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News Archive |
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Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Key Innovations Ltd. has announced it will exhibit the KSD9000 self-service payment terminal at the National Association of Convenience Stores, or NACS, tradeshow next month in Las Vegas.
According to a news release from Key Innovations, the KSD9000 is a vandal-resistant secured payment terminal with a high-resolution color display. The display features menu-related soft keys, a PIN pad, a credit/debit card reader and a contactless card reader.
The NACS event will take place Oct. 20-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Friday, 18 September 2009
YESpay International, a payments services company based in the United Kingdom, has announced it will exhibit at the KioskCom Self Service Expo Europe, Sept. 30–Oct. 1 in London.
According to a news release, YESpay provides an accredited and PCI DSS-approved chip-and-PIN payment solution for kiosks, including DVD-rental, photo printing and ticketing applications, among others.
In addition to exhibiting, YESpay will host two educational sessions during the tradeshow.
Monday, 14 September 2009
Kirk Nelson, associate vice president of OEM solutions for ArcaTech Systems, says ArcaTech will again exhibit at November's KioskCom Self Service Expo in New York.
A provider of cash-automation technologies and services, the Mebane, N.C.-based company will give attendees a look at its cash-handling products, as well as a line of encrypted PIN pads, Nelson said:
We will be displaying a wide range of currency handling and 3DES encrypting PIN pads for transaction automation in kiosks, which are powered by ArcaTech. (Attendees can) see all the creative ways that cash-enabled kiosks can be used to increase customer acceptance, trust and usage.
The KioskCom Self Service Expo is co-located with The Digital Signage Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City Nov. 10-11.
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
LONDON — Exhibitor space is already at a premium for KioskCom Self Service Expo Europe, scheduled for Oct. 1-2.
The international KioskCom exhibition has already filled two-thirds of the available stand space for 2008.
"We are delighted with the number of bookings this far out from the show," said event director, Phil Hunter. "The show has doubled in size and we anticipate an even bigger, more valuable event this year. With the number and quality of exhibitors already confirmed, we’re confident that, along with the extensive seminar program debating the latest industry trends, Self Service Expo will be the defining event for customer-facing technology."
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
The producers of KioskCom Self Service Expo have announced finalists for the 2009 Self Service Excellence Awards.
A winner in each category and an overall best in show will be announced at the awards ceremony on May 6 at 3:15 p.m. during the KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
KioskCom launched the inaugural industry-wide Self-Service Excellence Awards in 2002 to honor the most successful and innovative self-service and interactive digital media solutions. Over the years, KioskCom has honored more than 200 companies across multiple industries for their leadership, innovations and successes with self-service and interactive digital media solutions.
The Self Service Excellence Awards, co-sponsored by the Self-Service and Kiosk Association, are based on the measurements set forth by the deploying organization, and not just the technology suppliers. Past winners include BMW, SONY, Foxwoods Resort Casino, FedEx, AAA, the US Postal Service, Dave & Busters, Avis, Hilton Hotels, Sunoco, SAS, Daimler Chrysler and ExxonMobil.
“Each year, the show organizers keep raising the bar and the award nominations keep getting better," said David Drain, executive director of the Self-Service and Kiosk Association. "It’s an honor to win one of these awards, and we’re honored to be a part.” Also at the show, the Self-Service and Kiosk Association inducts individuals into its Hall of Fame who have contributed significantly to the advancement of self-service.
Best Retail Deployment
- Columbia Sportswear In-Store Interactive/Digital Media, submitted by Columbia Sportswear
- Gemini Goodyear Kiosk, submitted by Saitech International
- Indigo Next Generation Retail Kiosk, submitted by Indigo Books & Music
Best Travel/Hospitality Deployment
- Balboa Park Information Kiosks, submitted by KioskArts
- Hertz Drives Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction with Self-Service, submitted by NCR Corp.
- Largest Self Service Kiosk Install in History, submitted by NEXTEP SYSTEMS
Best Entertainment/Gaming Deployment
- Army Recreation Machine Program, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems
- Coex Mall Multi-Function Kiosk, submitted by MediaSolution, Inc.
- Ecast EQ Interactive HD Entertainment and Promotion at Point of Purchase, submitted by Ecast
Best Healthcare Deployment
- Adventist Health System Drives Revenue, Efficiencies with Self-Service, submitted by NCR Corp.
- EKiosk: Direct Patient Input of Validated Outcomes Measures, submitted by AutomationMed
Best Other Deployment
- The Library of Congress Experience, submitted by Library of Congress
- NEXTEP SYSTEMS' Deli Express Order System, submitted by NEXTEP SYSTEMS
- Outdoor, Full Payment Media Kiosk Delivers Results, submitted by Innovative Control Systems Inc.
Best Overall Software Solution
- Cabela's E-Commerce Kiosk Program, submitted by Netkey
- Gemini Goodyear Kiosk, submitted by Saitech International
- Nanopoint & CommandPoint Software Platform, submitted by Nanonation
Best Hardware/Enclosure Design
- Cabela's E-Commerce Kiosk Program, submitted by Netkey
- Ford Work Solutions Kiosk, submitted by Frank Mayer & Associates Inc.
- Outdoor, Full Payment Media Kiosk Delivers Results, submitted by Innovative Control Systems Inc.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
TRUMBULL, Conn. — JD Events, the company behind KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show, announced that it will provide qualified end-users with free full access to the shows.
Both KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show will take place May 6-7 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
According to a news release, the decision is a recognition that companies are tightening their belts during a period of economic uncertainty.
"Our priorities rest equally between our end-user audience and our exhibitor audience," said Lawrence Dvorchik, general manager of the events. "What we strive to do is introduce features that give all of our attendees, regardless of which end of the business they're coming from, a complete conference experience. The new conference pass policy is just one of the benefits we bring to the table that helps us provide the most cost-efficient and effective tradeshow opportunity to others."
Among the session speakers who will address attendees at the shows are key figures from BMW, ConAgra, The Palms Hotel & Casino, HBO Latin America, Target, Indigo Books & Music, The Nielsen Co., The PCI Security Standards Council, Virgin Entertainment Group, Columbia Sportswear, Cabela's, Chrysalis, Continental Airlines, SoloHealth, Ricoh Americas and PQ Media.
For more information on KioskCom Self Service Expo, visit www.kioskcom.com.
For more information on The Digital Signage Show, visit www.thedigitalsignageshow.com.
Thursday, 05 March 2009
The Shanghai Tiansheng Exhibition Service Company, a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has announced some of the exhibitors for its dual technology shows in Shanghai this summer.
According to a news release, the Shanghai International Digital Signage Show 2009 will be held alongside The 6th China International Self Service & Kiosk Show 2009 at the Shanghai Mart Exhibition Center, June 22-24. Both shows are hosted by the Shanghai Tiansheng Exhibition Service Company.
Exhibitors at the self-service show will include: Fuji Electric, MEI, IBM, General Touch, Star Micronics, Jiangsu Guoguang Electronic Information Technology Co. Ltd., SGS Computer, Tiger Kiosk, Custom, JCM, ICT, CoinCO, Astrosystems International, Shanghai Etone, IR Touch, China Creator, NewBeiYang Info-tech, Guangzhou Tonsincs Technology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Sunson, NRI & Cashcode (Crane companies), Winstar Century, Shanghai Yingjie Computer System and Beijing Intehel.
Exhibitors at the digital signage show will include: Advantech, DT Research, NEC, Mitsubishi, Avedia System, Beijing Honghe Tech, Aopen, OneLan, ET Media, Tros I&D, Zhizhen Video-Communications Science-Tech Co. Ltd., SeeYoo Electric Technology, Ningbo Plus and Pop-Screens, EB Answers Network, Shanghai DigiVision Technology and Poly Technology.
For more information about the Shanghai International Digital Signage Show 2009, click HERE.
Monday, 02 March 2009
ESSEN, Germany — More than 150 international companies have already confirmed that they will be exhibiting at the Kiosk Europe Expo 2009 and Digital Signage Expo 2009, the world's largest tradeshow for self-service solutions and Europe's largest tradeshow for digital signage. After last year's success, both events will again be taking place under one roof. Halls 1 and 2 at Messe Essen will open their doors to industry professionals from May 5-7.
Kiosk Europe Expo 2009 and Digital Signage Expo 2009 offer visitors the opportunity to find out more about both self-service solutions and digital signage during a single trade show visit. At this cross-sectoral meeting of experts, exhibitors show how retailers, banks, tourism and transportation companies, as well as users from other industries, can communicate cost-effectively with their customers about current content.
"The consumer with his need for information and orientation and his demand for transactions is always at the center of the various applications," said Jens Schindler, managing director of the organizer, hf media & events. "Digital signage and self-service thus offer tremendous potential for value creation for anyone wishing to communicate with a wide range of customers. It is possible to meet the needs of different target groups and even to address customers individually."
Both suppliers of complete solutions and niche suppliers demonstrate their latest solutions and products in the field of self-service and digital signage. Experts in strategic communication and marketing introduce their concepts for successfully integrating the projects into the user's communication mix. Specialists in monitors, content management and network technology demonstrate innovative solutions. Suppliers of touch sensors, ticket printers and applications for payment processes in cash, by card, mobile phone or simply by fingerprint are expected for the technical realization of the interaction at the kiosk solutions.
Sponsors of the two trade shows are Friendlyway, Hughes, Impuls TV, Provisio, Star Micronics and Werkstation. The list of high-profile exhibitors includes 42 media group, Deutsche Telekom, Epson, Hyundai, IBM, Narcomm, NEC, Oki, Scala, Seen Media, Sharp, Videro and Wincor Nixdorf.
To pre-register please visit www.kioskeurope-expo.com or www.digitalsignageexpo.eu.
Tuesday, 02 December 2008
Penki kontinentai: Self-Service Exhibition 2008 (SSE-2008), reportedly one of the largest self-service shows in Eastern Europe, opens tomorrow in Moscow. Lithuanian companies will present the newest solutions in ATM-network optimization, cash management, self-service devices, and show organizers say 70 percent of Russian billpay terminal and kiosks manufacturers are expected to attend. Exhibitors are expected from Great Britain, USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, South Korea, France, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine and China.
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Wednesday, 05 November 2008
TRUMBULL, Conn. — Following the successful debut of the co-located spring event in Las Vegas, organizers for The Digital Signage Show and KioskCom Self Service Expo celebrated equally impressive results for their joint fall offering, which took place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on October 15 and 16.
According to a news release, the shows enjoyed their highest attendance to date, with a 34 percent overall increase in pre-qualified attendees, as well as 50 percent growth in the exhibit hall compared to that of the New York 2007 event. In total, 2,490 professionals attended the New York shows in 2008.
"The team behind these conferences have maintained excellent momentum throughout the year and delivered an event that went beyond our expectations," said Peggy Stalhut, marketing communications manager for Harris Corp. "Harris is already planning to attend again in 2009!"
KioskCom Self Service Expo has been named by Tradeshow Week as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Trade Shows in North America three separate times.
Friday, 24 October 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The exhibitor slideshow for KioskCom Self Service Expo 2008 in New York is now available on SelfService.org.
Click here to view the slideshow.
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Data Collection Online: TransAct Technologies Inc., a provider of market-specific printers for transaction-based industries, will demonstrate a number of its highly robust printers at the upcoming Scan Scource, IMPACT NOW Conference and Trade Show taking place November 10 – 11, 2008 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Fla. TransAct's Epic 430 kiosk printer is designed specifically for self-service, kiosk applications and features a small modular design that can be easily configured to fit any space.
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Thursday, 16 October 2008
NEW YORK — When the Self-Service & Kiosk Association's advisory board met at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on the eve of KioskCom Self Service Expo, our cameras were there. Check out a slideshow of the meeting.
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Thursday, 16 October 2008
NEW YORK CITY — Fifteen years and some 5,000 custom solutions later, Louisville, Colo.-based KIOSK Information Systems has unveiled its first standard-model outdoor kiosk.
Dubbed the KIOSK Element, the NEMA-rated self-service device made its first public outing yesterday at the New York City edition of the KioskCom Self Service Expo, co-located again with The Digital Signage Show.
The turnkey kiosk can work as a stand-alone or a through-the-wall, and can accommodate any feature mix with peripheral options, including an outdoor credit-card reader, keyboard, receipt printer and barcode scanner. Two high-brite LCDs (one 17-inch and one 19-inch) allow for second-screen advertising and attract-loops for branding, quick consumer adoption and faster ROI. An overhead customer shelter also is available.
“The benefit the KIOSK Element introduces is a new economy of standardized design in outdoor self-service, eliminating the key barrier of entry for many viable deployments,” said Tom Weaver, chief marketing officer for KIOSK, in a release.
“While the major ticketing and entertainment companies have paved the way for outdoor self-service, there are also a number of hospitality, rental, check-in and parking applications that are nicely positioned to reap the benefits of a much improved price point.”
Thursday, 16 October 2008
NEW YORK — One of the newest kiosks on hand at the KioskCom Self-Service Expo Wednesday was Curiosk Marketing Solutions’ wine kiosk. The kiosk is being piloted in in Florida, New Jersey, Toronto, and Ontario, Canada.
The wine kiosk allows a retail customer to scan a bottle of wine to get additional information about the wine, ensuring a wise purchase. Using a touchscreen, in less than a minute, users can select wines, get tasting notes and food pairing information, and create a preset or typed personal greeting to attach to the bottle of wine if given as a gift.
“The initial response from consumers using it is the wow factor,” said David Weinberg, president of Curiosk. “When they see the information and how easy it is to get, they’re excited. Then when they realize they can print a card, they’re ecstatic because it’s one-stop shopping. If they’re going to a dinner party, they can buy the wine, get the card.”
Thursday, 16 October 2008
NEW YORK — The KioskCom Self Service Expo opened in the heart of Midtown, Manhattan, with two significant announcements from NCR Corp.
NCR pulled the sheet off its new point-of-decision kiosk — the NCR SelfServ 60, which is designed to provide an interactive experience for the consumer in order to buoy them along through the purchasing process.
According to a news release distributed at the show, the NCR SelfServ 60 is customizable to help enhance a business’s brand. Deployers can choose from a number of configuration and design options, such as brand color and logos. Multiple mounting options also are available.
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Photograph by Travis Kircher
The NCR SelfServe 60 integrates Intel vPro technology, has a slim, sleek form-factor, and represents a leap forward from its predecessor, the EasyPoint 42.
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The NCR SelfServ 60 integrates Intel vPro technology, including the next-generation Intel Core 2 Duo processor and Mobile Intel GM45 Express chipset. With these technologies, the kiosk can run more advanced, engaging self-service applications, NCR says, creating an enhanced experience for consumers and the opportunity for companies to offer increasingly complex transactions.
Intel vPro technology maximizes system availability for businesses with “out-of-band” manageability and serviceability — meaning diagnostics can be accomplished remotely.
Donna Stevens, product manager for kiosk infrastructure at NCR, says the new SelfServ 60 is a substantial improvement over its predecessor, the EasyPoint 42.
“Nowadays, people want kiosks to have a slim, sleek form-factor to really show off that modern iPod look, and really capture the aesthetics and the marketing and the branding that (our) customers want to portray to their self-service customers – to the consumers,” Stevens said.
“The EasyPoint 42, while an all-in-one integrated footprint, didn’t have the feature functionality and the slim form-factor that this new unit has, because of the new technology and our ability to integrate that.”
During the show, Peter R. Charpentier used a SelfServ 60 kiosk to demo a retail application that lets users speak live, one-on-one, with customer-service representatives in remote locations. The customer-service representative, who just so happened to be on the West Coast, appeared on the screen during a demo at the show to greet show goers in New York.
That application is the result of a reseller agreement between NCR and Experticity. The agreement, also announced during the expo, allows NCR to resell the Experticity multichannel technology platform worldwide.
Attendance numbers for KioskCom are not yet available, though Lawrence Dvorchik, general manager of the show, says he expects a 32 percent increase in pre-qualified, pre-registered attendants from last year. KioskCom runs Oct. 15-16 in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
NEW YORK — Several of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association's advisory board members met yesterday to discuss the challenging economic climate that is affecting businesses throughout the world.
SLIDESHOW: SSKA Advisory Board meeting
The meeting took place on the eve of the biannual KioskCom Self-Service Expo, this time in New York. The expo runs from Oct. 15 until Oct. 16.
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Photograph by Travis Kircher
Dick Good, chairman of the SSKA, speaks to the advisory board about self-service in the face of a challenging and changing economy.
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V. Miller Newton, president of SSKA, opened the meeting by pointing out that retailers, regardless of their specialty, should feel a need to become engaged in self-service.
"We're on the eve of probably the greatest financial crisis of our time," Newton told SelfService.org after the meeting. "Companies are definitely hunkering down. They're going to cut costs. They're going to be budget conscious."
Yet in the midst of the belt-tightening, Newton says there is significant opportunity for retailers to get a leg up on their competition by utilizing self-service to cut labor costs and increase consumer engagement.
"I think it's interesting that the KioskCom attendance is up 33 percent," he said. "I believe that self-service is a critical component and a must-have in this economic downturn."
Additionally, Newton urged the board members to take part in the association’s new-deployer member drive, which provides a free year of SSKA membership to select deployers.
SSKA vendor members are asked to provide the association with a list of potential deployers that might be candidates for membership.
Executive director David Drain provided an overview of the association's activities, including a look at publicity the association received in the Atlanta Journal Constitution as well as a glance at the site statistics of SelfService.org.
During the meeting, Francie Mendelsohn of Summit Research Associates also provided statistics about the self-service industry and tips for deployers to keeping their self-service interfaces easy to use. Those tips included using large button icons, keeping text short and simple, and limiting the amount of sound included in the application.
Dick Good, chairman of the association, led a round table discussion focused on how the industry should adapt to an uncertain future.
Thursday, 09 October 2008
WESTON, Fla. — Esprida Corp., a provider of remote management technology, has announced that it has teamed up with key industry partners to showcase branch optimization at KioskCom in New York, October 15-16.
The multi-partner solution makes it possible for government agencies and financial services organizations to monitor and control a customer visit throughout its lifecycle for improved services, greater efficiencies and enhanced customer experience.
"Esprida and its partners provide branches with a combination of best-in-class solutions in a process that uses self-service kiosks, queue management software and front-office applications to create a seamless workflow with people in the branch," said Anila Jobanputra, president of Esprida Corp. "Our software, Esprida LiveControl, is the service oriented architecture platform that makes all of this possible by enabling communication between hardware, software, customers and staff."
