided network operators, advertising agencies and enterprise clients with a roadmap for defining, deploying, and running networks that meet industry best practices and deliver a higher return on investment.
"I am truly honored to receive this award from a panel of my peers," Kelsen said. "Simplicity and relevancy are the cornerstones of the digital media revolution. In the current economic climate, it's become imperative for businesses to find communication solutions that are not only easy to deploy and manage, but that also deliver highly engaging messages that compel audiences to act in measurable ways. I am privileged to work alongside some outstanding thought leaders in digital media and together we're shaping this industry and moving it forward into the next decade."
Josh Coffman, Digital Signage Forum Judge and Parter at DNA Network stated, "What Keith Kelsen has accomplished on top of running a successful and innovative company is impressive. Not only does he run a hardware and software company, but he has shown that he is committed to good content."
Kelsen most recently lead a digital signage webinar on content best practices that attracted over 900 registered viewers and also posted the Top 10 Trends for Digital Signage in 2009, which logged over 10,000 downloads. Kelsen's many endeavors within the past year have also included an Advisory board membership with the Digital Signage Association; Content Best Practices Committee Chair for the Digital Signage Association; Advisory Board Member for the Digital Signage Expert Group; and recipient of the Frost & Sullivan 2008 Digital Signage Technology of the Year award.
"And we're not done yet," Kelsen added. "This industry is just heating up and 2009 will be another year of new innovations in digital signage."
MediaTile is a vendor member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, as well as the Digital Signage Association.
Friday, 06 February 2009
Ecommerce Journal: Nextel has selected NCR to provide a self-service bill payment system designed to enhance service. The system will be based on the NCR SelfServ 32 ATM platform and will enable Nextel customers to pay their bills without staff assistance. With the introduction of the system customers will have an opportunity to choose between using cash, credit cards, debit cards or banks. The system package includes a managed services agreement that provides hardware and software service, remote system monitoring and 24/7 help desk support.
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Friday, 06 February 2009
The Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald: Passengers of Jetstar, an Australian airline, flying over the weekend have been advised to allow more time for check-in as the airline shuts down its online booking system for an upgrade. The airline's entire reservations system, including its Web site and call center, will shut down from 5pm (AEDT) on Friday for the weekend. The system is planned to be back online by 9 a.m. on Monday. Jetstar's check-in kiosks, which operate at many airports around Australia, will also be shut down.
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Friday, 06 February 2009
MSNBC: Continental Prison Systems Inc., a provider of cashless prison kiosk and Exit card technology announced today that it has been awarded the Pinnacle award in Colorado for the most "innovative" new products. The award came after one of Continental's current Colorado jail facilities entered the Company and its cashless products and services technology for this award. More than 30 applicants were submitted for this award. Continental Prison Systems' EZ Kiosks include booking kiosks, which handle bookings and bail, trust funds kiosks that handle all monies deposited to inmate accounts and dispense EZ Cards debit release cards to inmates who are being released.
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Read also: Prison kiosks grab attention at sheriff show.
Friday, 06 February 2009
(Boston) Mass High Tech: A Boston-based physician is working on a kiosk he believes could eliminate the need for routine doctor visits in some cases. The Health Care 360 kiosk, developed with five hardware and software experts, is a 2-foot by 4-foot Windows-based tabletop machine. The patient uses a touchscreen to submit information that is sent to a central computer via a network link. The kiosk poses questions to patients about their dietary and exercise habits, and patients can input vital signs and data such as weight. The kiosk has an attached cuff that can be used for blood pressure testing. It can also be used in blood testing, but the current prototype would require someone to place a blood sample in the device.
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Thursday, 05 February 2009
TORONTO -- St. Clair Interactive Communications Inc., an association member, h as announced the arrival of "a new generation of self-service specialists."
