Retailers of All Sizes and in All Segments Worldwide Now Have More Choices of Affordable, Retail-Hardened, Internet-Enabled IBM Technology Solutions
RALEIGH, N.C., May 7, 2002 .... IBM, recognized worldwide as the leader in reliable, retail-hardened point-of-sale (POS) systems for more than 20 years, today significantly expanded its family of POS systems to give retailers of all sizes and in all segments worldwide many more choices of affordable, advanced, Internet-enabled IBM technology solutions to improve their business operations and enhance customer service.
IBM is expanding its portfolio of POS systems with the new IBM SurePOS(tm) 300 Series, as well as new models of the IBM SureOne (R), IBM SurePOS 600 Series and IBM SurePOS 500 Series.
Whether they are small specialty retailers or giant category killers, all retailers worldwide are facing significant business and competitive challenges, ranging from a slow economy to consumers who are demanding more choices, convenience and personalized service in their shopping experience.
While the challenges can be the same, each retailer has unique requirements -- whether it be a high-fashion specialty apparel retailer who needs a powerful, yet elegantly designed POS system, a category killer who needs a custom-configured, thin-client system, a food service retailer who needs reliability and an ultra-bright display, or a small retailer who needs an affordable, all-in-one POS system.
"What was once just a cash register has become a sophisticated, powerful Internet-enabled point-of-service system, which allows retailers to run their businesses more effectively and efficiently, know and serve their customers better, and link to other sophisticated e-business technologies to enable true integrated multi-channel retailing," said Tom Peterson, general manager, IBM Retail Store Solutions. "Retailers of all sizes, in all parts of the world, are telling us they want the reliability, retail hardening, expertise and support that has been a hallmark of IBM POS systems for decades. They also need it at different price points. They don`t want to have to piece together different parts of systems not designed for the rigors of retail."
Reflecting IBM`s commitment to open standards, all of the new POS systems allow retailers to run the POS software they may already have or choose from a wide range of software – including StoreProven(tm) POS applications from IBM`s worldwide network of more than 1,500 Business Partners. These systems support various operating system platforms to meet the requirements of retailers. For example, IBM continues to support the mature Microsoft(R) Windows(R) platforms (Windows 98 SE, Windows NT(R) 4.0 and Windows 2000 Professional), while fully embracing the support of Windows XP Professional and the new XP Embedded solution. IBM also supports Linux(tm).
As part of IBM`s commitment to the National Retail Federation`s ARTS standards for Java(R)POS and OPOS, the open platforms also deliver retailers flexibility when choosing peripherals and help provide excellent investment protection.
All of the new POS systems are built with IBM`s proven technology to withstand the harsh demands of the retail environment and are designed and tested to the same rigorous specifications as other IBM POS systems used throughout the world. These demands can include fluctuations in temperature, humidity, dust and dirt levels, spills, and vibrations and electrostatic shock -- all of which can increase the risk of downtime and additional maintenance.
Each POS system also features the plug-and-play convenience of Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectivity, the standard in PC-based technology.
IBM`s new POS systems being announced today include:
New IBM SurePOS 300 Family Series
The new IBM SurePOS 300 is a smart, affordable POS system that offers quality, power and flexibility for today`s small and medium businesses, including specialty retailers, as well as a new, flexible option for large category killer retailers.
It is available as either a thick-client, stand-alone solution or as a thin-client, centrally controlled POS workstation. The SurePOS 300 has the smallest footprint of any system in the IBM portfolio and a distributed design that gives retailers flexibility when organizing their store counters. While still very affordable, the retail hardening of the SurePOS 300 allows it to withstand heavy usage and harsh operating conditions, resulting in higher uptime, improved customer service and longer life.
IBM SureOne POS System
The IBM SureOne, a very popular choice worldwide since 1996 for small and medium retailers who need an entry-level, integrated, all-in-one POS solution, has now been enhanced with faster processing power, increased hard drive capacity and a new LCD display option.
Created with an attractive design and engineered for high performance, the IBM SureOne gives retailers worldwide a fully integrated and cost-effective POS solution. This solution is built to run advanced applications for checkout, inventory control, accounting and other essential store management functions.
With rugged, durable components designed for high-volume, in-store use, the SureOne offers high levels of reliability, flexibility and investment protection for today`s budget-conscious retailers. The SureOne`s compact, all-in-one design also helps eliminate the need for complex integration.
IBM SurePOS 600 Series
IBM`s SurePOS 600 Series is designed specifically for specialty retailers, who require a reliable, affordable, powerful and elegantly designed system that also includes the most advanced technology and Internet and multimedia capabilities. To further assist specialty retailers in this fast-growing and demanding retail segment, IBM is now adding three new SurePOS 600 models.
This next generation of the SurePOS 600 Series is equipped with significantly faster processing power, increased memory, larger hard disk drive space and two additional USB ports. In order to enhance the attractiveness of the POS workstation, the new models also offer a compact keyboard that is 22% more narrow than previous keyboard models.
The sleek design of the SurePOS 600 preserves limited counter space and is designed to enhance the appearance of a specialty store. The SurePOS 600 also offers touchscreen capability, is ideal for Internet and multimedia applications and can be used in a wireless environment when it is difficult to route cables.
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