The Esprida-engineered solution leverages hardware, customer flow technology, configuration control software, an application solution platform, and secure connectivity products.
The solution accepts selections in its queuing process and offers visitors recommendations on the most appropriate channel to complete their task(s) quickly and easily.
Thursday, 02 October 2008
LONDON — Now in its third year, KioskCom Self Service Expo Europe opened yesterday at Olympia and offered attendees a look into the European display market with the inclusion of the Digital Signage Show Europe.
Many of the kiosk exhibitors had already jumped on board early on, using digital screens as part of total kiosk solutions.
One such company was Cammax, which showed a patient check-in kiosk used in health clinics. The unit issues numbered tickets for those in the waiting room and those numbers are automatically fed to a digital sign, so patients know their place in the queue.
The kiosk also allows users to purchase personal items such as pregnancy tests, etc. through the kiosk without having to see a doctor or health consultant.
"It's saving the nurses time, helping speed up the processes and does this discreetly," said Adrian Hamor, production manager for Cammax.
On the digital signage front, Samsung's booth proved to be a popular destination for those interested in display technology.
The Samsung ID video wall was launched in recent months and is being shown in the U.K. for the first time at this show, said Ami Randhana, commercial manager for Samsung. The unit comes with a base that anchors the screens, which can then be stacked up to five-high using interlocking posts.
Randhana said that the video wall at the show, a three-by-three matrix, took only about 20 minutes to set up, while other video walls can take several hours to assemble. Using the posts, screens can pivot, allowing the wall to be convex or concave as well as flat.
The screens themselves were thin-bezel digital information displays (DIDs) that are manufactured to commercial standards. The screens are intended to be left on 24/7, so they are equipped with temperature controls to minimize heat which causes considerable wear over time.
Content was driven to the video wall using Samsung's MagicNet software for digital signage, which allows users to stretch the content across the entire matrix or control each screen individually.
Also in Samsung's booth was a 70-inch fully-integrated touchscreen powered by infrared touch, the 460CXn screen networked with Samsung MagicInfo and the customizable 400MNx display.
Tuesday, 09 September 2008
LONDON — KioskCom Self Service Expo Europe and The Digital Signage Show Europe opens its doors at London’s Olympia on October 1, according to a news release, and attendance projections are high, with a 27 percent increase year on year. Additionally, many of these companies say digital signage is attracting them to the show.
Alongside the increase in registered visitors, the pre-registration statistics show there is an increasing overlap between digital signage and self-service technology, said event director Phil Hunter.
"As part of our registration process, our visitors are asked about the components and applications they are investing in and there's certainly a call to see both self-service and digital signage technologies," Hunter said. "In fact, there's an even split between those visiting the show to source information on display software and hardware and either POS or information kiosks. It stands to reason, be it in a railway station, bank or shopping mall, the two technologies combine to ensure a smooth and effective operation. Self Service Expo Europe has always included a digital signage element and it made sense, with the technological advancements on the horizon, to offer the comprehensive package to our visitors — two events under one roof."
Those technological advancements have made self-service applications an ever more viable and attractive option for a range of companies and, flying in the face of the current economic gloom, the future is bright for self-service and digital signage technology. As pressure on profit margins increases across the board, the combination of self-service technology and effective digital display marketing helps retailers and service providers maximize revenue streams and cut costs, at the same time as improving customer service levels.
The rising interest in the sector is reflected in the corporate visitor list for the show, which includes the U.K.'s leading supermarkets and department stores, as well as representatives from the banking, leisure and public transport industries.
Exhibitors at the event include 3M, Next Window, allpay.net, Netkey, MediaTile, Box Technologies, Dicoll, Ingenico, Camax, Microsoft, Protouch, Rittal, Samsung, Star Micronics, Roku and many more.
Friday, 15 August 2008
LONDON — Now in its third year, KioskCom Self Service Expo Europe, Europe's premier event for customer-facing technologies, is gearing up for another show this fall, according to a news release. This year, The Digital Signage Show Europe will run alongside Self Service Expo Europe for the first time, reflecting the growing synergy between these two technologies.
It's an exciting year for customer-facing technologies and a time of considerable change driven by the current economic climate and a need to reduce costs, increase revenues and improve customer service — the three biggest benefits of self-service technology deployment.
Returning to the show for 2008 are companies such as 3M, Key Technology, Protouch, Dicoll, Ritall, Verifone, GWD Media, YesPay, Rafi, St Clair and Star Micronics, among many others, and visitors will benefit from the show's expansion with first-time exhibitors including the likes of Box Technologies, New Vision, Storefront.com, Roku, Next Window, Nexcom, Wincor Nixdorf, Ingenico and RFID provider Freedom Shopping.
As well as providing great education and networking opportunities through its seminar program, Self Service Expo Europe and The Digital Signage Show Europe represents a unique opportunity for visitors to benefit from the depth of experience and expertise on offer from exhibitors in what can seem like a baffling array of technology to the untrained eye.
Visitors can sign up to receive their free visitor badge for the event by pre-registering at the shows dedicated Web site, www.selfserviceexpo.co.uk. Tickets will be issued before the event, allowing visitors to bypass the on-site registration procedures and avoid the inevitable queues on the day, guaranteeing fast-track entry.
Join us Oct. 1-2 in Olympia, U.K., and take a look at how your organization can get ahead with the latest in customer-facing technologies.
Friday, 08 August 2008
OLYMPIA, London — Industry giants Samsung and Microsoft both have announced that they will have booths at KioskCom Self Service Expo Europe and the Digital Signage Show Europe in London Oct. 1-2, according to a news release issued by KioskCom Ltd.
"With the announcement that both Microsoft and Samsung are exhibiting at Self Service Expo, we can safely say that both the way we shop and the way the advertisers want us to shop is set for a revolution," the release states.
3M, Cammax, Protouch, Dicoll, Box Technologies, Ritall, Verifone, GWD Media, YesPay, Rafi and Star Micronics are just some of the other vendors that will be exhibiting at the show.
Thursday, 31 July 2008
TRUMBULL, Conn. — KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show have announced their keynote presentation roster for this fall's event in New York.
The co-located shows, which will be held from Oct. 15-16, 2008, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, attract attendees from a diverse range of industries including retail, finance, hospitality, tourism, healthcare, government, gaming/entertainment and restaurants/QSRs.
Highlighting the common threads between the kiosk and digital signage industries, the comprehensive event was designed to help educate audiences by allowing them to observe the technologies, complications and solutions that come out of both spaces as they research the best avenue to develop, launch and manage their deployments.
The events boast an impressive list of educational sessions and presenters including key figures from Continental Airlines, the Georgia Aquarium and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), who will be making keynote presentations during the two-day conference.
Jared Miller, director of customer service for Continental Airlines, will open the conference with a presentation outlining the research and planning that went into Continental's self-service and customer-facing technology deployments. Miller also will discuss how the airline’s corporate focus on exploring new self-service functions, such as automating key touchpoints, has helped travelers take more control of their travel experiences and has increased Continental's customer satisfaction ratings.
Amit Dongerdive, chief architect for Georgia Aquarium, will discuss how the team behind the world's largest aquarium researched and incorporated various customer-facing technologies to engage visitors in a more dynamic way, as well as for brand promotion, cross-brand promotion and community activities. Among the strategies employed by the aquarium were hosting digital screens that were placed throughout the facility to show live webcam feeds of marine life, promote show times for its 4D Theater and showcase upcoming events (such as Jazz nights and parties), member benefits and informative videos for its visitors.
Closing the conference will be a joint presentation by Margot Myers, manager of retail in-store programs, and Janet Webster, manager of retail service network and access management delivery, for USPS Retail Services. As part of the team behind the U.S. Postal Service's testing and deployment of large-scale communications networks, Myers and Webster will address how USPS integrates multiple aspects and touchpoints of customer-facing technology and digital signage to not only redirect customers but change customer behavior. They also will discuss the four key metrics for digital signage success and how USPS is working to create a consistent customer experience throughout its vast retail network.
The speakers' expertise is now more relevant than ever as both industries continue expansion into mainstream arenas in the coming years. According to a recent study conducted by the IHL Group, transactions at self-service kiosks will surpass $607 billion in 2008 in North America alone as consumers continue to embrace self-service technology, and projections indicate that this amount will triple to more than $1.7 trillion by 2012.
"The utility and effectiveness of kiosks and digital signage is very evident in multiple industries, from retail to education to health care to hospitality and more," said Lawrence Dvorchik, general manager of KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show. "The increased use of customer-facing technology — and specifically the use of both self-service kiosks and digital signage — is a perfect example of why a combined event is so important for professionals in both fields. It exposes them to the tactics and trends that are shaping one another's industries, as well as allowing for learning from each others previous successes and failures."
See Also:
Slide show from April 2008 KioskCom in Las Vegas.
Coverage of KioskCom's Self-Service Excellence Awards in April 2008.
Friday, 06 June 2008
LONDON — KioskCom Self Service Expo Europe has launched its 2008 show Web site and, with an added interactive element, manufacturers can play a part in demonstrating the future of retail technology.
The innovation gallery, a new feature for Self Service Expo 2008, offers a platform for exhibitors to showcase their most cutting-edge products – those that aim to change the face of self-service.
"At the show this year, we want to demonstrate the evolution of the self-service market and show our visitors – the people that are investing in the technology – exactly where the next big thing is coming from," said Phil Hunter, event director. "It’s about more than just showing the existing products that make life easier for the consumer. We want manufacturers who have taken things to the next level to shout about their innovations. Perhaps a previously functional kiosk application that has been made totally secure or something none of us have seen before."
Exhibitors – and those who intend to exhibit – can log on to www.selfserviceexpo.co.uk and enter their product via the call for innovation section. Details are submitted online and successful entries will form part of the Self Service Expo Gallery at London’s Olympia on Oct. 1-2.
As well as helping gather information on the latest in kiosk technology design and display solutions, the show Web site is a comprehensive resource for visitors and exhibitors alike, providing a wealth of event information and the latest news from Self Service Expo. Potential exhibitors can download facts and figures on the show and visitors can register for their free show passes.
Monday, 02 June 2008
BOISE, Idaho — Earthpure Organics showcased its 100 percent organic, EnergyStar compliant vending kiosk at the Idaho Green Expo recently. Earthpure Organics is a U.S. vending company that offers organic snacks and beverages that are carbon offset with EPA/BEF wind power green tags.
Earthpure Organics partnered with Mountain Coin Machine Distributors of Salt Lake City, using a Crane UltraFlex machine, to produce a custom skinned, eco-friendly vending kiosk targeted toward their strongest market segments: schools and hospitals. The kiosks provide a healthy and fully organic alternative to the conventional products currently being sold in traditional vending machines, while utilizing USA Technologies Vendmiser energy controllers to effectively save an average of 35 percent energy consumption.
Thursday, 08 May 2008
ESSEN, Germany — The second annual Kiosk Europe Expo opened yesterday with a new component this year: Digital Signage Expo. The co-located expos are organized by hf media & events, publishers of Kiosk Europe magazine. hf partnered with POPAI to produce the Digital Signage Expo.
The organizer reported 170 exhibitors from 26 countries and over 3,000 pre-registered attendees and exhibitor personnel. About 100 of the exhibitors are related to kiosks with the other 70 related to digital signage. Some companies, like IBM, displayed both technologies in their booth.
During a press briefing yesterday, the show organizers claimed this to be the largest self-service and kiosk show in the world, based on size of the show floor. They also made a similar claim regarding being the largest digital signage show in Europe.
Karin Wunderlich, managing director of POPAI (Germany-Austria-Switzerland), said she was pleased with the exhibitor turnout being the first year for the Digital Signage Expo. The expo includes a Digital Signage Content Centre, “showing to visitors what digital signage can deliver,” she said. She was also pleased to announced that in two weeks, POPAI will be releasing a 400-page global digital signage study.
Jens Schindler, managing director of hf media & events, indicated his belief that kiosks and digital signage are complementary and that the industries can learn from each other. He also announced that next year the show will have yet another component to be called Cash Management Expo. hf is partnering with Coin Media and EFMA on this effort.
David Drain is the executive director of the Self Service & Kiosk Association and the Digital Signage Association. He is on location in Essen, Germany.
Monday, 28 April 2008
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.
At the event, VeriFone will be exhibiting its latest unattended payment systems, the OP 4100 and OP 3100, which are deployed across a wide variety of retail settings, including supermarkets, ticketing environments and pay-at-the-pump stations across Europe. The VeriFone team will discuss how unattended payment systems can increase customer throughput and loyalty.
Also on display will be the MX860, a wide-screen, consumer-facing PIN pad which is used as both a PIN pad and customer messaging station. It features fast processing speeds and large memory, making it an ideal solution for busy retail environments with high volume lanes. The large full-color display is suitable for interactive displays and signature capture as well as providing a quick and easy method of payment. Combined with VeriFone’s PAYware software, the MX860 can also double as an interactive customer service point.
New to VeriFone is its latest contactless payment solution, the QX120. The QX120 supports all major contactless payment schemes, including those initiated from mobile phones using the emerging Near Field Communications, or NFC standard. The ultra thin QX120 can be connected to a stand-alone payment device or integrated POS system to provide contactless acceptance capability.
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Click here to see a slideshow from the Digital Signage Show.
LAS VEGAS — KioskCom Self Service Expo and Digital Signage Show came and went last week with more exhibitors and kiosks than ever before. But when all was said and done, one kiosk stood out from the rest.
SoloHealth’s EyeSite kiosk, housed at the KIOSK Information Systems booth, stole the buzz from other devices as it took home three Self Service Excellence Awards, including Best in Show. The kiosk was submitted for the show’s awards by KIOSK and software partner Netkey.
"The EyeSite kiosk was the instant standout of KioskCom 2008," said Robert Porter, lead judge for KioskCom 2008. "It was unlike anything else. This unique application is practical, fun to use and presents a breakthrough technology platform that demonstrates the ability to make an enormous impact of people's eye health, as well as the ability to drive revenue in the vision market."
To use the free kiosk, individuals walk up to device and answer questions on the touchscreen. It asks the person’s age, the date of the person’s last eye exam and whether or not he wears contacts or glasses, Foster said. Based on that information, the kiosk presents a series of stimuli for both near and distance vision. Then, based on the responses, the kiosk prints out a report and gives the user video analysis of the results.
The kiosk also gives information about local eye professionals and encourages the user to visit them for a thorough eye examination.
Here’s a look at what some of KioskCom’s other featured exhibitors touted on the show floor.
3M TOUCHSYSTEMS showed a 32-inch interactive digital sign used during the 2008 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament. Tim Holt, communications manager for 3M, said that in a pro-am tournament setting the screens could be used for golfers to check each others’ scores, but in major tournaments they could be public-facing screens for fans to stay updated on scores.
5POINT’s vice president Edward Crowley said the convergence of digital signage and kiosks has never been more visible than at this year’s show. It was fitting, then, that 5point announced its new Vision Series Modular Kiosk and Eclipse Series Interactive Digital Signage at the show.
The Vision kiosks are designed for a wide range of environments, including the outdoors, and were used by KioskCom as its platform for self-service registration at the show.
“We’ve seen a strong interest in this type of all-in-one technology and we’re very excited to announce that the new Vision Series platform is now available for our customers and partners,” Crowley said. “There’s a growing demand for the peripherals these touchscreen devices offer as standard options as well as other kiosk integrated peripherals like thermal printers and secondary monitors. We created this new series with these factors in mind to ensure we’re providing a higher self-service experience overall.”
The large format Eclipse digital signage is also designed for outdoor deployments. The unit can operate in temperatures from minus 20 degrees to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
ASAHI SEIKO USA displayed several of its card dispensers, including the CD-1000, the company’s most popular model, said Robert Angell, a sales representative for Asahi Seiko. The large dispenser, designed for paper and polyester credit-card sized cards and tickets, can hold up to approximately 1,000 cards.
Launched in October, BETTER ATM SERVICES touted its patented technology that enables existing ATMs to dispense prepaid cards through ATM cash trays. The company’s cost effective distribution option means banks, shopping malls, grocery stores and restaurants can now offer prepaid gift cards, premiums, and other incentives through ATMs without need to refit or reconfigure the ATMs’ hardware.
“Getting a gift card is now a snap,” said Derek Cook, Better ATM Services’ chief financial officer. “And it’s basically zero cost to ATM owners.”
CARD SCANNING SOLUTIONS’ SnapShell ID Reader camera solution was on showcase at the CSS booth. The scanner captures driver’s license information quickly and accurately. The SnapShell uses a 3 mega-pixel camera built into its base to snap high-quality digital images of ID cards (up to 600 dpi).
It also uses a USB 2.0 connection and features no moving parts while requiring no calibration, making it a low maintenance solution that allows users to simply place their cards face down on the window and letting the ID reader system do the rest.
CHETU’s Terry Owen, director of sales, was enthusiastic about the company’s second visit to KioskCom.
“Kiosks aren’t just the ‘dumb terminals’ anymore,” Owen said.
Owen explained that Chetu is an IT consulting company which offers a low-budget software solution. The company offers custom-designed kiosk software for $20 per hour.
“Once we create the software, there are no licensing fees – the customer owns it,” Owen said. “Normally a customer would have to pay licensing fees on each piece of the kiosk.”
COMARK CORP. displayed its Wide-Touch Kiosk, which Comark president Steve Schott said is ideal for maps, directories, shopping malls and movie tickets. The kiosk features include 19-inch screen and optional touchscreen. The booth displayed a golf course directory and information application on its kiosk demo.
A 32-inch interactive digital signage touchscreen was also on display. Schott said the unit was big in Europe and it on its way to catching on in the United States.
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SERVICES was on hand to explain the company’s expertise in digital signage and kiosk network installation and answer any deployment questions attendees had.
“Customers don’t always know what they want,” said Michael Shaub, national account executive for CTS. “We help steer them in the right direction.”
CTS does not subcontract its work out; all installations are done by CTS trained personnel. Shaub said this helps maintain a similar quality throughout all their work.
DIEBOLD PREMIER SERVICES touted its installation and maintenance services at the show. Julie Manson, Diebold’s senior services marketing manager, said Diebold’s more than 3,400 technicians handle small and large installations. Diebold also provides a 24/7 customer response center, service parts logistics, inventory management, software support and a host of other services.
“We’re about providing pleasant and consistent customer service,” Manson said.