On Feb. 2, Abigail (5 lbs., 9oz.) and Emma (7 lbs., 1 oz.) were born to the Peter family. They are the daughters of Cam Peter, a project manager for St. Clair, twin nieces of Chris Peter, another project manager for St. Clair, and the grandchildren of Doug Peter, president of the company.
The new arrivals are doing well, according to the news release, which states that they will join the company "as soon as they finish the Introduction to Diapers course."
The association would like to offer its sincere congratulations to the Peter family and to St. Clair Interactive for the new additions.
Thursday, 05 February 2009
NATICK, Mass. -- The challenges of selling retail automation solutions during a recession were apparent at the 2009 National Retail Federation conference in New York City, according to a news release from VDC Research.
One prevalent theme at the show, according to the release, centered on customer-facing solutions -- especially the intersection of mobile commerce, self-service and customer intelligence solutions. A growing collection of suppliers and operators offered variations on strategies that incorporated one or more elements of multi-channel marketing and/or self-service operations, and the technologies that support them.
2009 will see continued integration of m-commerce and self-service to deliver a fresh approach to customer engagement. Changes in consumer priorities, budgets and access to information will put pressure on retailers to meet the expectations of these customers. Self-service solutions - including those with mobile components -- are being considered a high potential tool to enable associates, and customers themselves, to enhance experiences.
The release cites Intel's proof-of-concept system as technology that offers interactive digital signage and either a manned or self-service POS system. The proof-of-concept system can be deployed as interactive POS terminals or self-service kiosk.
At the same time, the release noted the significance of Source Technologies' launch of its ServPoint family of self-service kiosks. The ServPoint family is available in a wide range of configurations and can be designed to address several applications and vertical markets from a largely common platform.
Fujitsu was also named in the release as a self-service innovator at NRF. The company unveiled several of its new U-Serv self-service kiosk solutions. The solutions ranged from its entry-level solution, the U-Serve 50, to its higher-end solution, the U-Serve 75. According to the release, Fujitsu's U-Serve product line, "offers the necessary flexibility to address multiple vertical markets and applications." Applications that were on display at the show included self-service ordering, movie/event ticketing and guided/assisted selling.
Thursday, 05 February 2009
SlashGear.com: Exhibit and media design firm Ideum has taken on Microsoft with the launch of its MT2 Table, a multitouch-table which, at 50-inches running at 1280 x 720, has both larger and higher resolution than Microsoft's Surface. The MT2 Table, which can respond to multiple points of contact across the display and recognize gestures, is intended for museum use, and as such has an aircraft-grade aluminum frame and thick tempered glass top. Underneath there's a 2100 ANSI projector with a 2000:1 contrast ratio.
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Thursday, 05 February 2009
The (San Jose, Calif) Mercury News: If there's one word to describe Specialty's Cafe & Bakery, the recent addition to downtown San Jose's casual dining scene, it would be "fresh," according to one critic. Patrons can step up to one of the snazzy flat-screen monitors, make their selections from the abundant menu, click on "edit" to add or remove ingredients (more on that in a minute), swipe their credit card, grab their receipt, pocket a pager and — bam! — their order's up.
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Wednesday, 04 February 2009
ContactlessNews: Mention near field communication and most think mobile payments. That's probably because the next generation technology is being touted as a replacement for contactless cards or potentially even the next wallet. NFC will enable a phone to carry credit card information, loyalty card information and maybe driver licenses. But what makes NFC so attractive is the wide range of applications it can support, whether it's opening a hotel room door, acting as a tour guide or checking into a flight and acting as a boarding pass.
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Wednesday, 04 February 2009
ATLANTA -- The new KIS Photobook Maker kiosk turns digital images into customized keepsakes in minutes, according to a news release.
KIS Photo-Me Group, a provider of instant printing equipment, will launch their new and revolutionary Photobook Maker at PMA 09, a trade show in Las Vegas that showcases the latest developments in photography. The freestanding kiosks are an industry first, according to the news release, combining cutting edge software with the latest digital imaging technology to produce long lasting photo albums in minutes.
