IPCPrint.com

Amtrak Streamlines Service with Linea-pro

IPC — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:07:56 +0000

Here, the New York Times shows how the Linea-pro and iPhone are giving Amtrak passengers a smoother ride.

New York Times
May 6, 2012

Amtrak Enlists iPhones as a Service Tool

By BRIAN X. CHEN

Old-school train conductors are finally ready to give up their hole punchers to try something new: the iPhone.

Amtrak, the government-owned corporation that oversees the nation’s railroad train services, has been training conductors since November to use the Apple handset as an electronic ticket scanner on a few routes, including from Boston to Portland, Me., and San Jose, Calif., to Sacramento.

By late summer, 1,700 conductors will be using the devices on Amtrak trains across the country, the company said.

With the new system, passengers will be able to print tickets or load a special bar code on their smartphone screens for conductors to scan, and conductors will be able to keep track of passengers on board, Amtrak said.

“You don’t even need to print the document and bring it with you,” said Matt Hardison, chief of sales distribution at Amtrak, who helped plan the iPhone program. “We’ve made a number of important improvements for both our customers and Amtrak, all in one fell swoop.”

Amtrak joins a growing number of businesses that are using mobile devices to improve operations. Some pilots are using iPads to replace flight manuals in the cockpit, a few police departments are experimenting with using iPhones to identify suspects, and doctors are using iPads to access patient records and X-ray charts.

A digitized check-in process for trains seems long overdue in a world of online concert tickets and flight reservations. But the industry faces a particular challenge in that passengers hop on and off at different platforms at different times, unlike at an airport, where people check in at one gateway to board a flight, and then stay there until the flight arrives.

The old manual ticketing process — punching a hole in the ticket, putting it in a pouch and then sending it to a central location, where it is eventually scanned and entered into a database — was not very good at tracking passengers on board because of the delay between when the ticket was checked and when it was processed.

With the new iPhone-powered system, conductors can monitor passenger check-ins in real time. That will help them manage seating: if there are passengers who don’t show up, for example, it will be easier to fill empty seats with other passengers.

“When it was all a manual system there was a lot of guesswork involved,” said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which contracts with Amtrak to operate the train service from Boston to Portland.

Each conductor’s iPhone is equipped with a case containing an extra battery and a bar-code scanner, and has a special app to scan tickets but also to do much more.

For example, with the app, conductors can indicate to the engineer if a disabled person is getting on at a particular stop so that the train staff can be prepared to coordinate the track and the wheelchair lift.

The app also allows conductors to report equipment failures, like broken toilet fixtures, to mechanics.

For passengers, the new system means it will be easier to book or modify reservations. For example, if a rider discovered at the last minute that she had to take a train at a different time, she could make the change online or in Amtrak’s iPhone app, whereas previously she would have had to refund a ticket and buy a new one at a machine or through an agent.

The iPhone system cost Amtrak $7.5 million — $5.5 million for the software development and $2 million for the hardware, the company said.

Amtrak’s smartphone app for passengers is currently available only for iPhones, but the corporation said it was working on a version for Android devices, due for release by early fall. Users of other types of smartphones can still load their tickets through Amtrak’s mobile Web site.

Sephora Adopts Mobile POS Technology

IPC — Mon, 07 May 2012 01:10:53 +0000

The Boston Herald reports on how makeup chain Sephora is trying to replicate the Apple Store experience using iPod touches, iPads and the Linea-pro.

Boston Herald (MA)
Volume 30, Issue 101
April 10, 2012

MAKEUP CHAIN TRIES APPLE RETAIL MODEL

Sephora seeks Pinterest spark, iPads’ support

Author: JESSICA VAN SACK

Sephora gave itself a digital makeover yesterday, as the global beauty chain launched iPads and iPods in stores and integrated its website with the popular social networking platform Pinterest.

The makeup chain looked to Apple’s super-successful retail stores as its model, said Julie Bornstein, senior vice president of Sephora Digital.

“It’s about leveraging consumer technology to make shopping easier and more fun,” she said.

All 305 Sephora makeup stores are equipped with iPod touches that provide a mobile point-of-sale option for customers, helping to mitigate the sometimes-long lines that form in the store.

“If you can keep people from abandoning the line, there’s payback there,” Bornstein said.

And 20 Sephora stores, including the Prudential Center location, will have two to four iPads to help clients interact with a menu of services offered at their makeover studios.