DFI TECHNOLOGIES had several of its mini computers on display, but the highlight of the showcase according to business manager Albert Chien was the ST-300. This slim mini computer is used in various kiosk and digital signage applications, with its key feature being slimness.
“Most customers don’t care about the overall size of the computer,” Chien said. “For installation purposes they’re concerned about the thickness.”
DFI also showed an all-in-one touchscreen kiosk that was designed for many different mounting applications. Chien said the kiosk could be placed on a desktop stand, wall-mounted using a bracket or placed in a kiosk enclosure.
ELAN FINANCIAL SERVICES showed a multi-function financial self-service machine loaded with features and capabilities. All of the components were integrated into a freestanding MoniMax ATM enclosure from Nautilus Hyosung. In addition to normal ATM functionality, Elan’s machine featured a check scanner, coin acceptor, barcode scanner and a security-enabled screen that eliminated over-the-shoulder glances.
ELO TOUCHSYSTEMS’s RemoteNurse Patient Monitor was a finalist for the Best Health Deployment at the Self Service Excellence Awards. The kiosk, which includes a device that measures pulse, helps diagnose patient symptoms and ailments.
The booth also featured its 17A2 touch computer, a 17-inch all-in-one desktop. The space-saving, compact design of the touch computer offers increased flexibility for easy integration of a variety of optional field-replaceable peripherals including three-track magnetic stripe reader for credit, ID and loyalty card transactions; customer-facing display to verify those transactions; biometric fingerprint recognition for increased security; speakers and DVD drive.
FAST TRANSACT was on hand representing the financial payment aspect of retail kiosks. The company was showing its Argofire payment software solution. The software is designed to secure transactions and benefit both the customer and the retailer. Fast Transact software operates on a revenue-sharing program, so the customer has full ownership of the software when using it.
“All transactions through the Argofire gateway happen on our server, not at the kiosk, making the transactions more secure,” said Adriane Armbruster, senior account executive for Fast Transact.
FLEXTRONICS, a $30 billion global electronics company, announced its new venture to help speed the deployment of self-service applications. The program, called “Jumpstart,” offers companies a set of software plug-ins and hardware components preconfigured for faster, more effective rollouts.
“We want to bring to market a product that will help jumpstart businesses,” said Andrew Block, senior director of Flextronics’ Self Service Solutions Group. “And we hope to jumpstart not just the product, but the industry as well.”
Block said that since acquiring WebRaiser Technologies and Solectron, Flextronics has benefited from the unification of self-service resources, thus becoming a major player in the industry. The acquisition made Flextronics the world’s second-largest electronics manufacturing and self-service powerhouse, trailing only Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. in terms of annual sales, according to Forbes.
The Nintendo Wii kiosk at the FRANK MAYER AND ASSOCIATES was arguably the most popular machine on display at the Expo, judged by the lines to use the interactive demo. The kiosks allowed Nintendo to take the displays to events across the United States and played an integral part of Nintendo's marketing campaign, said Michael Mayer, president and chief operating officer of Frank Mayer and Associates.
The Mayer booth also displayed its Ford SYNC Kiosk, which won the Best Other Industry Deployment Award at the Self Service Excellence Awards. Displayed predominantly at auto shows and high-traffic outdoor events, the Ford SYNC kiosk houses a 50-inch touchscreen that provides a guided tour of the SYNC technology. The SYNC system was developed jointly by Ford and Microsoft Corp.
FREEDOM SHOPPING’s sole item at the show was its self-assisted bill and coin dispensing kiosk. The Valet kiosk model offers POS functionality for unmanned and partially manned self-checkout, accepts cash, credit/debit, store accounts, loyalty cards, hotel room keys, online accounts and biometrics ID, and manages inventory, including returns and automatic re-orders. The system includes RFID-tag association and integrated digital advertising that correlates with purchases.
FUJITSU highlighted its new two-inch thermal printer unit for receipt and ticketing kiosks at the show. The new model offers OEMs a reliable, high-quality printing solution for medium-volume print output. The printer integrates an auto cutter capable of full or partial cutting, an automatic paper feed, a paper holder for up to 83mm diameter rolls, and an integrated paper guide. The unit’s double-tilt function enhances maintenance for paper jam clearing and thermal head cleaning, said Jim Harrison, Fujitsu’s product marketing manager for thermal printers.
The printer also includes built-in detection functions such as motor over-current protection, paper-out/near-end and abnormal thermal head temperature to prevent print interruptions.
GA SERVICES’ Bill Gorksi said the company had a lot of inquiries at the show. Gorksi explained to many the company’s services with deployments, integration and shipping for digital signage and self-service projects.
“No two stores are ever the same, even though they may claim to have the same layouts,” Gorski said.
For projects such as ADFLOW’s Office Max digital signage deployment, GA Services coordinated the integration and staging and aggregation of components such as cables, mounts, media players, etc.
H&M NETWORKS didn’t have any flashy new kiosk on display at their booth. That’s not what they do, said Rich Henkels, director of national accounts sales for H & M NetWorks.
“What’s forgotten (in a kiosk deployment) is what has to happen beyond the box,” Henkels said. “That’s what we take care of.”
H&M provides services, including wireless, that tie kiosks to the network.
HECON/HENGSTLER was showing the new Extendo Series X-56 thermal printer for kiosk applications. Extendo printers are designed for rugged use and are usually found in outdoor kiosks and other outdoor customer-facing applications such as self-service car washes and gas pumps. The printers on display could print paper or ticket stock. David Widmann, general manager, said that the printers are effective in temperatures ranging from -25 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
A host of partners that use IBM CORP.’s Anyplace Kiosk were on display at the company’s booth. Experticity’s Live Support On-Demand Kiosk was demonstrated for attendees. The enclosure for the kiosk was designed by Olea Inc., designer and manufacturer of self-service kiosks. Olea’s “green” enclosure was made from an engineered panel from Sorghum plant. Sorghum plant is grown around the world for food production. The plant stalks are dried and heat pressed using a non-toxic adhesive to form the board product. The stalks of the plant are not used in food production and would otherwise be thrown away.
Curiosk, a wine greeting card and information kiosk, was also on view at IBM’s exhibit. The kiosk guides users through wine selection and then allows them to personalize a greeting card using a touch keyboard. After the transaction, a receipt is printed along with the greeting card, which folds to fit on top of the wine bottle.
The wine kiosk is currently in the pilot stage at some Florida wine shops, but may move into grocery stores with wine departments in the future.
“It’s simple and so easy to use,” said David Weinberg, president of Curiosk. “Scan, personalize and print.”
ID TECH was the magnetic stripe specialist at KioskCom, showing several versions of the company’s card reading technology for use in traction kiosks. Some of the company’s peripherals included swipe and insertion magnetic stripe readers and encrypting PIN pads.
INFONOX’s “bank-in-a-box” solution, formally called the KioskPASS, was on display at the company’s booth. The multi-function financial kiosk, in which Infonox makes the software, features, in addition to ATM functions, gift cards, bill payment, prepaid top-up and money orders. A digital sign also allows kiosk owners to sell advertising and offset some of the cost.
“You are making money before the first transaction is made,” said Ashim Banerjee, executive vice president for Infonox.
Infonox’s kiosk was the named the Best Financial Services Deployment at KioskCom’s Self Service Excellence Awards.
Specializing in outdoor kiosks, primarily in the car wash space, INNOVATIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS showcased its Auto Sentry eXP kiosk, which accepts multiple payment methods including cash, credit and gift card.
Streaming audio and video guides the user swiftly through the sales purchase, instructing them through wash selection and payment method. A normal transaction takes between 15 and 30 seconds, with credit cards clearing in an average of three seconds.
The kiosks are deployed in about 1,000 locations in the United States and Australia.
JCM GLOBAL had the DBV-307 Cash Recycling System on display, a device that product manager Jeff Gray said is seen mostly in casino and gaming settings. The Las Vegas-based company has 80 percent of the cash recycling market share in Sin City, according to Gray. JCM products, traditionally used in slot machines, are also seen in table games in the form of bill validators.
“Plastic enclosures on these devices mean they are lower cost, but still have a high acceptance speed,” Gray said.
KIOSK INFORMATION SYSTEMS brought a myriad of kiosks to KioskCom this year. In addition to the EyeSite kiosk, KIOSK displayed its Dave and Buster’s Power Gaming Card Kiosk and retail outfitter Cabelas’ kiosk, all of which were finalists for KioskCom’s Self Service Excellence Awards.
KIOSK also touted its growing presence abroad by announcing it has tripled its number of international distributors. The company added distributors in Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, Venezuela, Canada, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Jordan, Kuwait, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. This expansion follows KIOSK’s strongest 2008 first quarter in the company’s 15-year history, said Cheryl Madeson, marketing manager for KIOSK Information Systems.
KIOSK LOGIX displayed its NetStop software, a package that protects the hard drive of a kiosk, preventing access to the operating system and other sensitive data. The software incorporates a design module that lets owners customize the user interface, said Kevin Mathison, Kiosk Logix’s vice president of technology.
The latest version of NetStop allows users to remotely monitor, administer, update or query all of their kiosks, provide digital signage technology with ease, auto transfer files, including digital signage content, to all remote kiosks and get statistics on Web sites visited and applications used.
The Foxwoods Resort Casino Promotions Kiosk was demonstrated at the LIVEWIRE INTERNATIONAL booth. The solution is deployed on 36 kiosks throughout the property and allows visitors to view resort and casino amenities. Rewards patrons may also swipe their cards to view point balances, enter sweepstakes, sign up for events and obtain personalized rewards in the form of coupons and bonus slot tickets. In addition, digital advertising monitors mounted on the kiosks above the touchscreen interfaces continuously display advertising and other casino information such as drawing winners and jackpot payouts.
Livewire’s casino kiosk nabbed the Best Entertainment/Gaming Deployment award at the Self Service Excellence Awards.
The company also announced that the MGM Grand at Foxwoods plans to install Livewire’s hotel check-in kiosks later this year.
NANONATION showed off its newest point-of-decision application which allows an Apple iPhone to control product content on a digital screen. Using Nanonation software, the iPhone itself can also play video content relevant to the product. Brian Ardinger, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Nanonation, also said that sales associates can use the iPhone to control digital screens during sales pitches.
“Deployers have the option of having this be interactive or more like traditional digital signage,” he said.
Nanonation also featured an interactive media kiosk designed for SanDisk that allowed users to download movie trailers and short films their cell phones. Ardinger said the kiosk has been used as part of promos for the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals, among others. The SanDisk kiosk enclosure was also on display at the Frank Mayer and Associates booth.
NEXT WINDOW’s booth in the Digital Signage Show area was chock-full of digital signs, all of which were touch-enabled using the company’s optical overlay technology. Next Window’s screens are designed to be integrated with third party enclosures and can enable touch on screens up to 100 inches. At the front of the booth was a screen from Next Window and PanelWorx which featured a multi-application system containing a digital jukebox and photo editing tools controlled by touch.
Next Window technology had a presence at Mandalay Bay prior to the show with the recently installed Virtual Concierge interactive digital signage network in the hotel lobby and casino. The company said that one of the displays is experiencing more than 4,000 unique customer interactions per week.
OPERATOR INTERFACE TECHNOLOGY, known for its metal-encased rugged keyboards, had a new addition to its line of outdoor interfaces. Where in the past DFI’s keyboards featured a trackball or joystick for cursor movement, the newest Rugged Keyboard sports a sealed touchpad. The pad is similar to those found on many laptops today, except this one was sealed with a molded bezel to keep out the elements.
“We see a lot of people try to use a cheap keyboard with kiosk applications, but it just doesn’t work,” said Bob Nolan, president of OIT.
PANJIT TOUCHSCREENS had its line of capacitive touchscreens on display at the front of its booth, but the company’s most innovative recent product was kept in the back. Upon request, Todd Winter, director of sales, showed the Touch Window, a small touchscreen that could be attached to cell phones that would enable touch-capabilities. The screens are made of impact-resistant plastic to withstand normal cell phone abuse.
Winter said that in addition to cell phones, the screen could touch-enable digital cameras, PSPs and anything with a flat surface.
PAY-EASE displayed its automated commerce machine, a self-service kiosk designed for bill payments and services. The application, which was launched in August 2007, allows citizens to pay parking and red-light citations, as well as utility bills. Pay-Ease’s software can be customized to allow consumers to pay bills, purchase gift cards, transfer funds, purchase wireless and long distance minutes, renew driver's licenses and registrations and conduct ATM transactions.
As of February, approximately 20 kiosks had been deployed at Chicago payment centers, police stations and libraries. They are also installed at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports, and DePaul University. Pay-Ease is in talks with other municipalities and always on the lookout for others, said Wes Pollard, Pay-Ease’s director of marketing.
REALITY INTERACTIVE, a content developer for digital signage and kiosks, recently completed a large project with BMW, where the auto maker replaced freestanding kiosks with an interactive digital signage experience in all 350 of its U.S. dealerships. Screens showing car features and track footage in HD are placed in a branded area, complete with high-back leather chairs resembling those in BMW cars.
“You can really take a high energy drive in an area like downtown Chicago, but this screen can let you take one in the showroom,” said Bryson Hyte of Reality Interactive.
RED DOT NET showcased its kiosks, which use wheels instead of touch. The kiosks, which are deployed at many Barnes and Noble Bookstore locations, also have wayfinding capabilities, said Robb Kirschenmann, Red Dot Net’s director of operations.
“It’s not your typical kiosk,” Kirschenmann said. “People can get engaged with it using the wheel.”
SEIKO INSTRUMENTS debuted its APU-9000 thermal printer unit, which will go into mass production later this summer. The printer, which can support extreme temperatures, maintains a small footprint and high-printing speeds, said Adam Ortlieb, associate director of marketing for Seiko’s Thermal Printer Division.
Seiko also announced that it named Kazuhisa “Kaz” Onishi vice president and general manager with overall responsibility for the Americas. Onishi previously served as general manager of sales and marketing for Seiko Instruments Print Systems Division in Japan, where he achieved 100 percent worldwide revenue growth during his six year tenure.
Onishi will oversee the execution of SIU Thermal Printer Division’s strategy to leverage global dominance in thermal printer technology and expand business across targeted sectors, including healthcare, self-service, mobile workforce, government and retail and hospitality.
STAR MICRONICS was on hand to demonstrate its line of kiosk printers which range from two to four inches in width. Star also offers adjustable width printers for custom kiosk applications. All printers on display from Star were open-frame. Representatives from the company said that the line of kiosk printers have been popular with airline e-ticket and CUSS kiosks, bus and rail ticketing, Internet access terminals, maps and directional kiosks as well as gift registry, ATM and gaming applications.
STOREFRONT.COM, the company that recently won six out of eight DIMA Awards for photo kiosks, displayed a digital signage video wall in the Digital Signage Show area as well as its photo solutions in the Self Service Expo.
Both systems were controlled by Storefront’s Remote Monitoring System, which Tom Ceh, VP of sales and marketing, said can be used to manage everything from small kiosks to digital billboards.
TELPAR demonstrated its new two-inch printer designed for use in kiosk and self-service applications, as well as gaming, vending, receipt ticketing and ATMs, and many remote printing environments. The printer features USB, serial, parallel and Ethernet interface connectivity, a faster print speed (up to seven inches per second), and a wider operating temperature range.
Rebecca Whalen of Telpar said that the wide range of interfaces is so that customers using legacy connections can begin to migrate to more modern connections as they update their systems.
TELSOURCE CORP. was showcasing its InfoZone lightweight kiosk, which was set up for a retail assistance application. Vince Sciarra, president and CEO of TelSource, said that the kiosks are great for retail because they are connected by Ethernet cables which are easier and cheaper to run than common CAT-5s.
Sciarra also explained that IP voice recognition on the InfoZone, which allows customers to call sales people and even call center assistants at remote locations for product info and help. The InfoZone has been deployed in TransWorld Entertainment’s FYE music and movie stores.
Digital Signage Today editor Bill Yackey also contributed to this article.
Thursday, 17 April 2008
LAS VEGAS — Flextronics, a $30 billion global electronics company, has announced a new venture to help speed the deployment of self-service applications. The program, called “Jumpstart,” offers companies a set of software plug-ins and hardware components preconfigured for faster, more effective rollouts.
Flextronics introduced its “Jumpstart” initiative on day one of KioskCom Self Service Expo in Las Vegas.
“We want to bring to market a product that will help jumpstart businesses,” said Andrew Block, senior director of Flextronics’ Self Service Solutions Group. “And we hope to jumpstart not just the product, but the industry as well.”
Block said that the self-service industry is confronting a quality problem. Not only are kiosks with poor usability being misused to premature deaths, manufacturing processes are not cranking out reliable machines. And when users encounter down kiosks, the whole industry suffers. One remedy, Block said, is to bring some consistency to the design and building of machines.
Block said that since acquiring WebRaiser Technologies and Solectron, Flextronics has benefited from the unification of self-service resources, thus becoming a major player in the industry. The acquisition made Flextronics the world’s second-largest electronics manufacturing and self-service powerhouse, trailing only Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. in terms of annual sales, according to Forbes.
Headquartered in Singapore, with 20,000 employees in dozens of locations around the world, Flextronics helps customers design, build, ship and service electronics products, including kiosks, through a network of facilities in 30 countries on four continents.
Thursday, 17 April 2008
LAS VEGAS—It was triple vision for SoloHealth at KioskCom’s Self Service Excellence awards ceremony as its innovative EyeSite kiosk won two of three categories where it had been entered and snagged the day’s grand prize, the Best of the Best, for receiving the most votes of entries in all categories.
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David Drain (left), executive director of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, congratulates IBM's Cortlandt Johnson, who was inducted into the association's hall of fame.
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Users of the EyeSite kiosk enter sight-related information on a touchscreen, such as the person’s age, the date of his last eye exam and whether he wears contacts or glasses. The kiosk then presents a series of stimuli for both near and distance vision. A printout of the results and a video analysis help the user determine the next steps for eye care.
In addition to overall best, the application was voted best healthcare application and best new innovation in a kiosk deployment. Manufacturer KIOSK Information Systems and software vendor Netkey submitted the kiosk for the Self Service Excellence awards, which were presented on the first day of KioskCom Self Service Expo.
