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.
The SurePOS 600 is designed to link a retailer`s store, catalog, and
online operations to provide specialty retail store operators with a
seamless view of their customers across all available sales channels.
The SurePOS 600 Series is equipped with the processing power retailers
need to run their current POS software, as well as emerging applications for customer loyalty, e-commerce and other e-business initiatives.
IBM SurePOS 500 Series
IBM is introducing four new models of the SurePOS 500 Series, an
award-winning point of sale solution that brings exceptional
reliability, retail hardening, advanced technologies and a sleek,
attractive design to the food service, hospitality and gas and
convenience store industries. These industries are among the most
demanding environments for computers due to surrounding heat, spills,
smoke, crumbs and bright sunlight.
All new models of the SurePOS 500 Series are engineered with faster
processing power, increased hard drive capacity, more memory and two
additional PC USB ports. Unique technology, such as a cooling pipe
design and spill-resistant displays, allow the SurePOS 500 to withstand
the rigors of the demanding food service and retail environments.
The SurePOS 500 also offers the option of an integrated, active-matrix
touchscreen with multimedia capabilities, which is ideal for food
service operators whose environments require them to operate in bright
sunlight, such as on cruise ships or in outdoor cafes. It also can
operate as a wireless terminal.
New 10" Color Flat Panel Display
IBM also is announcing a new, ultra-thin IBM SurePoint™ 10" Color Flat
Panel Display that can be used across IBM`s portfolio of POS systems
where displays are attached as a peripheral to the POS system. The new
display allows retailers to enhance the appearance of their stores, even when they have limited space at the point of sale. Not only does the
smaller display create less of a barrier between the sales associate andthe shopper, it consumes less than half the power of a traditional CRT
and radiates considerably less heat. The new SurePoint display is
designed to be spill-resistant and retail-hardened with a
high-brightness, active-matrix screen.
About IBM
IBM, the world`s largest information technology company, provides the
Retail Industry with a full range of e-business solutions, including:
point-of-sale systems, other hardware and software technology,
consulting focused on business transformation, IT strategy and planning,
store operations improvement, and supply chain optimization, and with
services, such as outsourcing, managed operations, systems integration,
and application development and design. IBM is the premier worldwide
supplier of POS systems, with nearly 1.5 million shipped to more than
100,000 stores in 100 countries.
For more information on IBM Retail Solutions, please visit
www.ibm.com/solutions/retail, and for more information on IBM
Point-of-Sale Solutions, visit www.ibm.com/solutions/retail/store
IBM, SurePOS, SureOne, SurePoint, and StoreProven are trademarks or
registered trademarks of IBM Corporation in the United States and/or
other countries.
All other company, product and service names are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective companies.
© 2002 International Business Machines Corporation, all rights reserved.
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