Click here to learn
about this Sponsor:
Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum  |  Directory

Keywords: Match:
Microsoft updates WEPOS, extends POS support to XP Pro
Mar. 08, 2006

Microsoft today announced an update to its operating system for point-of-sales/service (POS) environments, and is offering a free download that enhances retail peripheral support for systems based on Windows XP Professional. WEPOS (Windows Embedded for Point-of-Service) Version 1.1 boasts expanded support for both legacy and new peripherals, including the latest RFID, biometrics, and other "cutting edge" technologies, according to the company.

WEPOS, a retail-optimized version of Windows XP Embedded SP2, is the core of Microsoft's "Smarter Retailing" initiative, which is positioned as a set of technologies intended to help retailers improve how they sell and operate through better access to customer and product information. Additionally, Microsoft says that WEPOS simplifies development and deployment of POS systems, and reduces maintenance and upgrade costs, by being the first POS software platform to support plug-and-play peripheral functionality, "the feature most requested by retailers."

Specifically, the platform supports both legacy and emerging POS technologies such as RFID, wireless, networking, and multimedia. Microsoft says that WEPOS also includes strong default security settings including a "hardened" Internet Explorer browser, Windows Logon user authentication, and buffer overrun protection. Another touted advantage of WEPOS is its minimized operating system code size, which reduces system vulnerabilities, according to the company.

WEPOS version 1.1

Among other enhancements, WEPOS v1.1 supports UnifiedPOS (UPOS) version 1.9, said to be a "critical selection criterion" in purchasing new point-of-sales/service (POS) terminals.

The UPOS standard protects retailers' investments by separating the application from the hardware, allowing either hardware or software to be changed out with significantly less programming expense, according to the standard's developer, the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS). UPOS features supported by WEPOS v1.1 include support for devices such as coin dispensers, keylocks, magnetic ink character recognition (MICR), POS power, scales, signature capture, and tone indicators, Microsoft said.

Microsoft cites a recent survey from IHL Consulting Group, a retail and hospitality industry market analyst, that found that up to 45 percent of retailers purchasing new POS terminals want to continue using existing peripherals in order to protect and maximize their existing IT investments. A study by IHL Consulting last year showed that 71 percent of the POS terminals purchased in 2004 ran various Microsoft Windows operating systems, with Windows NT/2000/XP accounting for 56 percent and Windows CE another 15 percent.

POS for .NET now available for XP Pro POS systems

In order to extend its retail-optimized platform capabilities to other Windows operating systems, Microsoft said it is making a free download of the recently released POS for .NET 1.1 available for use on POS systems running Windows XP Professional.

POS for .NET is a class library that provides .NET applications with a simple and consistent interface for communicating with POS peripherals, such as bar code scanners, magnetic card readers, and receipt printers, according to Microsoft. In addition, POS for .NET includes a set of APIs (application programming interfaces) and base classes that can help developers write software components, or service objects, for their POS peripheral devices. POS for .NET is Microsoft's implementation of UPOS version 1.8 for the .NET platform. It is also backward-compatible with existing implementations of UPOS on the Microsoft Windows platform, named OLE for Point of Service (OPOS), Microsoft said.

The free download, available here, will allow POS terminals running Windows XP Professional to benefit from the simplified device management support that was previously only available in WEPOS, Microsoft says.

"We're working with industry leaders to transform POS terminals into next-generation information portals," said Jane Gilson, director of the Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft. "The features and functionalities we are introducing in this next version of Windows Embedded for Point of Service help extend and protect our customers' existing investments, while enabling them to benefit from the latest advances."



Related stories:


(Click here for further information)


7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.

4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.

Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.

Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.

Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.

Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.

Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.

Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business’ operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.

Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.

 


Got a HOT tip?   please tell us!
Free weekly newsletter
Enter your email...
Click here for a profile of each sponsor:
PLATINUM SPONSORS
(Become a sponsor)

ADVERTISEMENT
(Advertise here)


Check out the latest Windows-powered...

mobile phones!

other cool
gadgets

HOT TOPICS
Microsoft targets PNDs with new embedded OS
Microsoft tips .NET MF 3.0 highlights
Microsoft previews Windows Embedded Standard
Microsoft offers free Windows CE 6.0 textbook
Microsoft renames embedded operating systems
Microsoft unveils Windows Mobile 6.1
New Atom models target low-cost PCs
REFERENCE GUIDES
Windows Device Showcase
Intro to Windows Embedded
Intro to Shared Source
Real-time Windows Embedded
Windows Embedded books
Join our Windows Embedded discussion forums:
Windows XP Embedded
Windows CE
Windows Mobile


Windows Embedded developer newsgroups
Windows CE
XP Embedded
PocketPC
Smartphone

Microsoft's Windows Embedded resources
Embedded dev center
Mobile dev center
Windows CE tutorials
XP Embedded tutorials
Windows Embedded seminars
Windows Embedded application categories
3rd-party partners


BREAKING NEWS

• Upated JVM supports Windows CE
• Windows Mobile 6.1 phone has GPS
• Windows CE thin client hides in wall sockets
• Portable spectrum analyzer runs Windows CE
• VoIP client gains add-ons, API
• Windows Mobile phone has dual active SIMs
• Access gives away Windows Mobile utilities
• Intel's Atom powers mini-ITX board
• Microsoft revamps Windows Mobile website
• Low-cost phone bundles IM client
• Pico-ITX board bears twins
• Microsoft details finalists in student competition
• Intrinsyc revs Windows CE-based software platform
• $300 mini-laptop runs Windows CE
• Microsoft releases server virtualization technology


MOST POPULAR (last 90 days)
Windows Mobile 6 SDKs available for download
Guide to HTC's Windows Mobile smartphone platforms
Microsoft unveils Windows Mobile 6.1
HTC announces unlocked Windows Mobile 6.1 phone
UMPC squeezes in optical drive
Running Windows Mobile 6.1 on your desktop computer
Microsoft releases Windows XP Service Pack 3
Mobile Firefox gets speedup, design tweaks
MOST POPULAR (Classics from the vault)
The Windows Mobile Phones Showcase
Windows XP Embedded USB boot
Troubleshooting Windows XPe's blue screen "Stop 0x0000007B" error
Asus reveals $190 mini notebook
HTC adds GPS to Windows Mobile Touch line
Windows Mobile VPN client plays with Cisco
Guide to HTC's Windows Mobile smartphone platforms
Customizing Windows XP Embedded thin clients
The Windows Mobile Pocket PCs Showcase

Also visit our sister sites:


Sign up for WindowsForDevices.com's...

news feed

Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum  |  Directory  |  About  |  Contact
 

Ziff Davis Enterprise Home | Contact Us | Advertise | Link to Us | Reprints | Magazine Subscriptions | Newsletters
Tech RSS Feeds | White Papers | ROI Calculators | Tech Podcasts | Tech Video | VARs | Channel News

Baseline | Careers | Channel Insider | CIO Insight | DesktopLinux | DeviceForge | DevSource | eSeminars |
eWEEK | Enterprise Network Security | LinuxDevices | Linux Watch | Microsoft Watch | Mid-market | Networking | PDF Zone |
Publish | Security IT Hub | Strategic Partner | Web Buyer's Guide | Windows for Devices

Developer Shed | Dev Shed | ASP Free | Dev Articles | Dev Hardware | SEO Chat | Tutorialized | Scripts |
Code Walkers | Web Hosters | Dev Mechanic | Dev Archives | igrep

Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Windows is a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries and is used by WindowsForDevices under license from owner. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. WindowsForDevices is an independent publication not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.