Designed to quickly and easily turn digital images into attractive print albums, the KIS Photobook Maker uses smart technology software to arrange pictures into an aesthetic layout based on archival details and photo orientation. Stain-resistant and scratch-proof paper ensure KIS Photobooks are print and bound to last long.
Up to 30 pages and 90 photos can be included in each KIS Photobook. The albums feature a glossy finish and 300 dpi print resolution. The DVD jacket size (5.7 inches x 8 inches), complete with the album title printed on the spine, is easy to view, share and store.
KIS Photobook Maker kiosks will be on display at Booth E271.
Wednesday, 04 February 2009
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Eastman Kodak Company and Duckwall-ALCO Stores Inc. announced the successful deployment of KODAK Picture Kiosks to more than 213 Duckwall-ALCO stores across the U.S. (approximately 80 percent of Duckwall-ALCO stores nationwide), according to a news release. KODAK Picture Kiosks allow Duckwall-ALCO to deliver a host of new digital printing and photo processing services to its customers in small communities around the country.
In addition to conventional photo prints, KODAK Picture Kiosks enable Duckwall-ALCO customers to quickly and easily create unique photo solutions, such as KODAK Picture Movie DVDs, KODAK Picture CDs, photo collages, calendars, invitations, announcements and greeting cards. Prior to installing the KODAK Picture Kiosks, Duckwall-ALCO customers had limited choices for photo finishing and photo creation services, and would often have to drive to larger cities to take care of their photo printing and processing needs.
"KODAK Picture Kiosks represent the latest service in a continuing effort to provide product and services for everyday life in small town America," said Mike Crist, director of Business Development, Duckwall-ALCO Stores Inc. "Introducing a highly recognized brand like Kodak to our customers has been overwhelmingly positive and has generated increased week-to-week traffic at our photo centers."
Duckwall-ALCO has taken advantage of Kodak's scalable suite of digital printing kiosks and has selected specific equipment configurations to meet each store's volume and available space requirements. Leveraging Kodak's award winning user interface, the KODAK Picture Kiosk G4's image loading and processing speed reduces wait times, increases consumer satisfaction and delivers stunning products that help consumers share and relive their lives in new and exciting ways, according to the release.
"Kodak's state-of-the-art photo order and processing technologies can be scaled to meet a wide variety of retail environments, and we're proud to see our KODAK Picture Kiosks driving success for a leading small-market retailer like Duckwall-ALCO," said Mike Saturnia, director and vice president of sales, Eastman Kodak Company. "We are proud to bring our digital printing capabilities and experiences to a new set of consumers. Kodak is helping retailers in markets of all sizes and locations inspire their customers to create unique and memorable photo products."
Tuesday, 03 February 2009
PADERBORN, Germany — Wincor Nixdorf AG has announced the release of an enhanced security product for bank branches called ProTect.
According to a news release, ProTect's three-tier concept begins with analysis of potential risks, continues with a solution portfolio for minimizing risks, and offers service components for complete monitoring of branches and systems.
In response to the growing number of attacks on ATMs, Wincor Nixdorf at last week's Wincor World 2009 event demonstrated new technologies that prevent manipulation of cards, presenting systems that withstand attempted attacks using explosives, and showing how ATMs and cash cassettes can be protected against theft.
Wincor Nixdorf is offering a new model that helps protect card information from being copied with skimmers and hinders spying-out (phishing) of PINs.
Other ATM, branch security highlights
The company is also showed how card fraud can be avoided through additional authorization at ATMs using biometric-identification methods.
Integrated ink staining system also is available for ATMs and systems from the ProCash 4000 series. Ink staining is triggered when the ATM's cassettes are removed without authorization, or when the ATM is shaken or its position changed. The ink spray renders the banknotes completely useless.
Also displayed was innovative safe technology designed to withstand attacks with explosive gas.