For the first time, the Self-Service and Kiosk Association announced its Hall of Fame inductees as part of the awards ceremony. They were Cortlandt Johnson and Janet Webster. Johnson’s background includes helping Eastman Kodak develop the first photo kiosk and being a leader of self-service technology at IBM. He also helped found the association. Webster, who manages self-service for the United States Postal Service, is responsible for the deployment of 2,500 Automated Postal Center kiosks. For 2005, she was the recipient of the 2005 Kiosk Industry Leader of the Year Award in the Deployer category.
Below are all entries and winners of the KioskCom Self Service Excellence Awards.
Best Retail Deployment
• Cabelas - Best Retail Deployment, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems
• Self-Service Networks: Electronic Gift Card Dispenser, submitted by Self-Service Networks
• WINNER: Self-Service Networks: Thule Interactive Point-of-Purchase, submitted by Self-Service Networks
Best Financial Services Deployment
• Alltel BillPay Kiosk, submitted by Source Technologies
• Automated Commerce Machine (ACM), submitted by Pay-Ease LLC
• WINNER: Multi-Function Financial Services Kiosk, submitted by INFONOX
Best Goverment/Education/Non-Profit Agency Deployment
• WINNER: Automated Commerce Machine (ACM), submitted by Pay-Ease LLC
• Barcelona City Council Service Kiosk, submitted by FOCUS ON EMOTIONS
• SWANSON SERVICES CORPORATION COBRA KIOSK, submitted by Source Technologies
Best Travel/Hospitality Deployment
• Northwest Airlines Mobile Website, submitted by Northwest Airlines
• WINNER: PDC Smart Kiosk, submitted by MEI
• SITA S2 AirportConnect Kiosk, submitted by SITA
Best Entertainment/Gaming Deployment
• Dave & Buster's Loyalty Kiosk, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems
• WINNER: Foxwoods Resort Casino Promotions Kiosk, submitted by Livewire International
• SanDisk Digital Media Download Kiosk, submitted by Nanonation
Best Healthcare Deployment
• WINNER: EyeSite Kiosk by SoloHealth, submitted by Netkey and KIOSK Information Systems
• Patient Passport Express, submitted by D2 Sales
• Phreesia - The Patient Check-in Company, submitted by Phreesia, Inc.
• RemoteNurse Patient Monitor, submitted by Elo TouchSystems
Best Food Service Deployment
• Mandalay Bay - Bayside Buffet, submitted by NCR Corporation and MGM
• WINNER: Prepayment Kiosk by School-Link Technologies, submitted by MEI
Best Other Industry Deployment
• BMW ICS (Indoor Communication System), submitted by Reality Interactive
• EyeSite Kiosk by SoloHealth, submitted by Netkey, KIOSK Information Systems
• WINNER: Ford SYNC Kiosk, submitted by Frank Mayer & Associates, Inc., Wireless Ronin Inc.
Best Overall Software Solution
• BMW ICS (Indoor Communication System), submitted by Reality Interactive
• WINNER: Dave & Buster's Loyalty Kiosk, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems, St. Clair Interactive
• Showroom Technology SHOW/PRO V3 Kiosk, submitted by Netkey
Best Hardware/Enclosure Design
• Automated Commerce Machine (ACM), submitted by Pay-Ease, LLC
• BMW ICS (Indoor Communication System), submitted by Reality Interactive
• WINNER: CVD's, submitted by CVD, Inc.
Best New Innovation in a Kiosk Deployment
• WINNER: EyeSite Kiosk by SoloHealth, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems & Netkey
• Live Nation - Interactive Mobile Phone Digital Signage, submitted by Nanonation
• Phreesia - The Patient Check-in Company, submitted by Phreesia
• Qflix, submitted by Sonic Solutions
Best of the Best
EyeSite Kiosk by SoloHealth, Netkey & KIOSK Information Systems
Industry Deployer of the Year
David Forbes, exec director, IT, AT&T, for his work using kiosks and digital signage to enhance the customer experience for mobile customers.
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
LAS VEGAS—KioskCom Self Service Expo opens its spring show today in Las Vegas with a twist: Digital signage gets a room of its own.
Joel Davis, president and CEO of JD Events, which owns and operates KioskCom, spoke about the change at the semi-annual Self-Service & Kiosk Association Advisory Board meeting.
“It comes from conversations with the board, where I heard a lot about convergence and overlap, and mainly about the similarity of audiences,” he said.
About 80 percent of KioskCom attendees are also interested in digital signage, he said.
The area bespoke to display technology is branded the Digital Signage Show and has about 40 exhibitors. Other digital signage products appear in exhibits among kiosk and other self-service applications. Floor space set aside for those applications increased 15 percent over 2007.
The show continues to recruit attendees to comprise a wholly merchant/deployer mix. Since taking over the show in 2005, Davis has implemented tighter standards against vendors coming to the show to sell to exhibitors, or even compete with them.
“Our main focus is to deliver a quality audience to our exhibitors,” Davis said. “Our mandate was to clean up the audience when we bought KioskCom.”
This year, he said, anyone suspected of not being a merchant/deployer was denied a badge. For the 2007 spring show, 83 applicants did not receive one. This year, 487 were turned away.
“It’s almost as though we put the onus on them to prove they aren’t a vendor,” Davis said. “It hurts us on the show floor, but is upping the quality of the audience.”
When pre-registration closed last Friday, 2,200 attendees had been approved, and Davis expects another couple of hundred to register at the show.
Davis said that in addition to a fall show in New York (Oct. 15-16 this year) and one in London (Oct. 1-2), his team is working on building an edition in Asia, and hopes to have something set up no later than 2010.
Monday, 14 April 2008
ROCKVILLE, Md. — Pay-Ease LLC, a self-service provider specializing in custom hardware and software for processing commerce transactions, will exhibit its multi-functional Automated Commerce Machine at the KioskCom Self Service Expo and Digital Signage Show in Las Vegas on April 16-17 at booth #351.
The Pay-Ease ACM provides local and state governments, utility and insurance companies, as well as retailers, the opportunity to offer citizens and consumers the benefit of paying bills, cashing checks, transferring money, purchasing prepaid cell, long distance cards and print on demand gift cards, DMV services and ATM functions via the ACM.
Pay-Ease is showcasing the latest technology available in a state-of-the-art modularly designed kiosk which processes transactions via cash, check and debit/credit card.
Friday, 11 April 2008
PORTSMOUTH, RI — Self-Service Networks, a provider of turnkey self-service solutions, will exhibit their award finalist solutions at KioskCom Self Service Expo and Digital Signage Show in Las Vegas on April 16-17.
The Electronic Gift Card Dispenser, a gift card sales kiosk deployed with Comdata/SVS, and the Thule Interactive Point of Purchase, a point-of-decision selling solution, have both been nominated as finalists in the Best Retail Deployment category for the Self Service Excellence Awards.
The Self Service Excellence Awards honor innovation in self-service, business solutions and interactive digital media. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during KioskCom Self Service Expo on Wednesday, April 16th, at 4:15 p.m.
Additionally at the show, Self-Service Networks will exhibit solutions for wayfinding, human resources, corporate communications, bill payment, ticketing, digital signage and financial transactions.
Thursday, 03 April 2008
The success of KIOSK EUROPE magazine, launched in 2004, prompted publisher hf media & events to launch KIOSK EUROPE EXPO in 2007. Preparing for its second opening, hf media intends to build on last year’s achievement.
“The 2007 event was a great success and showed the huge growth potential for self-service across Europe,” said Nilima Patwardhan, IBM’s marketing manager, on KIOSK EUROPE’s Web site.
Show operators hope this year will be another success after grabbing companies such as Fujitsu, Hughes, IBM, Panasonic, Sony and Wincor Nixdorf to participate in the 2008 show. This year’s event will be held May 6-8 at Messe Essen near Dusseldorf, Germany.
Visitors to KIOSK EUROPE EXPO 2008 will have a unique opportunity to see, experience and discuss the very latest advances in interactive customer self-service solutions by suppliers and innovators from across the globe, organizers say.
The show’s Self-Service Solutions Forum will feature a range of individual presentations from leading self-service solutions providers, and a Panel Workshop, where industry experts and self-service professionals will provide hands-on information on how to successfully implement self-service, offering examples from various markets. The experts will be available to discuss and offer advice on attendees’ self-service questions and challenges.
The forum primarily is aimed at those who are in the planning or early stages of a self-service deployment, and will provide engaging and relevant information about the theory and practical implementation of kiosk technology. The program alternates between topic-focused and application-focused presentations illustrated with real-life examples and case studies.
hf media & events also launched Digital Signage Expo this year. The event, which will cover topics such as in-store TV, digital media, ad screens, content and solutions, will be held in tandem with KIOSK EUROPE.
Thursday, 03 April 2008
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — At the upcoming KioskCom Self Service Expo, Source Technologies, a provider of transactional and interactive kiosks and secure MICR technologies, is demonstrating its full line of self-service solutions including products currently used by Alltel and Swanson Services Corp. Both of these organizations are finalists for KioskCom Awards.
Among the kiosks highlighted, Source Technologies will feature the following award-nominated solutions:
1) Alltel’s BillPay Kiosk: Alltel implemented Source Technologies’ concourse BillPay application to allow customers to pay bills without waiting in line for a customer service or sales representative. Alltel’s staff now focuses on better customer service and additional sales. The application runs on Source Technologies’ concourse 5-Series transactional self-service kiosks.
2) Swanson Services Corp.’s Cobra Kiosk: Swanson Services partnered with Source Technologies to develop the Cobra Kiosk, a unique self-service solution to implement into correctional facilities. The kiosk is a self-contained, wall-mountable device with a 12.1-inch shatter proof, armored touchscreen, liquid and tamper-proof casing, wireless capabilities and a highly secure lock. This kiosk is reliable and specifically designed to withstand the rigors of possible abuse by inmates.
Source Technologies has been recognized by KioskCom for three consecutive years. The company was awarded for Best Financial Services Deployment for Purchase, NY-based Quorum Federal Credit Union’s deployment of its concourse kiosks, and for Swanson Service’s kiosk installations at state and local correctional facilities.
Thursday, 20 March 2008
CHICAGO - One of the most eye-catching retail applications unveiled at this week's GlobalShop expo was tucked in the back of the Epson booth.
A nude mannequin stood against a black backdrop; about 15 feet away, a touchscreen kiosk showed a variety of clothing and accessory choices. When the user selects a shirt or dress or necklace, they are then presented with a variety of colors - and once a color is selected, that item is projected onto the mannequin.
With just a few more touches of the screen, shoppers can "try on" any number of combinations of products, colors and styles.
Watch this site in the coming days for a full wrap-up of GlobalShop 2008, and a slide show of photography from the show floor.
Monday, 10 March 2008
TRUMBULL, Conn. — KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show, a tradeshow and educational conference featuring customer and employee facing technologies – kiosks, digital signage and more – has announced its keynote speakers for its April 16-17, 2008 show in Las Vegas.
Robert Garf, vice president of Retail Strategies for AMR Research, a research firm focused on the intersection of business processes with value chain and enterprise technologies, will open the event April 16 with a presentation focused on delivering pervasive interaction with advanced selling technologies.
On April 17, Tim Stanley, chief information officer and senior vice president of Innovation, Gaming, Technology of Harrah’s Entertainment, will deliver an address focused on engaging customers through digital technologies. Harrah’s Entertainment is the largest gaming organization in the world with nearly 100,000 employees and revenues of about $10 billion, operating more than 50 casinos around the world.
Monday, 25 February 2008
TRUMBULL, Conn. — KioskCom Self Service Expo, a long running tradeshow and educational conference for customer and employee facing technologies, has announced an expansion of its exhibit floor.
“Organizations continue to realize that the best place they can go to meet pre-qualified prospective buyers and advertisers is at KioskCom Self Service Expo, said Lawrence Dvorchik,” KioskCom’s General Manager. “Demand has reached an all-time high, and we are thrilled to be able to increase the number of companies offering quality products and solutions in Las Vegas in April 2008.
“As it has been for the last 12 years, our goal continues to be listening to what our attendees are saying – and provide them with what is needed to ensure they continue to get the highest quality experience. By meeting with quality suppliers and getting educated by fellow merchant deployers that have successfully deployed customer and/or employee facing technologies in their organizations, feedback has consistently shown that attendees are getting everything they need in just two days at KioskCom Self Service Expo, and now, at The Digital Signage Show.”
“We measure an event's effectiveness by the number of quality conversations that we have with real potential buyers,” said Tom Weaver, vice president of sales and marketing for KIOSK Information Systems. “KioskCom Self Service Expo delivers professional quality attendees unlike any other show we have been involved with. Many attendees came prepared with RFP's on-site, which we have never experienced before."
KioskCom Self Service Expo is now co-located with The Digital Signage Show. This co-location enables attendees to access solutions and educational content from both events, and gather valuable information, network and find solutions for all of their deployments in one place.
The events will be held on April 16-17, 2008, at The Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Entry is free for qualified attendees. For more information, visit KioskCom.com.
Monday, 18 February 2008
CAMBRIDGE, U.K. — KIOSK EUROPE EXPO 2008 and DIGITAL SIGNAGE EXPO 2008 have announced a large list of new exhibitors for both shows, including Epson, friendlyway, Hantarex, Hughes, JVC, Mitsubishi, Publicis, Sagem, Scala, Sharp, Sony, T-Systems and Verifone. Many major companies such as 3M, IBM, Panasonic and Wincor Nixdorf have also reconfirmed their participation in the world’s largest joint self-service and digital signage events.
The two shows will offer 30 percent more exhibitors and 50 percent more exhibit space than last year’s event. The accelerated growth of both events stems from the realization of the existing synergies between self-service and digital signage solutions, already evident in many vertical markets. This new concept enables trade visitors to attend the two leading trade shows exclusively focused on the two strongest current purchase intentions among retailers, in one place and at one time.
Each event will stage four major attractions: the exhibitions themselves; free-to-attend forums, where the focus will be on education and information; interactive workshop sessions with independent panels of experts, and finally, two separate demonstration areas. At KIOSK EUROPE EXPO 2008, the Futures Parlour will showcase new and innovative interactive technologies and solutions, while DIGITAL SIGNAGE EXPO 2008 will host the Content Centre, where visitors can view some of the latest developments in digital media, from advertising campaigns to best practices.
The events will be held on May 6 – 8, 2008, in Essen, Germany.
Thursday, 17 January 2008
NEW YORK — AirDefense, a wireless LAN security company, unveiled results from its wireless airwave monitoring on Monday, Jan. 14, at the annual National Retail Federation Convention & Expo.
"It is evident that the majority of companies exhibiting are not taking wireless security seriously or there would be a much higher percentage of 'bullet proof' encryption practices in place protecting APs," said Richard Rushing, chief security officer of AirDefense.
AirDefense discovered less than 10 percent of the 458 access points in use at NRF were using 'bullet proof' encryption such as WPA2. In fact, nearly 60 percent of APs were using wired equivalent privacy, the weakest protocol for wireless-data encryption, which can be compromised in minutes. In spite of that, it remains in wide use.
While monitoring the wireless LAN traffic throughout the day Monday, AirDefense also found that nearly 80 percent of the 1,693 wireless devices such as laptops, PDAs, phones and vendor PCs were susceptible to "Evil Twin" types of attacks.
"Evil Twins" are the wireless version of email phishing scams, a technique whereby an attacker tricks victims into connecting to a laptop or PDA by posing as a legitimate hotspot.
Monday, 14 January 2008
NEW YORK — The popularity of Apple’s iTunes and Redbox’s DVD-rental kiosk was evident Monday at the National Retail Federation’s annual Show & Expo, though not in the form of those devices.
The popular online digital music store and DVD kiosk were not on display at the NRF show, but their influence was felt on several of the retail digital media offerings on the show floor. Digital media kiosks were introduced by self-service giants IBM and NCR as smaller companies like Mediaport introduced their own products.
The rise in digital media kiosk popularity is due largely to consumer demand and the fact that only a small portion of music is bought on the Internet, said Dave Champlin, vice president of marketing for Mediaport.
“We offer them a place to get quality content onto their cool devices (such as a cell phone or MP3 player),” Champlin said.
Mediaport's MediaATM system is a self-service kiosk that allows consumers to download digital content such as movies and music on-demand. The company recently inked its first video-download deal with a major studio, NBC Universal.
Last week, Mediaport installed several of its kiosks at the Consumer Electronics show and let convention-goers download free NBC Universal-owned episodes, spanning such shows as 30 Rock and Project Runway. At NRF, Mediaport let attendees create a custom mixed-CD from the kiosk’s music catalog, which included Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.
The launch of NCR’s Xpress Entertainment follows the company’s acquisition of Touch Automation, a privately held firm that provides the digital media merchandising kiosk.
The machine enables rentals, sales of shrink-wrapped media or a combination. In addition to transactions at the kiosk, future versions of the device will allow consumers to interact and download content via the Internet or their mobile devices.
“Self-service is best when all three self-service channels (automated kiosk, Internet and mobile device) are utilized,” said Mike Webster, vice president of NCR's self-service solutions. “This is only the first phase for this kiosk.”
Webster said the kiosk can be deployed in virtually any venue, including retail stores, convenience stores, supermarkets, quick-serve restaurants, shopping malls and airports.
IBM’s Digital Movie Kiosk, touted as the ATM for movies, is the culmination of a partnership with Ireland-based Portomedia. The kiosk allows consumers to rent or purchase DVD-quality movies, which are downloaded in under a minute to a small USB device called the Movie Key. The kiosk itself can be loaded with anywhere from 500 to 1,000 movies and can be refreshed with new content from a remote location.
“It’s essentially a Blockbuster in a box,” said Cathal Deavy, Portomedia’s director of marketing.
One of the reasons movie studios have allowed companies like Portomedia to sell its content is the kiosk’s use of DRM, or digital-rights management. For example, if a consumer rents a movie, that person may only have 48 hours to watch that movie before the movie’s license expires. That person would then have a chance to either rent the movie again or purchase it before they could watch it yet again.
Portomedia and IBM bypassed the Redbox-like DVD-rental kiosk for digital content because they see it as being more flexible, Deavy said. With a digital download kiosk, the content is always in stock and there are no returns.
Watch this Web site in the coming days for more news and insight from NRF 2008.
Tuesday, 08 January 2008
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.
Experticity is the only retail-specific solution that engages shoppers at the point of service with high-quality, live video customer support. Remote expert service agents — supplied by the retailer, consumer goods manufacturer or a third party — can be accessed by the consumer according to language and skill, giving retailers a new vehicle for ensuring customers receive face-to-face service when and where they need it. This self-service support technology also allows retailers to improve staffing efficiencies by optimizing store associates between peak and slow hours.
