L-1 Identity Solutions, a provider of identity solutions and services, today announced the release of automated kiosks for processing driver's license renewals and replacements. L-1 says the kiosks will first be deployed today at the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) headquarters in Jackson, Miss., and six additional kiosks will be rolled out at other DPS offices across the state by the end of December.

Stephen Simpson, commissioner of the Mississippi DPS, says that automating license renewals and replacements, which account for more than half of all license transactions, will benefit the DPS and its customers:

For us, this is more than just a technological innovation; the kiosks add a new dynamic to the way in which we interact with our customers. Automating the simple, yet time- and labor-consuming tasks of renewal and replacement will boost operational efficiencies while paving the way for reduced wait times, shorter lines and more quality interactions between our staff and the public. We have promoted the kiosks to the public over the last few months and the reaction so far has been very positive.

L-1 says the touchscreen kiosks feature a camera and biometric facial-recognition technology that matches the customer to existing photos in the DMV's database to confirm her identity. The kiosks also are equipped with credit/debit card readers and feature state-of-the-art security technology, the company says.

NCR Corp. has announced the opening of a new manufacturing plant in Manaus, Amazonas in Brazil. The company said in a news release that the facility will support the market demand for NCR's SelfServ ATMs in Brazil, the Caribbean and throughout Latin America. The company announced it would build the plant earlier this year.

Bob Tramontano, NCR's vice president of marketing, says the Brazilian market is poised for rapid growth:

Surveys with the retail banking industry show that the Brazilian ATM market is to grow 16 percent by 2012, which warrants that significant investments are made. NCR’s investment of R$73 million (US $42 million) will help shape the future of manufacturing in Brazil as we build, design and engineer specific products to meet the needs of our customers in the region.

NCR says the new facility will create 250 new jobs in Manaus.

EcoATM, a San Diego-based maker of automated "eCycling" stations, has announced the deployment of its first kiosk for electronic waste recycling at the Nebraska Furniture Mart in Omaha, Neb.

According to a news release from ecoATM, the kiosk offers to buy back used mobile phones, giving consumers a financial incentive to recycle the devices. The kiosk soon will support other consumer electronics as well, ecoATM says.

Mark Bowles, ecoATM's chief executive, says consumers have responded thus far:

We are extremely pleased with the initial results and consumers' delight with the system. EcoATM's solution finally makes it easy for consumers to give their used phones a second life or to recycle them. Over 100 million used but still valuable phones are quietly retired to closets and drawers each year in the U.S., where they decay into zero value and then enter our landfills years later. Our automated ecoATM provides consumers and retailers an easy, convenient, incentivized method to convert those devices into real money instead of toxic waste.

In addition to the Nebraska deployment, ecoATM has announced it is a finalist for San Diego's Most Innovative New Product Awards, a competition run by the city's CONNECT organization, which promotes innovation as a foundation of the region's economy. EcoATM says the award winners will be announced in December.

The company says it plans to launch additional "eCycling" stations with retailers in San Diego, Boston, Dallas and Seattle.

JERICHO, N.Y. — Incentient, a provider of self-service technology for the hospitality industry, today announced the launch of SmartTouch, a glass touchscreen panel with proprietary software that allows hotel guests in-room access to a full range of guest services without human intervention.
 
According to a news release, guests can use the system to order room service, schedule spa services, have their car retrieved from valet parking, or request services such as reservations at hotel-recommended restaurants, bell services, housekeeping and laundry pick-up. Guests are provided real-time updates on the status of their service requests.
 
The SmartTouch wireless glass panel is placed in the hotel room and offers rotating images of the hotel, selected food offerings based on time of day and an entire suite of services. Completely multilingual, the entire application can switch to the guest’s requested language with a touch of the screen.
 
The patent-pending operating environment requires no installation or disruption in the hotel room, and the system is a completely noninvasive, plug-and-play technology, according to the release. The screens service offerings and look and feel can be fully customized to match unique hotel brands.
 
“Hotel operators are being asked to provide an increasing number of guest services with fewer personnel,” said Jennifer Martucci, co-founder of Incentient. “Without systemic change, guests experience frustrations from hold times, unavailable personnel, language barriers and slow service, resulting in unfulfilled expectations. Incentient technology allows the hotel to increase service throughput to guests in these circumstances.”

OSLO, Norway — BBS, a leading provider of electronic security, payment and information services for retailers and financial institutions in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, has acquired Sagem Denmark A/S and Sagem Manison Finland from Ingenico Group. The acquisition is pending required approval from The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway.