The first step in Wincor Nixdorf's three-tier security concept is a risk analysis, in which experts assess the potential threats to a bank. The bank's various business processes, information and communications infrastructures, and work environments are examined. The protection requirements of individual areas or departments are classified on the basis of this analysis, and solution concepts for protective measures are formulated under consideration of existing regulations and limitations.
The second step comprises the implementation of customized security measures, solutions and technologies, such as those described above. Additional solutions for protecting against different types of attack are also presented.
The third step involves offers for controlling and monitoring risks. An example is the linking of alarm and video systems to enable rapid detection of criminal attacks and thus protect systems and buildings.
PC/E Retail Banking Solution Suite with new services
Wincor Nixdorf supports banks in networking their delivery channels and enables new customer services by continuously developing its ProClassic/Enterprise Retail Banking Solution Suite. The availability of a new business service enables consumers to initiate transactions for themselves or third parties using a variety of channels, and to withdraw cash at ATMs. A further offer enables value-added services in the self-service zone and Internet.
PC/E Mobile Transaction Services, a new software product, combines cardless withdrawal of money at the ATM with person-to-person payments. The software ensures intelligent interaction between mobile terminal devices and the self-service system. Financial institutions can thus offer their customers a cross-channel P2P payment solution that enables cash withdrawals at the ATM for customers themselves or for third parties using mobile-terminal devices. The transaction can be initiated over a retail bank's various channels. The recipient of the payment does not require an EC card at the ATM, but instead authorizes the payment by entering two number codes.
"The solution allows banks to offer their customers innovative multichannel services that make a decisive contribution to enhancing their loyalty. When payments are made at the automated teller machine, often potential new customers can be addressed using one-to-one marketing solutions like our PC/E Direct Marketing," said Thomas Certa, who oversees solutions marketing for Wincor Nixdorf.
PC/E Value Added Services enable additional offers at self-service terminals, such as ticketing, topping prepaid mobile phone cards or booking travel. PC/E Value Added Services support FIs in sales generation at self-service terminals. Wincor Nixdorf's portfolio ranges here from implementation of the solution to operations management, including content editing and the handling of payment transactions.
The ProClassic/Enterprise Retail Banking Solution Suite
The ProClassic/Enterprise Retail Banking Solution Suite is Wincor Nixdorf's modular software suite that focuses on sales and service processes at a bank's front office. The combination of software products from the four main areas of channel delivery, security, management and optimization and banking business enabling means that retail banks can transform their current customized IT architectures into future-proof, expandable ones.
As a result of the suite's network-centric approach, new services and functions can be implemented quickly and the entire hardware and software landscape managed centrally and across all channels. The service-oriented multichannel concept of the software package also means that implemented functions and services can be reused across all delivery channels.
Tuesday, 03 February 2009
Digital Transactions: After news of the Heartland Payments Systems breach — possibly the largest data breach on record to date — details about how much damage was actually caused is still unclear. One report suggests Heartland's breach-related legal liabilities could approach $98 million, an estimate a Heartland spokesperson dismisses as speculative. Heartland says the so-called "sniffer" program secretly planted on one of its payment-processing platforms was not being used when investigators found it about two weeks ago.
"It was inactive," a spokesperson says. "I want to be specific to say it was inactive," he adds, clarifying that the hackers hadn't deliberately disabled or deactivated it. Now Heartland chief executive Robert Carr is calling for better industry cooperation and new operational procedures to prevent future data compromises — including industry-wide, end-to-end encryption to fully protect cardholder data.
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Tuesday, 03 February 2009
AutomatedBuildings.com: Companies that keep pace with accelerating technological change grab market before stragglers even realize their core business has stepped sideways. Now, those forward-thinking companies have another technology to look to: so-called "robot" kiosks. Forces are converging to pull mobile robots into facilities. For example, some experts say kiosk-style mobile robots could act as tour guides for visitors in some buildings.