The companies expect to demonstrate Experticity’s latest software platform with the NCR EasyPoint 42 kiosk Jan. 13-16 in NCR’s booth at the 2008 National Retail Federation Convention & Expo in New York.
Tuesday, 08 January 2008
LOS ANGELES — Olea Inc., a designer and manufacturer of self-service kiosks, has announced plans to debut its “green” kiosk, which is made from organic-waste material, Jan. 13-16 at the 97th Annual National Retail Federation Convention & Expo in New York.
The kiosk's main structure is made from an engineered panel from Sorghum plant. Sorghum plant is grown around the world for food production. The plant stalks are dried and heat pressed using a non-toxic adhesive to form the board product. The stalks of the plant are not used in food production and would otherwise be thrown away.
While Olea has no current plans to put the kiosk into production, it is hoping to spark an interest in the self-service industry to start thinking green.
“We feel that this new kiosk is a very innovative step in the right direction showing retailers and other companies that it is possible to go high-tech green,” said Frank Olea, vice president of Olea Inc.
The kiosk can be seen at IBM’s booth in the Green Pavilion at NRF.
Monday, 07 January 2008
TRUMBULL, Conn. — KioskCom Self-Service Expo is now accepting submissions for its Self Service Excellence Awards.
According to a news release, KioskCom launched its global Self Service Excellence Awards to recognize the most successful and innovative interactive self-service solutions deployed. KioskCom has honored more than 150 companies across multiple industries for their leadership, innovation and success with self-service and kiosk business solutions.
This year, all entries are being accepted online. Simply click here and fill out the entry form and post supporting images on a URL.
Entries are $195 each. The deadline is Feb. 15.
Enter in one or more of the following categories:
- Best Retail Deployment
- Best Financial Services Deployment
- Best Government/Education/Non-Profit Agency Deployment
- Best Travel/Hospitality Deployment
- Best Entertainment/Gaming Deployment
- Best Healthcare Deployment
- Best Human Resources Deployment
- Best Food Service Deployment
- Best Other Deployment (for categories not specified above)
- Best Overall Software Solution
- Best Hardware/Enclosure Design
- Best New Innovation in a Deployment
Winners in each category will be recognized April 16 at the Self Service Excellence Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas during KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show.
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
TRUMBULL, Conn. - Self Service Expo conference organizers have announced the debut of their highly anticipated new event, The Digital Signage Show. The Digital Signage Show debuts in 2008 at Self Service Expo in Las Vegas. Both shows will be co-located at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center from April 16 — 17, providing attendees with access to like-minded colleagues and thought leaders, new technologies, forums and case studies.
"The Digital Signage Show is debuting after extensive research over the last 12 months, including meeting with industry leaders, companies that have deployed digital signage initiatives, current attendees and digital signage exhibitors," said Lawrence Dvorchik, general manager of Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show. "It became clear to us that our attendees made the final decisions on digital signage purchases, and they requested that we enable them to meet with more of these suppliers by bringing them to the event. They are excited about now being able to fill their short list of suppliers and address all of their buying needs under one roof at one time."
The Digital Signage show will reflect Self Service Expo's 12-year reputation as a valuable and critical resource in attendees' decision-making and implementation processes. The speaker rosters are comprised of merchant deployers who are facing - or have faced - similar challenges as attendees. Well-known companies including Harrah's Entertainment, Dave & Buster's, McCarran Airport, United States Postal Service, Vanguard Car Rental, redbox, Avery Dennison, Sprint-Nextel, SuperShuttle, Hollywood Entertainment, Rolls-Royce, LiveNation.com, Mayo Clinic and SanDisk will participate in educational sessions during the April conferences. Attendees receive admission to all aspects of both Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show.
"The key for us is meeting with qualified buyers and we were excited to see the positive customer reaction to Netkey's kiosk and digital signage products at Self Service Expo in New York," said V. Miller Newton, CEO of Netkey, a leading kiosk and digital signage software provider. "By adding The Digital Signage Show to Self Service Expo, the organizers have made it easy for buying attendees to see both technologies in one place. We are confident The Digital Signage Show in Las Vegas will continue to deliver pre-qualified buying attendees. We couldn't be happier to be a Platinum Sponsor of both the Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show."
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
CHICAGO · NextWindow, a designer and manufacturer of interactive touchscreen overlays, will give press and attendees an opportunity to interact with its touchscreen technology at the KioskCom Self Service Expo and Express Tour, part of the KioskCom Self Service Expo in Las Vegas. NextWindow's presentation will be held April 27 between 9:00 — 9:45 AM, at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
"This is exactly the kind of kiosk usage that will illustrate for businesses and end-users alike the benefits of interactive digital signage, and we're pleased to have NextWindow's optical touch-screen technology be part of such a successful installation," said Anthony Uhrick, NextWindow's VP of Sales and Marketing North America, who will be on-site during the tour.
The Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino installation incorporates an interactive digital signage network to help guests learn more about events and services offered within the resort. NextWindow's optical touch technology overlays are integrated into a kiosk solution provided by Jupiterbay, Inc.
The 25-unit, 40-inch display network operates as a "virtual concierge" for guests to locate dining, entertainment, amenities and way-finding within Mandalay Bay. Usage reports indicated that the initial installation was so successful that Mandalay Bay increased the number of original units, and one of the displays is experiencing more than 4,000 unique customer interactions per week.
KioskCom Self Service Expo attendees will also get a chance to see and use the NextWindow technology with interactive kiosks at the NextWindow KioskCom Booth #548, and in partner booths including: SeePoint Interactive Kiosk Systems, Apunix, and Jupiterbay.
Thursday, 11 January 2007
The KioskCom Self Service Excellence Awards are open for submissions, and this year all entries are being accepted online.
KioskCom launched the global Self Service Excellence Awards to recognize the most successful and innovative interactive self-service solutions deployed. KioskCom has honored over 150 companies across multiple industries for their leadership, innovation, and success with self-service and kiosk business solutions.
Companies can enter in one or more of the following categories:
Industry Segment Awards:
- Best Retail Kiosk Deployment
- Best Financial Services Kiosk Deployment
- Best Government/Education/Non-Profit Agency Kiosk Deployment
- Best Travel/Hospitality Kiosk Deployment
- Best Entertainment/Gaming Kiosk Deployment
- Best Healthcare Kiosk Deployment
- Best Human Resources Kiosk Deployment
- Best Food Service Kiosk Deployment
- Best Other Kiosk Deployment (for categories not listed above)
Technology Awards:
- Best Overall Software Solution
- Best Hardware/Enclosure Design
- Best New Innovation in a Kiosk Deployment
Applications will be accepted through February 23, 2007. All entries must be received by 11:59 PM EST on February 23, 2006. An application fee of $149 is due per entry (This excludes Industry Leader of the Year - Deployer, Industry Leader of the Year - Supplier and Industry Innovator of the Year). Finalists will be notified at the end of March 2007 and winners are announced at the ceremony at KioskCom's Self Service Expo, Wednesday, April 25th from 4:15 - 5:15 PM.
For more information, visit the KioskCom awards page.
Tuesday, 19 December 2006
JERUSALEM - Screen Expo, in association with Minicom Advanced Systems, is presenting London's first-ever digital-signage showcase Jan. 31 and Feb.
The showcase will provide a glimpse into the workings of a complete digital-signage installation as well as a chance to meet key market leaders. Featured will be Minicom, manufacturers of player-to-screen distribution systems; 3M, suppliers of content management software; NEC, Europe's largest provider of large-format LCD displays; and DVI Partnerships, which specializes in digital-signage installation.
Monday, 13 November 2006
LA Times: With the help of new technology - some of it on display last week at the International Foodservice Technology Exposition in Long Beach - Subway store operators and other businesses in the $175-billion limited-service restaurant industry have been able to add drive-through and other options for taking orders.
Read more
Monday, 16 October 2006
On Tuesday, Sept. 12, the members of the KioskCom Advisory Board flew to New York to participate in a day-long planning session. The result was the groundwork for the 2007 conference program to be presented April 25 - 27 in Las Vegas.
The premise of the upcoming KioskCom Self-Service Expo will be to highlight innovative work and/or case studies from deployer clients from a wide variety of industries. Specific presentations are sought in the following topic areas:
- Defining success criteria in a pilot program; full-scale deployment rollout; and post deployment updates and upgrades
- Kiosk "course corrections"
- Common issues/experiences facing deployers in all industries
- Understanding your customer and how they will (or will not) use self-service kiosk technology
- Business analytics (gathering, mining, segmenting valuing and analyzing multichannel data)
- Total cost of ownership
- Payments (contactless technology, micro payments, mobile payments)
- RFID vs SMS/text. Why is RFID important in POS
- Wireless deployment
- Measuring multi-channel customer value and leveraging content across multiple touchpoints
- Reducing wait time; line busting
- Understand full realm of self-service and assisted technology
If you are interested in speaking, visit www.kioskcom.com/tospeak.asp for a submission form and guidelines.
Friday, 22 September 2006
TRUMBULL, Conn. — JD Events, producers of KioskCom, will acquire The Self-Service and Kiosk Show from NetWorld Alliance, the two companies announced today. The acquisition is being made for an undisclosed amount of cash and other terms included in a strategic agreement between the two companies.
Based in Louisville, Ky., NetWorld Alliance is the leading media provider for the kiosk and self-service industry. Its properties include Self-Service World magazine, SelfServiceWorld.com, KioskMarketplace.com, ATMmarketplace.com websites, the Self-Service and Kiosk Show and the Self-Service & Kiosk Association (SSKA). JD Events is a Trumbull, Conn. based tradeshow organizer that owns and operates KioskCom, the largest and longest-running tradeshow and conference in the self-service kiosk market, publishes an online newsletter, The KioskCom Report, and manages the KioskCom Professional Society, an organization for the deployers of kiosk technology.
The two firms will form a cooperative marketing partnership whereby each of their respective properties will be mutually endorsed and supported by the other.
"We believe this relationship will create a win-win-win scenario among NetWorld Alliance, JD Events and the entire self-service and kiosk community. Exhibitors and the market at large will now get even higher quality tradeshows, and the previous media confusion in the marketplace will no longer exist," said Dick Good, CEO of NetWorld Alliance. "The vendor community will now be able to invest their marketing dollars more efficiently, and we think the industry will grow more quickly as a result."
"The kiosk and self-service industry is poised for tremendous growth over the coming years," said Joel A. Davis, CEO of JD Events. "We are excited about the strategic alliance we have formed with NetWorld. We look forward to working closely with them throughout each year to promote the industry via our respective media properties and to gather the community in person at the KioskCom events."
JD Events will produce two KioskCom events in 2007, including April 25-27 in Las Vegas and October 10-11 in New York City. NetWorld will continue to publish its full line of self-service media and will offer special promotional packages for the exhibitors at KioskCom events. JD Events will also join the Advisory Board of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association and membership in their KioskCom Professional Society will transfer automatically to membership in the new Self-Service Technology User Group, part of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association. The Association will hold its Annual Meetings at the spring KioskCom event each year.
Friday, 28 July 2006
TORONTO · ADFLOW Networks announced it is an official anchor sponsor of this year's Self-Service & Kiosk Show in San Antonio. ADFLOW president David Roscoe has been selected as part of the expert speaker roster for the show's Technologies & Trends platform.
In his presentation, Roscoe will highlight successful in-store digital-media network deployments at OfficeMax and other leading North American retailers. He also will discuss new strategies for businesses interested in deploying digital signage and connected kiosks as integral parts of their self-service initiatives. Using real-life customer case studies, Roscoe will demonstrate how more and more retailers are using digital media to deliver their messages.
As founder of ADFLOW, Roscoe oversees the continuous advancement of the company's technology solutions, bringing more than 20 years of business and information-technology experience to the company. Prior to founding ADFLOW in 2000, he worked with leading supply-chain re-engineering companies Webplan and i2 Technologies.
Tuesday, 30 May 2006
To the consumer, a convenience store is a wonderfully simple thing: a place to buy some gas and milk, maybe a lottery ticket, perhaps a car wash. It is so deeply rooted in our modern culture, it is usually taken for granted (until, of course, your next trip to a town without one).
But what goes on behind the scenes is anything but simple. The typical c-store is a bewildering daisy-chain of systems, technologies and processes, usually from different vendors and working in proprietary ways.
This year's NACStech event at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center , March 22-24 in Nashville , Tenn. , was host to most of those systems and technologies, from pay-at-the-pump terminals to foodservice ordering kiosks to POS systems. And this year more of them bore the logo that said they are approved for PCATS, the emerging technology standard that aims to make them all talk to one another.
PCATS, or the Petroleum Convenience Alliance for Technology Standards, is an offshoot of a project the National Association of Convenience Stores began in 2003.
"There are 19 reconciliation reports that a c-store manager has to prepare in an eight-hour shift," said Ed McGunn, president of show exhibitor Corporate Safe Specialists and a member of the PCATS board. "And that's usually an $8.50-an-hour employee who has to do it. It's no wonder there's such a high turnover in this industry."
And turnover isn't the only problem. A store full of proprietary technologies costs money to integrate, money to maintain, and represents a substantial amount of lost revenue and wasted time.
"In the past, all of the various devices that sit on a counter in a c-store didn't talk to one another," said John Hervey, executive director of PCATS. "Lottery terminals were standalone - if you sold a lottery ticket, you had to be sure the cashier then went over to the POS and entered the sale, because there was no link between
the two. Same thing with money orders and all those other devices."
Dresser Wayne 's iX Media series, which delivers rich media and coupons at the pump
The PCATS solution to this is the Open Site Architecture, a series of rules that allows conforming machines to "plug-and-play" into the store's network operation. Hervey said the Architecture is about 75 percent complete, and will likely be finished by the end of this year.
When that happens, c-store owners will be able to shop for components and technologies with an eye on the "PCATS-compliant" logo, knowing that any such tools they buy will work together.
Hervey said the ability to still shop among competing vendors will be a big plus for c-stores.
"In this industry, people like to buy a POS from one vendor that they consider best, and an accounting system that might be different," he said. "In the past, to make those two speak to one another, the retailer had to pay to have an interface written. When one of them changed, the retailer had to pay someone to make the changes on both sides of the equation."
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Radiant's integrated POS and self-ordering solution
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He added that operators will notice significant cost savings and revenue increases, both immediately and over time.
"Today, the lottery machine has a telephone line, the ATM has a telephone line, the kiosk for bill payment has a phone line, the tank gauge monitor has a phone line · when you put the architecture in place, you can share services and reduce a lot of expense," he said.
Another real-world example of ROI comes at the street · or more specifically, at the price sign. Assuming an average weekly change of $.05 in gas price, and assuming it takes 2 hours for a store manager to react to a price change and update the signage manually, a digital sign system that is integrated with the back-office (i.e. updated instantly to reflect higher prices) would net a small store an additional $62,000 in revenue a year.
On the show floor
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Pay By Touch, NCR's biometric payment solution
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At the NCR booth, attendees got a closer look at the biometric payment options offered by Pay By Touch, as well as NCR's 7405 Service Center kiosk, which dispenses money orders and prepaid products.
Xpedient demonstrated its food-ordering software solution, which has been successfully implemented with the Thornton 's SubWorks program.
Fiscal Systems showcased its rugged outdoor kiosk, used for truck fleet management programs. Kevin Struthers, Fiscal's vice president, said the device is in 70 travel centers, where truckers can purchase gasoline, get paycheck advances and even purchase showers. The trucking company can closely monitor and control where and when the drivers stop to refuel, in order to take advantage of lower taxes in different geographic regions.
Gilbarco brought its car wash kiosk, which acts as an extension of the in-store POS. Chris Whitley, Gilbarco's director of retail systems sales, said the integration with the existing card processing network saves money by eliminating the second network often needed at the car wash · and allows the retailer to take all major payment methods, including fleet cards.
Dresser Wayne brought a number of modern pay-at-the-pump units, including the iX Media series that displays rich media at the pump and prints coupons on receipts. The company also announced it had just received the "Partner of the Year" award from Microsoft's Windows Embedded Partner program.
VeriFone demonstrated its new Food Service Kiosk Solution, an extension of the VeriFone POS. The product is currently in beta testing.
Radiant Systems showcased a comprehensive suite of products that extends from POS to customer-facing terminals and digital signage. The company also turned heads at its booth with a virtual reality racecar game.
Hypercom's payment terminals included a number of contactless-compliant keypads. The Optimum L4100 model contains a 5.7-inch color screen, making it possible to bring rich media to the point of purchase.
Wincor Nixdorf was on hand with its comprehensive POS and customer-facing platform. The company recently made news when it became the first European firm to offer plug-and-play functionality for retail peripherals verified to run on Microsoft Windows Embedded for Point of Service.
Touch-n-Buy brought its semi-assisted prepaid product kiosk, a tabletop unit that lets customers customize a prepaid or stored-value product; the card is then printed at a small cashier-facing unit. According to Carlos Rodriquez, vice president, the Touch-n-Buy unit is deployed in over 5,000 c-stores.
Wednesday, 10 May 2006
LAS VEGAS — JCM American's self-service DMV kiosk took top prize at the recent KioskCom trade show, held recently in Las Vegas. JCM designed and installed the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicle's (DMV) self-service kiosks, winning top honors for Best Kiosk Application for Government, Education or a Non-Profit Agency at KioskCom's 5th annual Excellence Awards. Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles Director Ginny Lewis was also named "Industry Deployer of the Year."
The award was given by a panel of 21 judges, representing analyst firms, kiosk vendors and suppliers and kiosk media, who selected winners in a dozen categories.
JCM's kiosks were first launched in Nevada DMVs in June 2004. Currently, there are 22 stations in DMV offices statewide, including two outdoor walk-up kiosks that are available nearly 24 hours daily, seven days per week. Two AAA offices in Las Vegas also have kiosks providing the same DMV services.
Nevada's kiosks are the first in the U.S. to accept cash and credit cards, and give change while dispensing government documents on the spot. Motorists can renew vehicle registrations, obtain driver's license renewals and get vehicle insurance verification with little to no wait and average transaction times of two minutes. Since the project began, Nevada motorists have used the kiosks for almost 300,000 transactions.
KioskCom is the world's largest and longest running kiosk and self-service conference and tradeshow, delivering business solutions focusing on interactive self-service programs to a highly qualified audience in the areas of retail, finance, hospitality, tourism, health care, government, gaming/entertainment, hospitals, restaurants, QSRs, financial services, ticketing, photo and other industries.