Sagem Denmark is a worldwide supplier of encrypting PIN pads for use in ATMs, kiosks and other unattended payment solutions. As a result of the acquisition, BBS is likely to strengthen its position in the Nordics through the addition of 150 qualified employees and a large portfolio of customers in the region.

“One of our ambitions is to become the leading provider of merchant solutions in the Nordics. With the purchase of Sagem Denmark and the subsidiary Sagem Manison Finland, this ambition will be achieved," said Ola Forberg, CEO of BBS. "Today we are the one and only Nordic supplier that can meet the demands of the retailers to have one common payment solution across the Nordic region. This position has been further strengthened through the acquisition."

“We are very pleased with the disposal of Sagem Denmark and Manison Finland to BBS, along with the strategic partnership for terminal distribution in Nordic countries,” said Philippe Lazare, CEO of Ingenico Group. “This is a great opportunity to reinforce our commercial position in this region, thanks to BBS leadership in these countries.”

Sagem Denmark already is positioned in the Danish market, and, according to a news release, the company has produced and sold the most frequently used payment terminals in Denmark since 1984. Sagem’s customer portfolio includes several Nordic retail chains and fits well with BBS’ existing operations in the Danish market.

“This is a new business area for BBS, which we, together with the employees of Sagem Denmark, will develop further. We believe encrypting PIN pads can become a strong global business area,” said Forberg.

“I believe that the alliance with BBS will create value for both Sagem Denmark and our customers, who will be working with the leading player on the Nordic market,” said Kaj Christiansen, CEO of Sagem Denmark. “At the same time, it allows Sagem Denmark to further expand our global business of payment security products.”

According to the release, Sagem Manison is a substantial player in the Finnish market and the fastest growing payment solutions company in the Nordic countries.

“Already today, we have several customers who request one Nordic solution with adjustments for the Finnish market,” said Forberg. “The solutions provided by Sagem Manison will fulfill this requirement, compliment our Nordic focus and establish us with local presence in Finland.”

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Fujitsu Components America Inc. has announced the release of self-wetting adhesive protector sheets that reduce surface damage to touchscreens and flat-panel displays in use or during shipping, while preserving the optical quality and extending the life of the touch device. Because they are repositionable, the protector sheets reduce waste and materials costs.
 
The RoHS-compliant protector sheets feature a 3H surface hardness that is scratch- and chemical-resistant, yet offers excellent stylus registration for touch applications. The sheets are suitable for high-use, rugged and harsh applications, such as POS terminals, self-service kiosks, manufacturing and warehouse equipment and mobile field sales and service devices. They also offer protection for product shipping and testing.
 
The patented, self-wetting adhesive virtually self-applies by spontaneously wetting out on smooth surfaces with no or very low finger pressure to adhere to a display or touchscreen, yet it provides high shear resistance to prevent sheet displacement. The sheet can be repositioned during installation as necessary without affecting performance. The end user can remove the sheet by hand, even after an extended time, without leaving any residue or creating static electricity. Application of a new sheet can then be accomplished, also without generating static electricity, thus avoiding the attraction of undesirable dust particles.
 
The protector sheets are available in anti-glare (matte) and clear hardcoat, and an anti-reflective coated version of the clear option also is available. They are a maximum of 0.007 inches thick, depending on the type, and have an operating temperature range of -22 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 to +70 degrees Celsius). The typical optical properties of a clear protector sheet are 91 percent transmissivity with one percent haze, and the anti-glare protectors are 90 percent transmissivity with eight percent haze.
 
The protector sheets are custom die-cut to fit the specified display’s surface dimensions and come in a variety of packaging options. Pricing varies by protector sheet size, packaging and quantity, starting at less than $1.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — RealTime Shredding Inc. is introducing magnetic strip and smart card software on its self-service shredding kiosk, giving businesses the ability to provide 'shred cards' to their customers and partners.
 
The new offerings for the Self-Service Shredder come in response to retailers' and other business' growing interest in non-cash-based systems, while meeting demands for innovative ways to brand and provide loyalty benefits to customers.
 
The magnetic strip card is ideal for businesses with a single kiosk, according to Amanda Verrie, RealTime Shredding's president. A business can provide cards with a set number of shredding minutes and/or sessions to customers, partners and others. Non-profit organizations even can sell shred cards for fundraising, says Verrie. With a shredding rate of up to 200 sheets of paper a minute on the Self-Service Shredder, a business could offer substantial use with just a few minutes of time on a card.
 
Smart cards are good options for repeat users and for businesses with multiple kiosks, adds Verrie, including retailers and businesses with several branches, such as banks. For the individual user, she says, the ability to use the Self-Service Shredder at any of the business' locations makes it easier and more convenient to keep up with shredding on a regular basis.
 