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Tuesday, 03 February 2009
(Chicago) SouthTownStar.com: Ingalls Memorial Hospital has become the next in a long line of hospitals to embrace the value of self-service check-in and check out, enabling the hospital to increase customer satisfaction by speeding up long lines and reducing wait times. Ingalls officially introduced its self-check-in kiosks last month to positive patient reviews. The three computerized registration kiosks in Outpatient Registration on the hospital's first floor delivered on their promise, according to patient feedback.
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Tuesday, 03 February 2009
SALEM, N.H. -- Telequip, a provider of automated coin-dispensing solutions, has announced a new design for its CoinXpress coin dispenser, the CX25, which is used with self-checkout devices and self-service kiosks.
The CoinXpress family of coin-dispenser products offers an embedded hopper-based design for low-maintenance efficiency. The CX25 coin dispenser accommodates a high volume of coin while providing easy access and streamlined replenishment for self-checkout applications. This allows for less downtime with fewer coin-replenishment operations needed for the self-checkout device.
The new CX25 coin dispenser's hopper design, with its unique 25-degree angle, reduces motor stress and rotor wear and improves debris flushing. Able to dispense coins for approximately 1,000 self-checkout transactions per filling (U.S. 4-bin configuration), the new CX25 coin dispenser design implements an innovative jam-sensing technology, which actively senses a jam and takes appropriate measures to clear it without operator intervention.
The CX25 coin dispenser can recognize low coin levels with a higher degree of accuracy, maintain a history of coins dispensed and offers an even-depletion dispense mode that provides optimal coin use for long runs or a minimum-dispense mode to release the least amount of coins necessary.
"With the growing popularity of self-checkout devices and self-service kiosks, it only made sense for us to design an optimized, higher performance product for these demanding applications," said Alan Burt, general manager of Telequip.
Adaptable to coin sets for over 15 countries, including the U.S. dollar, Canadian dollar and the Euro, the CX25 coin dispenser is truly global. Available in 3-bin, 4-bin or 6-bin configurations, it is designed to be a drop-in replacement for current-generation self-checkout products and comes with a 12-month depot warranty that includes parts and labor.
Tuesday, 03 February 2009
Customer service and innovation in cash-management were the focus of Wincor World 2009. The annual banking and retail trade show, hosted by Wincor Nixdorf AG near its base in Paderborn, Germany, has evolved from a show focused on hardware to one that highlights software and services.
The company's ability to provide a combined solution portfolio was the message senior executives wanted to get out to their customers, who this year were more heavily represented from developing global markets such as Nigeria, China and parts of Latin America, than they have been in years past. Wincor made note to highlight its customer representation from Ghana, Nepal, Pakistan, Venezuela and the Philippines.
During his opening address, chief executive Eckard Heidloff said the global financial crisis is pushing retailers to change.
"Looking at the next three to four quarters, we will all have to focus more on customer service, and more than ever before, you will need to cope with your costs," Heidloff said.
The company is stressing that message as it encourages retailers to not delay or cancel plans to invest in IT outsourcing and technology.
Cash optimization, cash management and overall IT outsourcing are three points the company is pushing.
Retail and service
Breaking into the retail market has been somewhat challenging for Wincor Nixdorf — a company that admittedly has strong and profitable ties to banking. But Wincor says its banking strength and expertise can benefit retailers, and the company is making strides toward getting that message heard.
In China, Wincor Nixdorf has signed outsourced servicing deals with retailers Best Buy and B & Q. Kerstin Zilla, head of Wincor Nixdorf's servicing business, says Wincor Nixdorf assisted both retailers during their openings in China — managing all of the IT implementations with their respective infrastructures.
"Three years ago was a turning point. It was a time when we put our business in place to provide services in markets throughout the world," Zilla said. "Today we have 34 customer care centers worldwide."
The global economic crunch may benefit the services side of the business, Zilla says.
"We cannot foresee all of the consequences of the economic crisis today, but it is critical for retailers and banks to reduce costs and improve efficiency," she said. "They really want to know what the cost reductions are, and that is really the task of the IT company."