KioskCom launched the inaugural industry-wide KioskCom Excellence Awards in 2002 to recognize the most successful and innovative interactive self-service solutions. Past winners include BMW, Sony, AAA, the US Postal Service, Avis, Hilton Hotels, Sunoco, SAS, Daimler Chrysler and ExxonMobil.
Friday, 05 May 2006
Thousands of retailers are set to descend on Chicago's McCormick Place, May 21-24, for the annual Retail Systems Conference & Exposition. The show includes 212 exhibitors, a special customer-facing section for the self-service and kiosk industry, guest speakers from top retailers and social networking events.
Self-service innovators Retaligent Systems will show the latest upgrades to their Clarience 1:1 automated retail systems. The scalable system currently offers 20 different modules, applications that can be used in a variety of combinations, across a variety of platforms, including PDA and EDA software for remote management, smart phone applications that can scan bar codes and kiosks that customers can use to have different sizes and colors of clothes delivered to them in the changing rooms.
"What we've basically done is taken the Retaligent Platform and used it as pervasive-interaction architecture," Retaligent CEO Bryan Amaral said. "And any one of our solutions can be used within that store. The associate-facing tools are leveraging the same technologies a consumer can on the smart phone."
Netkey, one of the original creators of dedicated web-based kiosk commerce software, will show an array of automated multi-channel marketing solutions that they've regularly deployed at major retailers including Home Depot and Border's Books and Music.
"The Netkey platform allows retailers to generate ROI by getting to market faster with self-service kiosk and digital signage applications that help sell, while at the same time reducing the cost of operating these store technologies," Netkey director of marketing Bob Ventresca said.
Other key self-service exhibitors include:
Diebold-ISS, the national IT and computer maintenance network, showcasing its new Call Forward technology, designed to improve customer checkout time.
Epson America, Inc., a leader in printer technology, will showcase their POS peripherals.
Hand Held Products, a leader in transaction terminals and POS peripherals, will show the Image Kiosk 8560 mini-kiosk with customizable multifunction user interface.
HP, the veteran computer hardware firm, will show myriad applications including middleware, multichannel marketing tools and RFID technology.
IBM, the business-to-business computing and logistics giant, will display several retail technologies including gift registries, consulting services and data mining solutions.
La Garde will show its award-winning multichannel CISP-compliant online storefront shopping cart solution, StoreFront (www.storefront.net).
Microsoft Corporation will exhibit a variety of retail solutions including its popular .NET commerce platform.
New Edge Networks will showcase their commercial networking capabilities for connecting a variety of POS, financial and data networks.
Nippon Primex Inc., a Japanese printer manufacturer, will proffer its line of POS and kiosk printers.
The Self-Service & Kiosk Association, (owned by this site's publisher, Networld Alliance) discussing its numerous sales and networking benefits with potential members.
Star Micronics America, a leader in the printer industry, will show its line of commercial and self-service printers.
NCR/Teradata, a firm dedicated to data warehousing and analytics, will demonstrate its solutions for e-commerce and self-service.
VeriFone, Inc., a recent entrant into the self-service/kiosk space, will display its numerous POS applications, and its new multimedia mini-kiosks.
Wednesday, 03 May 2006
LAS VEGAS — JCM's products will be on display May 5-6 during Myrtle Beach, S.C.'s Atlantic Coast Exposition. Beach Convention Center.
On display in booth No. 300 will be JCM's latest products in the advanced-vending product line, including the Optipay cash-recycling system.
"We are very excited about the tremendous advances our products are bringing to bottlers and vending operators across the country," JCM vice president of commercial sales Dave Elich said.
Thursday, 27 April 2006
MELVILLE, N.Y.-(BUSINESS WIRE)- Arrow OEM Computing Solutions, the division of the North American Components (NAC) group of Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: ARW) that provides design engineering, manufacturing, system integration, supply chain management and post-manufacturing services to industrial OEMs and intellectual property-based companies, today announced a seminar series designed to educate Arrow's OEM customers in the military sector about the benefits of open architecture (OA) solutions. Arrow will kick off this seminar series on May 2 in Orlando, Fla.
The 2006 Open Architecture Seminars will address the increasing demand for network standardization within the military sector. Seminar attendees will learn how Arrow and its suppliers, LynuxWorks, Motorola and RTI, work together to develop, integrate, and execute on new standardization requirements, such as scalability, modularity, reliability, and management, by leveraging a bundled hardware and software solution called OA Out of the Box. OA Out of the Box is a collaboratively developed solution that serves as a standard platform for developing OA-based frameworks.
This framework allows network designers to procure a hardware solution from Arrow that meets OA standards, can be easily integrated into existing network architectures, and allows seamless communication between existing and new hardware and software components. By deploying OA frameworks, military organizations are able to reduce product development costs, more quickly deploy new solutions, and facilitate the rapid exchange of information between soldiers, weapons, sensors, and command centers.
"Arrow and its partners are committed to providing our OEM customers with technology that provides value as well as a return on investment," said Steve Ramsland, vice president and general manager, Arrow OEM Computing Solutions. "OA establishes a framework that enables faster, more cost-effective development of new applications and alleviates time and resource constraints associated with the integration of back-end components."
Leveraging hardware solutions from Arrow's suppliers, Arrow provides industry standards-based integration, design engineering, and support services that enable OA frameworks to become a reality for military organizations.
Additional 2006 Open Architecture Seminars have been scheduled as follows:
- Eden Prairie, Minn. - May 4
- Boston - May 9
- Patuxent River, Md. - May 11
- Dahlgren, Va. - May 23
- Arlington, Va. - May 24
- Los Angeles - June 14
For more information about this seminar series contact an Arrow local field sales representative or visit www.arrownac.com/aws/pg_eventsDetail/0,4544,380,00.html?seq=1818 for more information.
About the North American Components group of Arrow Electronics
The North American Components (NAC) group of Arrow Electronics, Inc. is a leading provider of semiconductors and passive, electromechanical, and connector products, services, and supply chain solutions tailored to serve distinct customer segments with dedicated sales teams. Three primary, customer-focused NAC groups serve these market segments: The Arrow/Zeus Electronics Group targets the aerospace and military markets; the Arrow Electronics Components Group serves local OEM and contract manufacturing customers; and the Arrow Alliance Group focuses on large customers with complex needs.
Arrow Electronics, Inc. is a major global provider of products, services, and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and computer products.
Thursday, 27 April 2006
West Chester, Pa., - MEI announces that three of its retail self-service system customers were honored at the KioskCom Excellence Awards. These distinguished awards, which honor companies and individuals across multiple industries for their leadership, innovations, and success with self-service kiosk business solutions, were presented during KioskCom's 5th Annual Excellence Awards ceremony at the 10th Annual KioskCom Conference & Tradeshow held April 10-12 in Las Vegas.
BodySpex received the KioskCom Excellence Award for "Best Kiosk Application in Other Industries" for its BodySpex Scale, which measures body fat and body composition and sends the data to private online accounts where users can track their progress. Sports O Zone's sports equipment self-sanitizing system was a finalist in the "Most Creative/Best Use of New Technology in a Kiosk Deployment" category, and Massage Concept's Massage Chair was a finalist in the "Best Kiosk Application for Entertainment or Gaming" category. A reliable, MEI electronic payment system was a key component of all of these transaction based, self-service systems.
"The KioskCom Excellence Awards are held to recognize individuals and companies that enrich our industry through the development and use of innovative self-service technology," said Lawrence Dvorchik, KioskCom's general manager. "We are honored to award BodySpex for contributing to the rapid advancement of self service while delivering a product necessary to the betterment of the industry."
About MEI's Full Line of Cash Acceptors for Self-Service Systems
MEI offers the industry's most complete line of note and coin acceptors for the varying needs of retail self-service applications. MEI SODECO(tm)-BNA56 note acceptors are designed specifically for use in high-volume, high-value applications with dedicated cash-box collection and a revenue center. MEI CASHFLOW(r) SC Series note acceptors are the world's most technically advanced cash acceptor for retail applications. MEI Series 2000 note acceptors provide a lower end alternative for retail applications that do not require premium features or a lockable cash box. MEI Combo Acceptors are the industry's first unit that accepts cash, credit and debit. MEI CASHFLOW 9500 coin acceptors are ideal for kiosks and other unattended retail systems. MEI provides all the technical support that OEMs, professional software developers and systems integrators need to design, integrate, test and deploy their self-service systems.
About MEI
MEI systems are relied upon for more than 1 billion transactions per week in 90 countries. The company developed the first electronic coin mechanism in the 1960s, followed by the first electronic non-contact note acceptor, and more recently its vending management system. Today MEI has the largest worldwide installed base of unattended payment mechanisms. In 2004, MEI reached a milestone of selling more than 3.5 million note acceptors, 4.5 million coin mechanisms and 1 million control boards worldwide. Its products are in widespread use in the vending, soft drink, gaming, amusement, transportation, retail, and kiosk markets. For more information on MEI and its products, visit www.meiglobal.com/kiosks or call 1-800-345-8215.
About KioskCom Conference and Tradeshow
KioskCom is the world's largest and longest running kiosk and self-service conference and tradeshow, delivering business solutions focusing on interactive self-service programs to a highly qualified audience in the areas of retail, finance, hospitality, tourism, health care, government, gaming/entertainment, hospitals, restaurants, QSR's, financial services, ticketing, photo and other industries.
MEI
1301 Wilson Drive
West Chester, PA 19380-5963
www.meiglobal.com
800-345-8215
Friday, 21 April 2006
Las Vegas, NV - MagTek announces today at the 2006 Electronic Transaction Association Annual Conference and Expo that Cross Check offers a new check conversion solution for POS merchants utilizing the CrossCheck Conversion Plus(SM) service.
The CrossCheck Conversion Plus service, along with the MagTek MICRImage check scanner, enables merchants to convert checks at the point of sale, eliminating the need to take checks to the bank for deposit. Check data and information can be sent through a POS terminal for processing and deposit into the merchant's account. The CrossCheck Conversion Plus service includes business check conversion and guarantee features.
"This powerful check conversion method will enable merchants to process checks as well as receive their funds in a timelier manner, which is a win/win for all parties," said John Arato, Vice President and Business Unit Manager, Retail Products at MagTek, Inc.
"As part of our commitment to offer a variety of equipment and processing solutions to our merchants, we are pleased to add this POS capability to our innovative CrossCheck Conversion Plus service available with the MagTek equipment," said J. David Siembieda, CrossCheck's president and CEO. "This equipment, along with our services, can make check acceptance fast and convenient for merchants and retailers at their POS terminal."
About MagTek
Since 1972, MagTek has been a world leader in electronic transaction technology, from magnetic stripe card readers and writers to high-accuracy MICR check readers and scanners, secure PIN issuance and cardholder verification systems. The company's products and components are in use today at point-of-sale (POS) and back-office locations in thousands of companies around the world; incorporated into kiosks and ATMs, banking customer service terminals, custom retail POS terminals, and restaurant and hospitality equipment. MagTek is based in Carson, California and has sales offices throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, with independent distributors in over 40 countries. www.magtek.com
About CrossCheck
CrossCheck, Inc. provides check approval and guarantee for a variety of merchants nationwide. For more than 20 years, its goal has been to increase merchants' profits by allowing them to accept more checks and to provide their customers with payment flexibility. Annually, CrossCheck processes and approves billions of dollars worth of transactions for its retail and dealer outlets. CrossCheck is known for industry firsts and cutting-edge technology. Visit www.cross-check.com for more information.
Thursday, 20 April 2006
LOUISVILLE, KY.·Self-Service World is now accepting entries for the 2006 Outstanding Achievement Awards.
The awards program continues the annual Kiosk Awards begun in 2000 by Kiosk magazine. In 2004, the magazine was acquired by NetWorld Alliance (which publishes this site), and it was renamed Self-Service World magazine in Jan. 2006, when it was paired with NetWorld Alliance's SelfServiceWorld.com.
While the Kiosk Awards focused exclusively on kiosks, the Outstanding Achievement Awards will consider all self-service applications including digital signage, POS self-checkout and more.
Entries will be accepted through July 14, and winners will be announced after an onsite judging component for finalists at The Self-Service & Kiosk Show, Sept. 28-29, in San Antonio, Texas.
A Reader's Choice component will involve readers of Self-Service World's online and print components.
For more information on the awards, please visit selfserviceworld.com/awards2006.
Purpose
The Self-Service World Outstanding Achievement Awards exist to recognize outstanding achievements in the use of self-service technologies and solutions.
Categories
The Awards are divided into seven industry-specific categories and one general category. This organization emphasizes the diversity and flexibility of self-service solutions and automation.
Awards
The Outstanding Achievement Awards will recognize Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in each category. One of the category winners will be selected as the competition's Platinum Award winner.
Entrants
Solutions may be entered either by end-market deployers or the solution manufacturer, but the Awards will recognize both parties.
Tuesday, 18 April 2006
LAS VEGAS — Fresh from their successful joint appearance at this month's NIGA tradeshow, the alliance of JCM American, Tovis Monitors and TransAct Technologies will next be appearing in Tunica, Miss., at the upcoming Southern Gaming Summit (SGS). SGS is held May 4-5 at the Tunica Arena & Expo Center, and the alliance companies will be in booth #333. The group is also sponsoring the event's registration.
"Our joint display at the NIGA tradeshow went exactly as we had envisioned, and our customers are very enthusiastic about the convenience that our alliance brings to them. We are very excited to bring that same message to the South, where we are fully committed to assisting in the Gulf's recovery," said JCM VP of Gaming Solutions Tom Nieman.
On display will be the wide range of products the alliance jointly represents, including the award-winning Universal Bill Acceptor (UBA), Trident Table Safe System, the Epic 950 printer, and Tovis monitors.
The UBA is the next generation bill validator, utilizing magnetic and optical sensors and is completed by its forward/backward-compatible, high-impact Plastic Cash Box. The Trident Table Safe System is a complete table management system that tracks assets from the table to the pit to the soft count room, and to the back office.
The Epic 950 has a 2-color printing that turns ordinary slot vouchers into eye-grabbing marketing media. Its TicketBurst technology ensures the ticket is completely printed and detached before presenting it. Tovis offers a wide array of best performance LCD monitors including standard 15", 17", 19" and wide format 23", 26", 32", 40", 42", 46", 55". Also, Tovis provides monitors with customized design and configuration to meet the customer's need exactly.
About the Alliance Companies
JCM American Corporation is the industry leader in currency handling systems and provides products, software and services to the gaming, vending, banking, amusement, and petroleum industries. TransAct (Nasdaq: TACT) designs, develops, manufactures and markets transaction-based printers under the ithaca and Epic names. In addition, the company markets related consumables, spare parts and service. Standing on its four pillars of "Foremost," "Foundation," "Fair" and "Fast," Tovis Monitors is the leading manufacturer of monitors and displays for the gaming industry.
Friday, 31 March 2006
LAS VEGAS — Earlier this year, the leaders in gaming peripherals — JCM American, Tovis Monitors and TransAct Technologies — came together to combine the reach of JCM's industry-leading sales force with the world-class technologies of Tovis and TransAct. This enabled the JCM sales force to provide the most complete range of gaming products available under one roof. Now the alliance of companies will be making their premiere cooperative tradeshow appearance in North America.
The three companies will stand side by side at the upcoming Native American Gaming Association (NIGA) tradeshow, held April 2-5 at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The alliance will be in booth #1209.
"We've brought together the recognized worldwide leaders in their fields, and now we represent the best products and highest level of customer service. And with our combined history of supporting Tribal gaming, we are all thrilled to be making our first group tradeshow appearance at NIGA," said JCM VP of Gaming Solutions Tom Nieman.
On display will be the wide range of products the alliance jointly represents, including the award-winning Universal Bill Acceptor (UBA), Trident Table Safe System, the Epic 950 printer, and Tovis monitors.
The UBA is the next generation bill validator, utilizing magnetic and optical sensors and is completed by its forward/backward-compatible, high-impact Plastic Cash Box. The Trident Table Safe System is a complete table management system that tracks assets from the table to the pit to the soft count room, and to the back office.
The TransAct Epic 950 thermal gaming printer offers 2-color printing that turns ordinary slot vouchers into eye-grabbing marketing media while its USB connectivity enables its use with server based and downloadable games. Tovis offers a wide array of best performance LCD monitors including standard 15", 17", 19" and wide format 23", 26", 32", 40", 42", 46", 55". Also, Tovis provides monitors with customized design and configuration to meet the customers' need exactly.
About the Alliance Companies
JCM American Corporation is the industry leader in currency handling systems and provides products, software and services to the gaming, vending, banking, amusement, and petroleum industries. TransAct Technologies Incorporated (Nasdaq:TACT) is the leader in developing and manufacturing market-specific printers for transaction-based industries under the ithaca and Epic brand names. In addition, the company markets related consumables, spare parts and service. Standing on its four pillars of "Foremost," "Foundation," "Fair" and "Fast," Tovis Monitors is the leading manufacturer of monitors and displays for the gaming industry.
Wednesday, 29 March 2006
Rochester, NY, -- Jim Langley, President of Kodak's Graphic Communications Group and Senior Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company, gives the keynote address at IPEX 2006 on Friday, April 7 at the INNOV8 Theatre in Hall 10.
Langley will explore the impact of economic, technology and global business trends on the industry. He will share his insights about new prospects for print providers based on a changing market environment and the continued prominence of print in today's media mix.
"Today's fast moving graphic communications industry provides printers with exciting opportunities to increase revenues and enhance profitability by embracing innovation," said Langley. "That innovation includes a new way of defining and thinking about partnership among graphic communications providers."
Kodak's broad portfolio of integrated solutions for conventional, digital and blended production environments will be on display at stand D70, Hall 5, at IPEX, April 4—11 in Birmingham, UK.
About Eastman Kodak Company
Kodak is the world's foremost imaging innovator, providing leading products and services to the photographic, graphic communications and healthcare markets. With sales of $14.3 billion in 2005, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on helping people better use meaningful images and information in their life and work. Consumers use Kodak's system of digital and traditional image capture products and services to take, print and share their pictures anytime, anywhere; Businesses effectively communicate with customers worldwide using KODAK solutions for prepress, conventional and digital printing and document imaging; Creative Professionals rely on KODAK technology to uniquely tell their story through moving or still images; and leading Healthcare organizations rely on Kodak's innovative products, services and customized workflow solutions to help improve patient care and maximize efficiency and information sharing within and across their enterprise. More information about Kodak (NYSE: EK) is available at www.kodak.com.