Sephora’s new website launched yesterday and was so highly trafficked that it crashed that afternoon.

It allows customers to “pin” their favorite products to virtual boards on Pinterest and gives users a behind-the-scenes look at the company and its staff through a new Instagram feed, the popular photo-sharing app snapped up by Facebook for $1 billion yesterday.

As for Pinterest, “because it’s so visual, people are there when they’re in the mindset of getting inspired and shopping,” Bornstein said.

Ken Perkins, president of Swampscott-based Retail Metrics, said consumers should expect more digital integration at retail locations as businesses try to combat competition from online shopping.

“The hardest thing to replicate is the experience that a consumer has in the Apple store,” Perkins said. “You’re starting to see the tip of the iceberg in this direction.”

Forbes Reports on Nordstom’s New Sales Experience

IPC — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:21:25 +0000

The Linea-pro markedly enhances top retail chain.

Forbes
April 6, 2012

Nordstrom Sees Sales Boost From Mobile POS Devices

Long lines are one of the worst nightmares for retailers – especially those with consumers about to make purchases worth hundreds of dollars. For these customers, standing in line for several minutes provides the opportunity to think about the purchase they are about to make. This time can allow customers to think about the necessity of the purchase and the cost, and given too much time to over-analyze the potential purchase, a customer standing in line can easily decide to set aside part of the potential purchase and pay less for fewer items – or even walk away entirely.

Retailers like Apple and Home Depot recognized the need to eradicate this wait several years ago, providing employees with mobile POS devices that enable them check out customers from anywhere within the store if the customer is paying with a debit or credit card. Employees at Apple’s retail stores have been armed with iOS devices for several years, enabling consumers to easily make purchases without waiting in line. In early 2011, Home Depot introduced their “First Phone” to allow customers to check out from anywhere within the store, also without having to wait in line.

Now, Nordstrom, the Seattle-based fashion and beauty retailer offering apparel, shoes, makeup and other beauty products, is rolling out mobile point-of-sale (POS) devices throughout their full-line stores, as well as in some of their Nordstrom Rack stores. These mobile POS devices, which is a modified iPod Touch with a merchandise scanner and credit card slider, allow employees to check out customers from anywhere in the store. The app on the device also provides Nordstrom’s sales staff access to the company’s entire inventory, which is useful when helping customers check if an alternative size or color is available elsewhere, without needing a register to look up that information.

Nordstrom has deployed over 6,000 of these devices throughout their 117 full-line stores, and at some Nordstrom locations, there are more mobile POS devices than regular registers. Colin Johnson, a spokesperson for Nordstrom, says that these devices are part of a larger plan for Nordstrom to help “provide a more technology enabled store experience.” He notes that in 2005, Nordstrom began offering the option to ship merchandise directly to customers, and in 2009 the company integrated inventory with its online store. In 2010, Nordstrom then introduced WiFi into stores to “make it easier for customers to stay connected in the stores by using their mobile devices to shop and to compare and learn more about merchandise.”

With WiFi, Nordstrom laid a foundation for these new mobile POS devices, which Nordstrom finished initially rolling out in mid-2011 and are primarily being used in B.P. (the trendy young women’s section) and shoes, which is a conglomerate of smaller departments catering towards specific demographics. Other departments using these devices include men’s. At the flagship Nordstrom store in downtown Seattle, most sales associates in these departments can be found armed with a mobile point-of-sale device and using them to checkout customers paying with plastic. When a Nordstrom customer checks out with a mobile POS, they can sign for their purchase and enter an email address for a paperless receipt. For most Nordstrom customers, checking out with a mobile POS is an incredibly intuitive and almost shockingly simple experience.

Johnson explains that the goal of using the mobile POS for Nordstrom is really to “take care of customer anywhere in the store. We don’t have to take you to the cash register, and instead, can do that right there with you on dressing room or when you’re trying on shoes – and then you’re on your way.” He adds, “that kind of ability to increase speed and convenience is increasingly important.”

Increasingly important for not just the customer’s convenience, but for Nordstrom’s sales. According to the company’s 2012 March Sales Report, “Preliminary quarter-to-date total retail sales of $1.73 billion increased 15.3 percent compared with total retail sales of $1.50 billion for the same period in fiscal 2011.” Additionally, according to the 2011 Nordstrom Annual Report, “both the average selling price and the number of items sold increased in 2011 compared with 2010.”