Wincor Nixdorf's competitors are focusing on the servicing side of the business, too. NCR and Diebold are both advancing their cash-handling and servicing offers; Diebold last year announced the launch of a newly developed corporate division focused on service. What makes Wincor unique in its cash-management and servicing push is that it is not focusing solely on financial institutions — it's focusing quite a bit of its attention on retail.
In the United States, Wincor Nixdorf says the retail business is poised for great growth.
Globally, from a checkout and POS position, Wincor is the No. 3 retail supplier. To ascend, as it has in the ATM market, Heidloff says the company will provide retailers with solutions that include cash management, automated sales and marketing processes, checkout automation, and managed services and outsourcing.
Topping that list is cash management. As cash use increases, the need to manage it goes up. In fact, Heidloff says research shows that circulation and production of euros continually increases, despite notions that the European Union is moving toward a cashless society. He said the world has three times more euros now than it did when the euro was first issued.
A cliché with value?
Is cash still the king? According to Currency Research in the Netherlands, it is.
During his presentation, "Cash is king, but will it remain," Gerben van Wijk, marketing director of Currency Research, said the use of cash, especially in developing markets, continues to rise. As new markets move more consumers to banking services, their use of cash increases, thus creating a greater need for retailers and bankers to manage their cash processes.
But Wijk warned that new technologies, such as mobile payments, could soon overtake the use of cash among this currently so-called cash-preferred segment. Wijk says the payments industry and those who provide services to it need to be fluid and adaptable to change.
For Wincor Nixdorf, that translates to opportunity in enhanced checkout solutions that do not take cash out of the equation, but rather work to increase the checkout transaction when cash is used.
Automated checkout
Wincor has found a niche in automated checkout solutions, some of which include a teller, and some that separate payment from checkout all together.
"(During the fair) There was particular demand, for instance, for solutions to rationalize cash handling at stores and branches, as well as for the organization of cash logistics," said Andreas Bruck, head of corporate communication for Wincor Nixdorf.
During Wincor World, an expanded portfolio of automated checkout solutions was on display, with additional modules that offer technical enhancements as well as analysis, design and implementation offers. The modules were touted for the ability to improve processes at self-service terminals for customers.
"Self-service and automation are where we see retailers investing, so Wincor is working closely with retailers as they work through the change-over process," said Joachim Pinhammer, head of marketing for Wincor Nixdorf's retail business. "Our TP Application Suite (based on the TP.net platform) can connect different platforms and services and our TP Loyalty module is one that really allows us to integrate loyalty solutions. But our automated checkout is where we are really making a big focus this year."
One innovation includes linking the payment terminal with the exit gate. If the customer has paid the receipt amount, the barrier opens automatically. The customer experience is enhanced, since customers no longer have to identify themselves with paid receipts in order to open the barrier.
Another highlight comes from TPiSCAN, which allows Wincor Nixdorf to offer software product that can be tailored to a retailer's specific checkout needs, whether at the self-service checkout lane of the assisted checkout lane.
Wincor also touted its special consulting services for retailers, which comprise an analysis of the individual structures and processes at the checkout zone to create a precise picture of the status quo and identify the core problems. The analysis is rounded out by project management for planning and controlling a pilot before subsequent rollout.
Take the Real 360 Automatic Scanning solution. Josef Twiste, product marketing manager for Wincor Nixdorf's retail division, says the automated, tunnel checkout solution is still in pilot with a couple of large retailers in Europe, as Wincor works to ensure the customer experience is optimum.
The assisted automated checkout system allows shoppers to place their own items on a conveyer belt, which is monitored by an attendant or clerk. The items are scanned by a tunnel that can take up to 60 item pictures as the scanned items pass through. From there, the customer moves on to make his payment at a payment tower, which is separated from the checkout lane.