For more information about Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, visit www.graphics.kodak.com.
Wednesday, 22 March 2006
LAS VEGAS — JCM American will continue to electrify the vending world with its technologically superior products being shown at the upcoming NAMA Spring Expo. The show takes place March 23 and 24 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. JCM will be in booth #422.
On display will be the four latest products in JCM's advanced vending product line. JCM's high security, high acceptance Optipay cash recycling system has changed the world of vending forever. Optipay recycling enables multi vending, allows for higher price points, and drives increased sales volume at the vending machine.
Optipay RC is the first bill recycler that enables vending machines to dispense the same bills they accept as part of the change to a customer, enabling the machine to become a single cash management system. The Optipay BV is specifically designed for the vending market. JCM has incorporated its high security validation processes, reliability and optional snap-on bill recycling technology into a validation package that meets the space and cost restraints of the vending market. Optipay CC is the vending industry's only coin changer that works with the JCM Bill Recycler to enable customers to receive change in both bills and coins.
JCM will also be showing its revolutionary LCD Bezel which is an add-on option to the bill validator. Made specifically for the vending world, this new bezel fits in the existing validator punch out and is interactive and programmable. It allows operators to program a wide range of messages, such as logos, specials or usage instructions.
JCM VP of Commercial Sales Dave Elich said, "At JCM, we never stop thinking of innovative ways to make the operator's life easier while making their machines smarter and more secure. We are very proud of the acceptance of the Optipay system by the industry and the positive testimonials we get from operators across the country."
JCM American Corporation is the industry leader in currency handling systems and provides products, software and services to the gaming, vending, banking, amusement, and petroleum industries. Since 1995, its products have validated an estimated $2.2 trillion in currency for the gaming industry alone. From its international headquarters in Osaka, Japan, and subsidiaries in Dsseldorf, Hong Kong, London, Sydney and its U.S. headquarters in Las Vegas, JCM's progressive spirit continually sets worldwide industry standards with innovative products such as the World Bill Acceptor (WBA), Universal Bill Acceptor (UBA), Trident Table Safe System and Intelligent Cash Box (ICB). For more information, visit www.jcm-american.com.
Friday, 10 March 2006
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Mar 10, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The IBM Group of Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions (ECS), a business group of Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: ARW), is participating in IBM PartnerWorld 2006, being held next week in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Convention Center. Arrow will showcase business solutions available through its IBM reseller partners and independent software vendors (ISVs) in Booth #100 in the Solutions Center.
Arrow will emphasize its ability to serve the complex needs of its IBM reseller partners by showcasing solutions and services provided by several IBM Business Partners and ISVs, whose offerings drive IBM solution sales. Areas of focus include business continuity, healthcare, reseller productivity tools, professional services, business intelligence and federal government. Arrow will also highlighting Rapid Response. This Web-based solution provides reliable and efficient information sharing among emergency response agencies, and is this year's IBM PartnerWorld Beacon Award winner in the On Demand Business Innovative Solutions category.
"We are committed to making our IBM reseller partners the most successful and profitable in the channel and strive to reaffirm our unwavering promise to help our resellers prosper and grow," said Eric Williams, executive vice president, the IBM Group, Arrow ECS. "We continue to be a leader in overall reseller satisfaction among enterprise distributors because we are a trusted channel partner that provides total support throughout the entire sales cycle to ensure success for our reseller partners."
In addition, Arrow IBM Business Partners can continue to rely on Arrow's end-to-end support for IBM's family of servers, storage and software products to uncover new opportunities in 2006.
About Arrow ECS
Arrow ECS is the global business group of Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: ARW) that provides enterprise and midrange computing products, services and solutions to value-added resellers, system integrators, and independent software vendors (ISVs). Based in Englewood, Colo., Arrow ECS connects its customers to an exclusive network of the world's foremost technology suppliers, including HP, IBM, Sun Microsystems, EMC, NetApp, HDS, and other leading storage networking, software, and security suppliers. Arrow Electronics reported $2.7 billion in worldwide computer products sales in 2005. Visit us at www.arrowecs.com.
SOURCE: Arrow Electronics, Inc.
Arrow Electronics, Inc.
Ann Shiveley, 303-824-3762
Friday, 24 February 2006
Mequon, WI. D2 unveiled its new Brand Builder Series kiosk at The Self Service & Kiosk Show in Orlando last week. The Brand Builder Series is D2's newest stock, semi-custom kiosk and is available immediately.
This new kiosk line is durable, reliable and extremely flexible. The units are built to be a semi-custom solution for clients looking for a stock model that is versatile and can be customized to fit their specific branding needs.
The Brand Builder Series has an attractive design that D2 will customize with full color brand identification, creating a unique, brand specific unit to meet a variety of customer needs.
D2 understands the need for cost effective solutions, and created the Brand Builder Series for clients with tight budgets and/or schedules in mind. In addition, D2 continues to offer unique equipment configurations and outstanding branding options in its custom models as well.
About D2: D2 Sales, LLC is located in Mequon, Wisconsin.
It is a kiosk design and manufacturing firm specializing in brand focused, custom designed enclosures and environments.
For more information, please visit their website at www.d2sales.com.
David PInkus
D2 Sales, LLC
"Definitely Outside the Box! tm
262-242-6100
www.d2sales.com
Monday, 20 February 2006
One of the worst winter storms of the year couldn't stop exhibitors and attendees from descending on the Doubletree Hotel in Orlando, Fla., for The Self-Service & Kiosk Show, the biannual trade show focused on how self-service technology can help end-markets improve their business processes and increase customer satisfaction. In addition to two solid days of seminars and workshops, attendees had full access to a show floor filled with the latest self-service devices, all plugged in and ready for a test-drive.
The Show's anchor partners were Palm Desert National Bank, St. Clair Interactive Technologies, KIOSK Information Systems and Source Technologies.
Palm Desert National Bank's enormous booth showcased three of its vertical partners as examples of its wide array of transaction and cash management services. These included automated check-cashing service provider Vero, self-service financial services provider Info Touch whose TIO network accommodates bill payment and advanced financial kiosks, and Bantek/EFMark, the nation's largest provider of ATM maintenance including cash extraction.
"We will see very shortly the convergence of the kiosk model and ATM model," PDNB vice president of marketing Gloria Grand said.
At the St. Clair Interactive booth, emphasis was on the company's successful work on the Giant Food store in Camp Hill, Pa. Browsers could test out the various product ordering and info kiosks that form the front-end of the "grocery store of the future," allowing customers to access any in-store service from anywhere within the store. St. Clair also had eye-catching digital signage on display.
KIOSK Information Systems brought a number of applications to its anchor booth, including a highly customizable bill-payment kiosk and several of its rugged enclosure designs. One of the most interesting products on display was a corner-shaped entertainment pavilion with three screens facing in three directions, allowing multiple users to purchase ringtones, browse the Internet and build (and burn) a custom music CD.
Source Technologies brought several kiosks from its "concourse" product family. Patrons were able to sample how Source Technologies facilitates real-time financial services like bill payment and check cashing.
Elsewhere on the show floor
Apunix Computer Services demonstrated a number of its real-world kiosk applications. President Sylvia Berens emphasized that her company builds its products around open-source, extensible services and platforms, which is in the best interest of the customer.
"We try to build kiosks as solid-state appliances, because deployers don't necessarily care if they're Linux or Windows," she said. "They just want something that will solve a problem."
Corporate Safe Specialists displayed several of its rugged cash-management safe systems, designed to not only provide a safe harbor for cash but also simplify operations by automating cash counting and account reconciliation.
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An attendee test-drives a concourse bill-payment kiosk from Source Technologies.
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D2 Sales announced a partnership to provide kiosk enclosures for PlascoID's BioPark Pass System and unveiled the Brand Builder Series kiosk, its newest stock, semi-custom kiosk built to meet diverse branding needs. D2 also showed its branded custom kiosk solutions and the Tree of Knowledge, a sapling-sized white metal tree with an Apple iMac mounted inside, demonstrating "kiosks don't have to be in a box," sales representative Laurie Osbourne said. D2 also highlighted its hand-scanning BioPark Pals kiosk · used to control access to recreation destinations · and its award-winning Burger King Virtual Fun Center.
Diebold's Premier Services division marketed its custodial, preventative and break/fix services. Services business development manager Kevin Mickle said opening the new division felt like running a start-up company · except with the backing of a $2 billion company already famed for products and maintenance in the ATM space.
"ATMs were the first successful kiosk deployment and we've done this a lot of years," Mickle said. "We're taking all that information and applying it to kiosks."
Electronic Systems Protection was on hand to talk about the importance of surge protection and power filtration. Representatives also offered information on ESP's contribution to the popular DEKKO propane-vending system, surely a mission-critical usage of electricity by anybody's standards.
Elo TouchSystems brought a number of its touchmonitors to the show, including the new 1537L 15-inch rear-mount. This latest model, dubbed an entry-level choice by the company, is aimed at kiosk, gaming and light shop-floor automation.
Euro Touch Kiosks, a newly established American division of an established European kiosk company, showed its streamlined, general-purpose indoor and outdoor units. Even at a tiny seven inches deep, the outdoor unit could still contain an internal Dell computer for on-site maintenance. The units are constructed of anodized aluminum with stainless steel trim. The company claims they allow no internal condensation and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Ewait's stylish media download kiosk
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Ewait, a Norway-based newcomer to the U.S. self-service market, demonstrated its stylishly functional CT model kiosks with USB and ear plug jacks, Web cam, 17-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and hybrid card swipe. The units also sported a snazzy look: black aluminum with birchwood trim, grey metal keyboard and chrome-colored trackball.
"The order books are filling up," CEO Kristian Mikkelson said of the response at the show.
Expand Networks gave attendees information on its IT infrastructure, which serves a diverse range of customers from Continental Airlines to Motorola to the U.S. Department of Defense.
5point-Fivepoint LLC demonstrated its Silhouette and inSight kiosks, touting its adaptability to deployer and consumer needs. The units use scalable architecture and flexible hardware to deliver what 5point calls a holistic user experience. The Silhouette is a slim, contemporary unit, whereas the inSight is a little thicker and allows for a printer.
FlyTech showcased its modular kiosk lines, including the polished stainless steel K892. The units can accommodate a variety of hardware, including card payment, printing, DVD burning, any photo storage card reader and Bluetooth.
Geist Manufacturing brought samples from its enormous catalog of power distribution units, from horizontal and vertical power distribution to switches and mounting hardware.
Graphic Systems Inc. showcased digital signage. The AdView Dynamic Messenger could run news feeds and interactive productions. Often used in hospitals as kiosks or as dynamic hotel meeting room signs, the units can be programmed via network or flash storage card. GSI also demonstrated a prototype file unit: an interactive screen using side-mounted mechanical buttons for input.
Hand Held Products exhibited its 8560 Minikiosk with 5.7-inch screen. The unit has virtually no footprint, touchscreen navigation and an advanced barcode reader that can read almost any linear or 2D barcode.
"It's an adaptable application that lets the vendor customize it," senior product manager Nick Daddabbo said. "It's powered by Windows CE 5.0. It does as much as a big kiosk."
HECON demonstrated units from its substantial catalog of thermal printers. The company, which recently celebrated its 40th birthday, specializes in rugged thermal printers for gas pump, kiosk and other unattended installations.
Immersion showed its next-generation force feedback touchscreen technology, TouchSense. The hardware simulates touching a real button. It uses a system of actuators, sound and three-dimensional buttons displayed on the screen. When a user pressed a button, it appeared to go in, made a noise and felt like pressing a real button. Vice president of corporate marketing Gayle Schaeffer said the product is a response to people who want to use touchscreens but find they lack a sense of realism.
Instruments & Equipment Co. offered information on its voluminous catalog of products and services. The company specializes in POS systems and components, as well as kiosk packages, barcode systems, touchscreens, displays and signature capture.
KING Products & Solutions Inc. demonstrated several of its kiosks and software packages, including the dual screen Plynth G5, a sleek touchscreen unit with an additional digital sign mounted on arms above head level. Not only is the additional signage meant to draw foot traffic to the unit, it can be used for advertising and marketing as well.
"I know companies who use that sign as a source of advertising revenue," KING's vice president of North America sales and marketing Robert Giblett said.
KioskLogix Inc. unveiled its new BizCenterLOGIX solution, an integrated business center kiosk combining a Lexmark X-422 multifunction device and its NetStopPro kiosk browser to provide a small terminal/hardware desktop solution selling Internet access, e-mail, printing, inbound and outbound faxing via credit card, cash or prepaid stored-value PIN code.
Kioware showed its HTML-enabled kiosks designed to use companies' pre-existing Web-based software so companies can avoid the expense of redeveloping existing HTML applications for kiosk deployment.
"We take browser-based content and deploy it on a kiosk," Kioware president James Kruper said. "Why spend a lot of money developing kiosk content when you have industry-standard HTML?"
La Gard displayed several generations of locks, from its mid-century era combination lock to its contemporary key-coded, audit-enabled electronic locks to its next-generation, remote-manageable Navigator lock with neither buttons nor dials. Navigator operates with a server-based locking system from which a single person can monitor and program the status of several locks. To unlock a Navigator takes an on-site connection to a manager's PDA.
"As kiosks start becoming more transactional, selling stamps, money orders and whatnot, they need a real, managed security system," national product manager Orlando Consalvi said.
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Brian Ardinger explains Nanonation's dynamic signage frames.
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Nanonation's booth was decked with some head-turning "picture frames" that were built around slim digital displays, allowing the dynamic updating of artwork. The company also demonstrated its Web-based management system for digital signage, with new "layering features" that allow elements like text and backgrounds to be switched out without the need to re-render the entire video.
Executives from Netkey were on hand to tout the benefits of the latest version of its kiosk and signage management software suite, Netkey 6.5. One real-world application included a front-end designed for Home Depot, allowing customers to order products from both the store or a Web catalog and have them shipped directly to their home.
New Edge Networks, a CISP-compliant business network provider, touted its ability to provide secure managed data networks worldwide. The company operates one of the largest ATM networks in the world, touting 800 ATM switches.
"We're everywhere," channel sales manager Ken Simon said. "We bought AT&T's ‘At Home'; we have interconnect agreements with every major provider."
ParTech allowed customers a glimpse of its visually striking ViGo POS system, designed for harsh restaurant environments. The system features 18-gauge steel construction and a special emphasis on ergonomic design.
Planar showed its 17-inch and 19-inch touchscreen monitors, as well as the sci-fi-esque DS15 Integrated Marketing Solution, designed for point-of-sale and point-of-purchase marketing. Planar touts the touchscreen's easy installation and ability to mount almost anywhere, including as an interactive informational tool on store shelves.
PQI Corp. allowed attendees a close-up look at its DiskOnModule brand of flash memory. A number of sizes and form-factors were on display, including several designed as replacements for traditional "moving parts" IDE hard drives.
RealTime Shredding offered up its 600lb-per-hour industrial strength self-service shredder, made for deployment in malls and high foot-traffic areas. RealTime Shredding president Amanda Verrie said consumers who get behind with at-home shredding find the machine useful to catch up, and commercial users who handle sensitive information, like cellular phone stores at malls, use it to destroy documents in compliance with the law.
The Rhombus Group offered information on its sub-contractor network that specializes in local service technicians. Some of Rhombus' service customers include Wal-Mart/Sam's Club, Coinstar, DirecTV and Sony Electronics.
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Solectron's attention-grabbing Redbox DVD-rental kiosk
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Solectron co-demonstrated the automated DVD rental kiosk it built for redbox. The simple red metal box holds approximately 500 DVDs on a series of stacked carousels. When a customer selects a DVD on the unit's touchscreen, the carousels turn to the appropriate point at which a robotic mechanism can collect the DVD and dispense it through a vertical slot in the machine's side. The Redbox system is deployed in McDonald's (its parent company) and groceries around the U.S.
SmartPower Systems showcased its line of power supplies and accessories, including the SBK/SBP-TBF uninterruptible power supply and the PC Series of power conditioners, which feature brownout and "prolonged over-voltage" protection.
SolvPort offered information on its ATM and kiosk service programs. The company's services include back-office technical support, monitoring, field technical service, installation and project management.
Star Micronics America demonstrated several of its kiosk printers, which have been used for solutions in airline travel, gaming and ATMs. The company also offered information on its thermal card printer/rewriter, an all-in-one unit ideal for loyalty programs, event credentials and any circumstance where temporary IDs are needed.
Technical Transportation Inc. offered information on its "white glove" delivery service for kiosks, ATMs and other large electronic devices.
Transaction Network Services touted its transaction data delivery capabilities. Vice president of self-service solutions Kent Phillips said the company has relationships with every broadband provider in the country, transferring 20 million transactions per day, including credit, debit and stored value. Phillips touted TNS's ability to connect kiosks and ATMs almost anywhere, and the ability to accommodate massive Triple DES throughput.
Thursday, 16 February 2006
Buena Park, Calif. — Noritsu America Corporation revealed plans to launch a number of new professional digital imaging products at Photo Marketing Association (PMA) Convention and Tradeshow at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The PMA show will take place February 26 - March 1, 2006. Noritsu will be located in booth #3751.
Many of the new products feature innovations exclusive to Noritsu. "We are committed to providing complete photo processing solutions to the retail market. The digital equipment and software applications introduced at the show will reflect this." said Mr. Shiro Kazuta, President of Noritsu America Corporation.
On exhibit for the first time will be the QSS-35 Series of Digital Minilabs, LPS-24 PRO Large Format Printer, DP-100 Digital Dry Printer and CT-SL Consumer Terminal Kiosk. The applications debuting at the show will include EZLab Workflow Software and Order Controller Software.
QSS-35 Series Digital Minilab
The QSS-3501 Digital and QSS-3502 Digital are extremely compact minilabs that are designed for retail, providing a full range of output capabilities in a small footprint of just 11 square feet. Both minilabs can be configured to accommodate different floor layouts, adding to their flexibility.
The QSS-3501/02 delivers uncompromising quality and productivity, featuring identical processing speeds for both digital media and film - up to 1,010 prints per hour (4" x 6"). Both machines can produce panorama prints up to 8" x 24" in size.