Is it a coincidence that the average number of items sold and the average selling price both increased after implementing mobile point-of-sale devices? While Johnson explains that the new mobile POS at Nordstrom is designed to provide a “faster and more convenient experience for customers and reduce the time it takes time for customers to check out,” he adds that “anything that can help that is beneficial.”

This efficiency undoubtedly reduces the potential amount of time customers have to think about their purchases before they reach the register. Though consumers may enjoy the convenience these new mobile POS devices offer, both Nordstrom’s 2012 March Sales Report and 2011 sales figures allude to the real benefit of these new mobile point-of-sale devices.

Tekserving An Infinite Appetite

IPC — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:21:25 +0000

TekservePOS (Hoffman Estates, IL) will handle the Linea-pro product line from Infinite Peripherals Corporation (Irvine, CA), which adds barcode scanning and magnetic-stripe reading (MSR) to Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch devices. “With our exploding Apple resell and support business, adding the IPC product line to our portfolio completes our product offering,” declared John Pruban, CEO/President of TekservePOS. “IPC is clearly one of the leaders in the Apple space and we are proud to be associated with them.”

“As the Linea-pro continues to change retail, we have partnered with TekservePOS to help mid-market and tier-one retailers benefit from all this versatile tool offers, particularly in terms of expediting checkout, increasing conversion, and maximizing efficiency,” said Andrew Graham, President of IPC. “With the strong track record of TekservePOS, we have great expectations to expand our business even more.” Both TekservePOS and Infinite Peripherals represent established POS channel players that have embraced the growing role of consumer-grade devices in retail environments, RRN.Com readers will note.

Retail Reseller News, Week of March 19, 2012

Major Retail Chains Streamlining Business with Linea-pro

IPC — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 02:22:55 +0000

Check out how Lowe’s has maximized its efficiency, boosted sales and streamlined operations with the adoption of Apple®’s iPhone® and the Linea-pro:

http://www.apple.com/iphone/business/profiles/lowes/

Moosejaw Enhances Customer Service with Linea-pro

IPC — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:00:02 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Julie King
847-638-1582
Jking@ipcprint.com

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – March 13, 2012 – Moosejaw, an outdoor gear and apparel retailer known for its quirky brand, recently made working easier for its associates and shopping simpler and faster for its customers. By adopting the Linea-pro from Infinite Peripherals, Inc. (IPC), in conjunction with Apple® iPod touch® 4th generation devices, Moosejaw now is equipped to perform customer checkout from anywhere in its stores – even for a customer curbside with a car full of kids.

Adding a 1D or 2D barcode scanner and magnetic stripe reader to an iPhone® or iPod touch, the Linea-pro, along with software applications like the Crossview point of sale system that Moosejaw uses, creates a mobile, handheld POS device that leads to faster transactions, greater customer interaction, higher conversion and more floor space.

“The Linea-pro has allowed us to increase the speed of our customer service without additional staff or bulky POS machines, and the staff and customers love the experience,” said Eoin Comerford, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Technology for Moosejaw. “In fact, one customer who had been in our Ann Arbor store called back and said that she wanted to get another jacket but had kids in the car so asked if we could run out and ring her up at the curb. No problem.”

Retailers nationwide that use the Linea-pro point to better customer interaction as a key benefit.

“It has really helped us to engage directly with our customers on the sales floor, as well as show them alternative products from our online store,” added Comerford.

Working with a mobile POS application, the Linēa-pro also can conduct inventory operations and corporate communications, as well as access the Internet and Intranet. Such POS applications can accept customer signatures, and purchase receipts can be wirelessly printed or e-mailed.

Currently, versions of the Linea-pro are available for the iPod touch 4th generation and iPhone 4/4S. Coming soon are a Linea-pro Tab for the iPad® 2nd generation, along with a Linea-pro Pin-Pad, which includes a Smart Card reader and a touch-capacitive keyboard, along with a magnetic card reader and an optional 1D or 2D scanner.

About Moosejaw

At Moosejaw, we sell the best outdoor gear and apparel in the world and have the most fun possible while doing it. Our goal is to engage customers with our unique brand voice and a little youthful enthusiasm. We call it Moosejaw madness. Moosejaw offers products from The North Face, Arc’teryx, Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear and Black Diamond, as well as under its own Moosejaw brand. The company serves a diverse customer base including serious outdoor enthusiasts, active individuals pursuing an outdoor lifestyle and high school and college students who are passionate about the Moosejaw brand. Moosejaw operates through Moosejaw.com as well as seven retail stores.