"The business benefits significantly from a customer's increased visits to their location," she said.
 
The new software offers key branding opportunities for kiosk owners, says Verrie. RealTime Shredding can customize shred cards with a business' logo, photo and contact information. For businesses that do not own the Self-Service Shredder but still want to help fight identity theft, the software provides the ability to provide shred cards for use in a local kiosk. RealTime Shredding also now offers the Self-Service Shredder kiosk in custom colors, providing additional branding opportunities.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Health insurers hoping to convince physicians to bypass their offices' brand name sample drug "closets" are embracing an ATM-like generic drug dispensing machine. Highmark Inc. for the past five years has partnered with MedVantx Inc. of San Diego, which places the generic drug machine in physician offices, free of charge to doctor and patient. "We wanted to encourage the use of generics when we began a pilot study in 2003," said Eric Culley, Highmark's manager of Clinical Pharmacy Services. Most insurers in the area are using the MedVantx system, he said.
 
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FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — PeopleCube, provider of intelligent workplace, resource and energy management technology, has announced an alliance partnership with KIOSK Information Systems, a designer and manufacturer of indoor and outdoor kiosks, public Internet stations and other electronic self-service informational terminals, according to a news release. This partnership allows both companies to meet the needs of organizations large and small to reduce real estate and energy costs by implementing an on-site shared workspace and room reservation solution.
 
Resource Scheduler is the leading Web-based workspace, resource and energy management solution that allows users to quickly and easily schedule and manage flexible workspace and other shared resources with just a few simple clicks. KIOSK Information Systems is an established leader in the design and manufacturing of self-service kiosks, having produced thousands of kiosks for more than 15 years. Through this complementary relationship, PeopleCube is able to recommend a leading vendor in kiosk technology to customers in need of an on-site reservation kiosk system. Conversely, KIOSK Information Systems can suggest Resource Scheduler to kiosk customers looking to maximize shared workspace utilization by implementing an office hoteling work environment. Using a KIOSK Information System reservation kiosk and Resource Scheduler, mobile and remote workers are able to check in and out of existing reservations, or search for and reserve available shared workspace upon entering the building using the self-service kiosk.
 
"Reducing real estate and related costs is becoming increasingly important, especially in a time of economic uncertainty. As a result, many companies are turning to flexible workspace programs as a way to save money and attract top talent because it allows them to maximize workspace utilization and provide much-desired flexibility to their mobile workforce," said Abe Zelkin, vice president of business development at PeopleCube. "By partnering with KIOSK Information Systems, customers are able to leverage the expertise of two leading vendors to implement a complete on-site workspace management solution, helping them to achieve both their economic and talent retention goals."
 
"As an innovation leader in the self-service kiosk marketplace, it is essential that we partner with proven winners in their respective industries to support the needs of our customers," explained Tom Weaver, chief marketing officer of KIOSK Information Systems. "We’re very excited about partnering with PeopleCube, as they have been at the forefront of office hoteling technology and are well-versed in how it can help our customers offset the soaring prices of gas and corporate real estate."

PADERBORN, Germany — How high are the costs for a bank’s self-service infrastructure over the entire product lifecycle? A new analysis tool from Wincor Nixdorf provides the answer. It calculates and analyzes the costs of implementing, maintaining and operating complex self-service solutions made up of hardware, software and services.

ESSEN, Germany — VeriFone, a secure electronic payment solutions provider, will be hosting a drop-in Security Advisory Clinic May 6 at Kiosk Europe 2008. Visitors to the show can pick up a step-by-step guide to payment security and best practices and receive one-to-one advice and information about practical procedures that can be implemented to maintain security. 

TEMPE, Ariz. — Sequoia Equities Inc., using hardware designed and provided by Tempe, Ariz.-based Phoenix Kiosk Inc., has completed a statewide deployment of self-service apartment rental kiosks to its various communities throughout California, according to a release. The kiosk units enable apartment hunters to view neighborhood information, ratings for various schools in the area, interactive apartment floorplans and a 3-D community map. Users can electronically reserve an apartment home while in the leasing center. The kiosks also provide services to current residents, enabling them to report maintenance issues, provide online feedback and pay rent online.

Associated Press: The city that popularized the fast food drive-thru, Los Angeles, has a new innovation: 24-hour medical marijuana vending machines. Patients suffering from chronic pain, loss of appetite and other ailments that marijuana is said to alleviate can get their pot with a dose of convenience at the Herbal Nutrition Center, where a large kiosk will dole out the drug around the clock.