"This is a solution that scans the barcode and includes the assistance of a cashier," Twiste said. "We believe the use of RDID at the checkout is some five to 10 years away, because of the expense of RFID tags, which run between 10 cents and 20 cents euro apiece. So it is not cost-effective."
2009 also will be a year of 'green' solutions, and Wincor was excited to show its self-service checkouts that can be operated with paper bags. The solution is being launched with Wincor partner GSD Verpackungen.
Expanded BEETLE POS family
The BEETLE/iCLICK and BEETLE/Fusion systems have been developed to optimize system availability, low-cost swap service and minimal power consumption. The new BEETLE /iCLICK was introduced curing Wincor World.
Like the docking station of a notebook, this POS system is built with a docking design, a central unit, a power supply, an interface hub, data carriers and an integrated power supply that is connected via socket strips. Staff at the store can quickly and easily replace components that need servicing, without the need for specialist know-how, Wincor says.
The new BEETLE/Fusion is a multifunctional all-in-one touch POS system. To meet individual retailer neeeds, the terminal can be installed and configured differently. For instance, a card reader, fingerprint sensor, camera, barcode scanner and customer display can be integrated.
The BEETLE/iCLICK and BEETLE/Fusion use power-saving processor technology from Intel, which includes maximum power consumption of 5.5 watts. Both systems are fitted with an energy-efficient 80PLUS power supply and can be configured with a solid state disk instead of a hard disk to increase the system’s availability.
The BA83 POS touchscreen also is new, and offers a splash-proof surface and new design. The advantages: peripherals such as the POS keypad, magnetic card reader, fingerprint sensor and camera are easy to integrate. The display is connected to the POS system via a standard DVI or VGA interface and supplied with power from a USB port or external PSU.
Mobile shopping
Mobile shopping is the next big retail wave in Europe, and Wincor is making significant headway in the mobile shopping arena, says Pinhammer, with one major retailer, which has deployed some 600 mobile devices in one of its stores. Pinhammer says more than 40 percent of that store's transactions are now being conducted via mobile devices. The store has thus reduced its in-store labor by 70 hours per week.
Monday, 02 February 2009
SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. -- A kiosk line manufactured by Virtual I Technologies could help cash-strapped businesses curb labor costs during the current economic recession, according to a news release.
The Virtual Receptionist, Virtual Hostess, Virtual Concierge, Virtual Salesperson and are designed to provide live-two way communication between a consumer and a customer service representative located off-site. The kiosks can see, hear and talk to customers and clients.
According to the release, this package offers businesses and restaurants the ability to automate their locale in a manner that is cost effective, friendly and dependable. The interactive systems can offer one employee the capability to talk face-to-face with multiple sites. This cuts back on the payroll costs required to staff the company, since one employee can speak with consumers in different locations.
For more information visit www.go4virtual.com.
Monday, 02 February 2009
The (Geneseo, N.Y.) Lamron: This semester, Geneseo College in New York has become the first college to host a DVD kiosk from UniversiDVD, a convenient addition for students seeking a quick movie rental. The service, located in the Union mailroom, allows any student to rent a DVD for one day using a debit or credit card. The kiosk works like the redbox systems found in many major retail stores, but it tailored to college campuses. Users are charged $1.99 per DVD provided they return it by 6 p.m. the following day. Late returns are charged an additional $1.99 for each extra day, with a cap of $30.
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Monday, 02 February 2009
New (Malaysia) Straits Times: More than 50 investors are crying foul after they were swindled out of RM 12,000 (U.S. $3,300) each that they invested in a what they thought was a self-service "dream project." The project in question was a kiosk where the public could pay their utility bills and purchase airline and cinema tickets. Each investor was promised something between RM 1,000 (U.S. $277) and RM 4,000 (U.S. $1,100) monthly in commissions from the payment of utility bills, airline tickets and prepaid telephone top-ups. After making the full payment, the investors were told to wait for 14 days for a full briefing on how the kiosk functioned and how the commissions would be paid. However, no such briefings were held.
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