Microsoft showcases "Smarter Retailing" at retail tradeshow

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Jan. 17, 2005

Microsoft is showing off its Smarter Retailing initiative this week at the National Retail Federation (NRF) convention in New York. Several Microsoft partners are announcing products based on, or supporting, Windows Embedded for Point of Service, a specialized version of XP Embedded aimed at the retail and hospitality industries.

Microsoft launched its Smarter Retailing Initiative (SRI) at last year's NRF show. SRI's objective is to help retailers improve the ways they sell and operate, through better access to customer and product information. Microsoft contends that "business value will emerge at the boundaries of the retail enterprise, where retailers interact with customers and suppliers."

Among the partners announcing products supporting Smarter Retailing at this week's NRF convention are:

Star Micronics -- announced that its TSP700 high speed thermal printer is compatible with Windows Embedded POS. The TSP700 prints up to 60 lines per second and also prints bar codes with a resolution of 203 dpi, the company says. Additionally, an AutoLogo Printing (ALP) feature allows logos and other frequently used graphics to be stored in the printer's memory.
Hand Held Products -- will support Windows Embedded for POS across its bar code imager and transaction terminal product families. Hand Held says its plug-and-play bar code readers are based on a proprietary imaging engine.
Hewlett-Packard -- will offer Windows Embedded for POS on its rp5000 POS device, a PC-like device with additional functionality to support POS requirements.
CRS Retail Systems -- has introduced a POS software package based on the .NET Framework, and running on Windows Embedded for POS. CRS RetailStore is claimed to be the first product in the industry to receive Microsoft's ".NET Connected for Smarter Retailing" certification and logo.

Windows Embedded for Point of Service

Last October, Microsoft announced that it is developing a specialized version of its Windows XP Embedded operating targeting the retail and hospitality industries. At that time, Microsoft said that the new OS version, known as Windows Embedded for Point of Service and based on Windows Embedded XP with Service Pack 2, would be available by mid-2005.

Microsoft claims that Windows Embedded for POS will be the first retail-optimized software platform to provide plug-and-play functionality to enable retail peripherals to be easily installed and managed. Additionally, Microsoft says that it is collaborating with 40 companies to develop solutions compatible with the new Windows Embedded-based POS OS.

Brian Scott, general manager for Microsoft's Retail & Hospitality Industry Solutions Unit, said, "Our vision for Smarter Retailing is paying off with retail solutions that take advantage of the interoperability and integration advantages of the Microsoft .NET Framework combined with standards-based software that will provide immediate and long-term benefits to retailers."

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