DAYTON, Ohio — NCR Corp. and Experticity, provider of live, video-assisted customer support solutions, are collaborating to offer Experticity’s customer-service platform with NCR EasyPoint self-service kiosks.

ABERDEEN, N.C. · Pitney Bowes Inc., a solutions company that helps organizations manage the flow of information, mail, documents and packages, and Meridian Kiosks, a manufacturer of kiosks and self-service terminals, have announced a new agreement whereby Pitney Bowes will provide comprehensive multivendor services to Meridian Kiosks and its U.S. customer base.

ABERDEEN, N.C. · Pitney Bowes Inc., a solutions company that helps organizations manage the flow of information, mail, documents and packages, and Meridian Kiosks, a manufacturer of kiosks and self-service terminals, have announced a new agreement whereby Pitney Bowes will provide comprehensive multivendor services to Meridian Kiosks and its U.S. customer base.

ABERDEEN, N.C. · Pitney Bowes Inc., a solutions company that helps organizations manage the flow of information, mail, documents and packages, and Meridian Kiosks, a manufacturer of kiosks and self-service terminals, have announced a new agreement whereby Pitney Bowes will provide comprehensive multivendor services to Meridian Kiosks and its U.S. customer base.

YORK, Pa. · Livewire International announced the completion of a promotional system for T-Mobile USA Inc.

T-Mobile wanted to introduce its new Fave 5 service plans via "street-level" cross-promotions in addition to its traditional advertising methods. The idea was to engage the targeted consumers directly by giving them an opportunity to win prizes from its co-marketing partners, Sony, Samsung and the National Basketball Association. The result was an innovative campaign utilizing basketball-focused events staged at numerous malls and NBA arenas throughout the country.

Livewire was chosen to create a custom solution that allowed consumers to enter into a basketball shooting competition where the winner would have a chance of winning one of several giveaways (including a PlayStation 3, NBA '07 video game, Samsung phone, and NBA jerseys). The solution consisted of a wireless network of four IBM Anyplace kiosks (housed within large basketball-like enclosures) integrated with a central control computer and four remote display controllers.

Data entered by consumers into the kiosks was stored in a database on the central control computer. Web service technology provided distributed control of the display computers to drive digital signage mounted above shoot-to-win basketball games, as well as interaction with a 42-inch plasma display enclosed within a giant 10-foot high Samsung cell phone used to announce the game winner and initiate a "spin-to-win" giveaway.

Livewire, utilizing Microsoft's .NET Framework, created software that enabled participants to enter their contact information into the kiosk and choose icons representing themselves and their Fave 5. These icons were then displayed on the screens above four basketball games while players competed to make the most baskets during a 30-second countdown. At the completion of the game, an NBA-like ticket would be printed for each player showing their Fave 5 icons with additional information and offerings from T-Mobile. The winner's icons were then displayed on the cell phone and the player would push a button causing their icons to spin until their randomly selected prize was displayed.

"We were pleased to be involved in such an innovative project," said Dave McCracken, president of Livewire. "There are now three complete setups traveling around the country, sometimes being disassembled and reassembled in another location on the same night, and the feedback has been extremely positive; both on the promotion itself and the underlying technology."

MAITLAND, Fla. · Intermountain Orthopaedics, one of Idaho's fastest-growing musculoskeletal medical groups, announced it has implemented self-service check-in kiosks that allow patients to identify themselves upon arrival for an appointment, enter or verify demographic information, sign consent forms, and make copayments. The technology, called MediKiosk, is provided by Galvanon, an NCR Corp. company.

"MediKiosk provides added convenience for our patients and allows them to check in for appointments more quickly than the previous paper-based system," said David Kirk, administrator at Intermountain Orthopaedics. "Our staff is also freed up to deliver more personalized care, rather than focusing on paperwork and data entry. The end result is a considerable increase in staff productivity and patient satisfaction."

Automating the patient check-in process also allows Intermountain Orthopaedics to reduce costs associated with printing and storing paper forms. It also has helped increase the accuracy of demographic and insurance information captured during registration.

Mail & Guardian: Airports Company South Africa has unveiled self-service check-in kiosks called Flightcheck at South Africa's four major airports. ACSA said in a statement that 36 kiosks have been installed, and plans are underway to add 70 more.

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SAN DIEGO, Calif., -- ShoptoCook, Inc. has announced that its unique Recipe-for-Sales Platform^sm can now be enhanced with an interface to adjacent digital signage that can show video clips corresponding to products featured on the kiosk's touch-screen.