The QSS-3501/02 series offers new film scanner options, each one utilizing an LED light source, which results in consistent scanning and minimal maintenance. For labs that scan a wide variety of film, the S-4 Scanner is available. The S1-11 Scanner option supports 35mm and APS film only and is recommended for labs that produce a majority of output from digital sources. The S1-11 can be integrated into the Noritsu QSF-T15 film processor to produce a One Pass System that enables processed film to be automatically scanned as it exits the processor. This time saving feature is available for 35mm film only. The QSS-3501/02 can also be set up as a stand-alone for producing digital prints.
Image adjustment tools such as Noritsu's AccuSmart image processing technology allows easy correction of images, resulting in extremely high quality prints regardless of the image source. AccuSmart technology not only provides optimal quality for well photographed images, it also applies appropriate correction to less-than-perfect shots to make beautiful, natural-looking prints.
LPS-24 PRO Large Format Printer
The LPS-24 PRO is a Large Format Printer that features a silver halide printer and paper processor designed to print a variety of print sizes from 5" x 7" up to jumbo panorama size (24" x 36"). With the addition of optional equipment, prints up to 100" in length are possible. The LPS-24 PRO is designed to meet the heavy-duty production and high-quality demands of portrait and commercial professional labs.
Dual magazine capability allows both a 12" and 24" magazine to be loaded at the same time, enabling prints of various sizes to be made without changing magazines. Processing capacity ranges from approximately 27 prints per hour for a 24" x 36" print to approximately 51 prints per hour for a 12" x 18" print.
DP-100 Digital Dry Printer
Noritsu continues to make advances in the area of professional-grade Digital Dry printers. The DP-100 is the latest addition to its award-winning line of dDP inkjet printers. Designed as an entry-level, stand-alone unit, the DP-100 is the only inkjet printer on the market that can produce standard photo sizes (4" x 6", 5" x 7" and 8" x 10") all the way up to scrapbook-sized prints (12" x 12") and jumbo panorama prints (12" x 36"). The exceptional versatility of the DP-100 makes it ideal for deployment in new markets seeking to explore the profitability of photofinishing or for photo labs looking to supplement their business with new revenue streams from dry digital printing. The DP-100 is based on second generation pigment inkjet technology and is an environmentally-friendly, 7-color printing system that does not use chemicals or produce any waste, runs on standard 110 volt household power, and is easy to maintain.
CT-SL Kiosk
For retailers seeking a network and Internet-ready kiosk solution, Noritsu will display a "kiosk island" on the show floor demonstrating its complete line of Consumer Terminal kiosk solutions. The Noritsu Consumer Terminals can be deployed in a variety of configurations, such as a self-service, order taking front end to a digital minilab, or as a stand alone, print-on-demand kiosk. All Noritsu Consumer Terminals are compatible with QSS Series Digital Minilabs and dDP Series Digital Dry Printers, and guarantee retail customers experience a fast, easy-to-use order placement workflow.
The newest addition to the Noritsu lineup of Consumer Terminals is the CT-SL. The Noritsu CT-SL is an entry level, countertop Consumer Terminal that improves efficiency by providing simple and easy-to-use input options. The CT-SL supports all popular media and comes with Noritsu CT-X Software preinstalled. Features such as automatic red-eye removal, filters, color correction, zoom and crop are available right out of the box. The CT-SL utilizes a responsive 15"� LCD touch screen with angle adjustment, thermal receipt printer and has built-in wireless support using Bluetoothâ„¢.
Software
Noritsu EZLab is a powerful new software suite that provides enhanced control and improved workflow to retail and professional photofinishers. EZLab takes the operator from behind the printer to the front counter increasing productivity and profitability. Acting as a central hub between Noritsu input and output devices, Noritsu EZLab extends a lab's capabilities with productivity enhancements and additional management functionality. Time-consuming tasks are optimized, greatly increasing efficiency.
Order Controller Software is an application designed for QSS Series Digital Minilabs to manage and control all print commands from film and media input. Complete control of print data means that it is possible to process orders concurrently and controlling print priority, automatic print method settings and even printing urgent orders out of turn can be performed quickly and easily. Order workflow is enhanced with Order Controller.
dDP Series Digital Dry Printers
Designed as the first high-quality output system for low-volume photo imaging orders, the dDP Series of Digital Dry Printers employ second generation technology in an inkjet minilab system to produce vivid, high-quality water-fast prints. Operating on standard 110 volt household electrical current, dDP units feature an environmentally friendly design which means that there are no chemicals used, nor any odors or waste disposal to worry about. The dDP Series includes the dDP-421, winner of the 2005 DIMA Innovative Product Award, and the dDP-621, which has the distinction of being the highest capacity digital dry printer available on the market today. The dDP Series of minilabs are also available as stand alone printing devices. The DP-410/610 variants use the same powerful inkjet printer technology as the dDP-421/621, but are con�?gured to serve a network printing function.
About Noritsu
Noritsu America Corporation, headquartered in Buena Park, California, has earned the distinction as an innovator in photofinishing technology with a number of industry firsts. The company's legacy dates back to its founder, who invented the automatic print washer, the predecessor to the modern photofinishing machine. Other advances include the introduction of the world's first one hour film developing and printing system which revolutionized the photo industry. Today, Noritsu is one of the largest manufacturers of photo processing and digital imaging systems in the world. Noritsu continues to lead the market in developing innovative digital imaging hardware and software solutions. For more information, visit www.noritsu.com or call (800) 521-3686.
Wednesday, 15 February 2006
They heard the self-service buzz.
Attendees from around the world landed in Orlando to see the latest in kiosk and self-service solutions at The Self-Service & Kiosk Show, the official show of The Self-Service & Kiosk Association.
Unixfor S.A.'s presales technical manager Eleftherios Katsaros of Athens, Greece came looking for advanced financial transaction kiosks his consultancy firm can deploy in client banks. Among the products he perused were bill payment and ticketing solutions.
"We are trying to find out how we can expand our business by offering convenient self service," Katsaros said. "I'm looking for software and hardware that combines retail and finance. We want to offer more services without increasing costs. We can sell our solutions based on cost savings."
Optimisa's gerente commercial (commercial manager) Rodolfo Muller Pinto, of Venezuela, came looking for informational kiosks. His PR firm wants to deploy them on Margurita Island, a tourist destination in his home country.
"We are going to stay with the pure basic," he said. "We want information and advertising."
Ramey/Pricecutter director of convenience stores and restaurants Gary Volmert wanted more information on c-stores and fuel centers. It was his first time at a self-service show and he described it as a new culture, different from the National Association of Convenience Stores. His chain's six c-stores already do pay at the pump, but now he wants to draw customers back into the stores with financial kiosks.
It was his first time at a self-service show, which he described as a new culture compared to his experiences at the National Association of Convenice Stores show and other related events, but he was open-minded to buying a solution there if he saw the right one.
"Main thing would be something that'll grab sales from the competition," Volmert said. "I want an edge on the competition, a return on investment, and user friendly."
Digital signage entrepreneur Milton Jones, owner of Apex Digital Signage in Tampa, Fla., came for the educational aspect of the show. His team is brainstorming self-service applications and he wanted to learn where his firm can fit into the industry.
"We use similar products," Jones said. "Our focus industry is healthcare and hospitality. But we haven't done anything interactive. The first day is full of seminars (at the show) is full of things I thought would be useful: quick service restaurant and mobile phone applications. Businesses are providing more services and products by self-service means."
Tuesday, 14 February 2006
The winter installment of The Self-Service & Kiosk Show opened today at the Doubletree Hotel at Universal Orlando. Over forty exhibitors brought their latest and greatest wares, from check-cashing and financial services to digital signage to a fast-food giant's successful DVD rental program.
Anchor partners for the show include Palm Desert National Bank, St. Clair Interactive Communications, Kiosk Information Systems and Source Technologies.
The early morning hours were devoted to pre-conference workshops, including Greg Swistak's primer on kiosk technology; Doug Peter (St. Clair) discussing integration; Sylvia Berens (Apunix Computer Services) on ROI; Peter Honebein (author, "Creating Do-It-Yourself Customers") on improving the customer's shopping experience; and Alex Richardson (Selling Machine Partners) with case studies and best practices on ROI.
Richardson also spoke later in the day, in a seminar titled "Trends in Assisted Selling Applications at Major Retail," which touched on companies like Home Depot and Starbucks and how they are using self-service. (Click here to read more about this seminar.)
Afternoon sessions also included Forrester Research senior analyst Kerry Bodine, offering strategies on environment planning and device placement. Bob Fincher, NetWorld Alliance executive vice president of sales and marketing, wrapped up the afternoon with his overview of the state-of-the-art in the self-service industry. (Click here for a complete roster of speakers and topics.)
Then it was time to open the show floor. Buzz built quickly around the Immersion booth, where vice president Michael Levin demonstrated his company's touchscreen monitor with tactile and audio feedback. Heads also turned toward the Redbox DVD rental kiosk, which has been a success for McDonald's. (Click here to learn more about Redbox.)
On tap for Tuesday: the keynote address from branding expert Janelle Barlow, Ph.D., plus a seminar on the "grocery store of the future," Giant Food in Camp Hill, Pa.
Friday, 03 February 2006
More and more food retailers are intending to install self-checkout systems. According to a survey by the Cologne-based European Retail Institute (EHI) as many as 10% of all businesses have already had some experience of using this technology, and over 30% are planning to implement it in the near future.
At the "Checkout Revolution" symposium held at WincorWorld 2006, representatives from French retailer Auchan and the Belgian retail group Delhaize reported on their experience of testing this technology.
Auchan Group, 84% of whose shares are family-owned, operates 365 hypermarkets and 654 supermarkets in 11 countries. Since the beginning of last year, Auchan has replaced one fast-checkout (for baskets of up to 10 items) in each of six French outlets with a specially designed self-checkout from Wincor Nixdorf.
According to IT Business Manager Alain Boissieres, the test results are highly positive, with the systems available for customer use during 95% of opening hours. In a survey, 90% of customers testing the self-checkout for the first time said they would want to continue using the system. Checkout personnel, who are now used to monitor the process and help customers use the equipment, value the "higher status" they enjoy vis-a -vis customers in their new role. And for Auchan itself, the system produces a reduction in operating costs of around 20%. After the successful testing the next 18 months will see a further 30 Auchan stores being equipped with self-checkouts. In parallel with this, says Boissieres, they are on the look-out for solutions with a view to deploying the technology for larger purchase volumes as well.
Even during the early 90's, Delhaize began installing self-checkouts in its US supermarkets. Today, over 100 US outlets use this equipment. In all, the Belgian retailer runs 2,636 stores, most of them in the US and Central Europe, but also in southeast Asia. This self-scanning pioneer started experimenting in Europe in 1997, and now around 50 stores are equipped with two different systems: mobile scanning, involving customers picking up a portable radio-frequency hand-scanner on the way in and the data being transferred from the mobile hand-scanner to the ePOS software at the checkout, and a second, stationary version called "Quick Shopper" tailored specially for purchases of up to 10 items. Here, the customer uses a fixed-location scanner station beside the checkout before paying. Luc Koenot, Vice President IT Europe at Delhaize Group, is very happy with the level of customer acceptance of this system, with an average of 20% (and in some stores up to 40%) of sales being checked out via the two self-scanning systems.
Other retailers, too, are testing this technology. Marco Atzberger from the European Retail Institute pointed out clearly in his talk that installation of self-checkout systems needs meticulous preparation. Indeed, only a precise analysis relating to the specific location concerned enables the relevant optimum mix of traditional checkouts and automated systems to be pinpointed.
In this regard, the institute has worked with Wincor Nixdorf to develop a methodology which provides a reliable bank of information and data to underpin checkout investment decisions and safeguard the user's interests. It essentially comprises an extensive analysis of individual location-related factors, optimization of the quantity and type of checkout stations required and design of the hardware configuration.
Joachim Pinhammer, Marketing Manager for Wincor Nixdorf's Retail Division says, "An intelligent, tailored combination of traditional checkouts and self-scanning terminals augmented by systems which add extra speed to the payment process — that's what tomorrow's checkout zone looks like".
Tuesday, 24 January 2006
The Largest and Longest Running Conference and Tradeshow of Its Kind Announces Speaker Roster and Session Topics
TRUMBULL, CT (January 24, 2006) — The KioskCom Conference & Tradeshow (KioskCom), the defining global event for interactive self-service business solutions, announces its 2006 conference and tradeshow will be held April 10-12 at The Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV.
Building off of a highly successful 2005 event, KioskCom 2006 expects that over 2,000 participants will register, continuing as the most critical, strategic, largest and longest running conference and tradeshow for kiosks and self-service, worldwide.
Named twice as one of the Fastest 50 growing events in North America, KioskCom delivers critical content and strategies to ensure kiosk success — directly from end-user companies that utilize kiosks within their organizations. This year's sessions and workshops are designed to deliver the strategic insight and first-hand lessons necessary to address and solve an organization's business challenges.
"Companies need to find ways to improve their margins — and kiosks provide that avenue" said Lawrence Dvorchik, KioskCom's General Manager. "Generating additional revenues, improving the customer experience and solving the critical operational and labor issues are all at the forefront of organization strategies. KioskCom is the only place that delivers the strategic insight required from the people that have faced these dilemmas in their organizations. Attendees will hear from other people that are — or were — in their same situation, who used kiosks to successfully provide the solutions to improve their margins."
Representatives from some of the world's most recognizable brands will be on hand to discuss critical issues involved in attracting and retaining customers through self-service programs. Speakers and topics currently confirmed for this years keynote presentations include:
- Opening Keynote Panel: "Increasing Revenues, Usage and the Customer Experience Enterprise-Wide through Integrated Multi-Channel Self-Service", presented by experts from the United States Postal Service (USPS) Retail Services
- Day Two Keynote Presentation: "How Self-Service Kiosks Increase Average Price per Order, Upsell and Speed of Service", presented by a top Subway store franchisee.
Additional session speakers include influential executives from Campbell Soup Company, Subway, Duane Reade, Levin Furniture, Redbox Automated Retail, Swift Transportation, Sports-O-Zone and Independence Visitor Center Corporation, among others.
Speakers will center their thought-provoking presentations on timely issues, including:
- Boosting In-Store Sales: Increasing the Customer Experience and Spend
- Using Kiosks to Create an Interactive Branded Merchandising Solution
- Creating Loyal Customers to Increase Revenue
- Achieving your Business Objectives through Self-Service Technology
- Improving Speed of Service
- Increasing Revenues, Usage and the Customer Experience through Integrated Multi-Channel Self-Service
"Now in our tenth year, KioskCom stands out as the self-service industry's most distinguished event for executives and decision makers to network with other end-users, educating each other on the industry's most pressing challenges," said Dvorchik. "This conference provides a one-of-a-kind educational experience in this industry that truly benefits all those that attend."
KioskCom 2006 also features KioskCom's 5th Annual Excellence Awards, presented at a Dinner and Reception - hosted by KioskCom and the KioskCom Professional Society - on April 10 at 7:00 pm. This esteemed competition is recognized as the most prestigious award a kiosk project can win and has honored more than 150 companies across multiple industries for their leadership, innovations, and success with self-service kiosk business solutions. Past winners include BMW, SONY, AAA, Avis, Hilton Hotels, Daimler Chrysler and ExxonMobil. Deadline for submission is February 16, 2006.
For additional information about the 10th Annual KioskCom Conference and Tradeshow and / or the KioskCom Excellence Awards, please visit http://www.kioskcom.com.
About JD Events
JD Events is dedicated to the creation of targeted and innovative industry-leading events that deliver results. The company brings together highly qualified buying audiences, education-rich content and high-level networking opportunities -- all geared toward increasing business transactions in the markets it serves. For more information on JD Events, visit http://www.jdevents.com or contact Joel Davis at
Chree Carr
Vollmer Public Relations
1505 LBJ Freeway, Ste. 340
Dallas, Texas 75234
Ph. - 972.488.4790
Fax - 972.488.4791
Wednesday, 11 January 2006
The kiosk buzz will build in The Big Apple.
The National Retail Federation's blowout bash, The 95th Annual Convention and Expo, or "Retail's Big Show" as the NRF calls it, kicks off Sunday, Jan. 14 at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The event promises 400 suppliers showing off the latest retail tech, much of it for the self-service industry.
X06, a prototype gourmet market meshing minimalist style and maximum technology, promises to "empower" customers with technology. The 8,400 sq.-foot installation will include a next-generation customer service center, party planning station, employee/management workplace and a look at the store's electronic brain. Restaurant owner and star of Food Network's "Iron Chef America" Mario Batali will work the X06 gourmet chef demo center at noon Monday, then sign copies of his book "Molto Italiano · 327 Simple Classic Italian Recipes to Cook at Home."
At NCR Corp.'s booth, conventioneers will peruse several models of the NCR FastLane self-checkout, including a full-function version of the FastLane Mini. NCR will also showcase its Xpress Payment solution, deployed by cellular service providers to collect on-site bill payment without staff assistance. An NCR EasyPoint kiosk will host Baer Media's "Ask Max" shopping information system, allowing customers to scan barcodes of items they're considering in order to receive short informational videos, or see a price and typed product information.
Symbol Technologies' "Sneak Peek '06" lineup will feature a variety of retail hardware, including a prototype RFID-enabled forklift. According to Symbol, the lift's on-board computer will recognize packages more easily, and reduce the chances of human error in the supply chain.
Nanonation will demonstrate an RFID-enabled smart shelf built with their integrated software platforms, Nanopoint and CommandPoint, which automate management of multiple technologies including kiosks and digital signage. Their presentations will include an all-in-one digital signage solution, a multi-screen digital signage deployment, kiosk technology and recent software upgrades.
"Retailers are looking for ways to create powerful and profitable customer experiences in their stores," Nanonation vice president of business development Brian Ardinger said.
MobileLime, a small start-up from New England, will tout its tech. The company will demonstrate POS cell phone technology designed to provide real-time marketing, cardless loyalty and mobile payment solutions. MobileLime links cellular phones to prepaid accounts and allows customers to pay by phone instead of cash or card. MobileLime uses discounts and special deals to lure consumers to businesses in their program, and is used by several companies in Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Hand Held Products, which is keeping its exhibit under wraps until the convention, looks for the expo to kickoff a banner year in the self-service industry. Senior product manager of transaction terminals/kiosks Nick Dabbabbo said the self-service industry will "break out" in 2006.
"The growth of digital signage and mini-kiosks will open venues for retailers to generate new channels of income," he said.
Contact:
700 Visions Drive
PO Box 208
Skaneateles Falls, NY 13153
United States
800-582-4263
http://www.handheld.com
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