Infinite Peripherals Background

Since 1993, Infinite Peripherals, Inc. (IPC) has been fueling mobility with cutting-edge products, such as today’s industry-leading Linēa-pro, and other mobile peripheral devices, receipt printers, mechanisms and receipt printer-related components. Anticipating trends and pre-empting solutions for a constantly evolving business landscape, IPC enhances operations in various industries, including retail, healthcare, hospitality, transportation, entertainment, security, industrial measurement, time and attendance, gaming, amusement and ATM.

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For more information about the Linea-pro, contact IPC at sales@ipcprint.com or 866-278-7860. For images, contact Julie King at 847-638-1582 or jking@ipcprint.com.

Using the iPhone®, iPod® touch or iPad® for Scanning Applications

IPC — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:00:37 +0000

In evaluating barcode scanning hardware, iPhone Life magazine indicates that the Linea-pro is “gathering quite a bit of momentum.” Read this excerpt for more…

There are many different ways that today’s hottest consumer technology can be used for business applications. While most organizations that use handheld barcode scanning technology still utilize ruggedized, industrial-strength devices from companies like Motorola or Intermec, there is a growing trend to use off-the-shelf consumer technology as a replacement for these often extremely expensive, rugged devices.

For example, in late 2009, Apple retail stores replaced their Windows Mobile-powered devices from Symbol/Motorola with iPod touch devices and a Linea Pro sleeve. The Linea Pro provides laser barcode scanning and magnetic stripe reading to allow Apple Store employees to simply scan a product, swipe a customer’s credit card right from the iPod in their hands, and let the customer be on their way in mere seconds. This article will examine many of the barcode scanning options for organizations looking to take advantage of applications like these.

This article is an update of a review from one year ago, as most of the products have been updated and several new products have been added.

Linea Pro

($499-599, ipclineapro.com)

The Linea Pro was popularized as the hardware used in Apple Retail stores to facilitate rapid customer checkout. The Linea Pro is a sleeve for an iPhone or iPod touch, which makes it a single-unit form-factor that is very convenient for many kinds of applications. In addition to providing a moderate level of durability and protection to the iPod touch, it also offers a hot-swappable battery that not only powers the scanner but also serves to keep the iPod fully charged. The Linea Pro has both a 1D/2D barcode scanner and magnetic stripe reader, which makes it perfectly suited for applications like retail point-of-sale where the product can be scanned and the customer’s credit card swiped. A Software Development Kit, or SDK, is provided by the manufacturer, Infinite Peripherals, to give app developers low-level access to scanners and readers to configure settings, trigger the barcode, and receive events for successful scans or swipes. As the first barcode scanner to receive certification from Apple to provide an SDK for low-level access, the Linea Pro is gathering quite a bit of momentum. This is happening in internally developed applications similar to Apple’s deployment and also in several commercial apps and point-of-sale solutions such as LightSpeed Mobile (xsilva.com). The Linea Pro is the perfect device for many types of applications, and although the latest version now supports the iPhone 4/4S and iPod 4th Gen, the Linea Pro does not work with the iPad.

Gadget Experts Finds Linea-Pro “One of the most Intuitive Products”

IPC — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:00:18 +0000

Gadget Experts and GearsofBiz.com were eager to review the Linea-pro — and the editors ultimately determined that “The Linea-pro is really the best mobile payment solution.” Despite a little trouble pronouncing the name of the device, the video gives a concise accurate overview of this device. Take a look at http://gadgetexperts.net/accessoires/linea-pro-review/.

Starmount and Leading Retailers Choose Linea-pro for Shopping Convenience

IPC — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:01:44 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Julie King
847-638-1582
Jking@ipcprint.com

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Jan. 16, 2012 – Starmount, a software provider focused on helping retailers optimize the shopper experience, and Infinite Peripherals, Inc. (IPC) together are delivering a more engaging and satisfying experience for customers and associates in major retail stores, such as Urban Outfitters, Inc. By combining Starmount’s Engage mobile selling assistant software with IPC’s Linea-pro and an Apple® iPhone® 4/4S or iPod touch® 4^th generation, retail staff can conduct customer checkout from anywhere in the store, improving customer service, increasing efficiency and reducing transaction times.

The Linea-pro adds a 1D or 2D barcode scanner and magnetic stripe reader to the iPhone or iPod touch for instant mobile point-of-sale capabilities, with applications like Starmount Engage facilitating sales and item and transaction discounts, along with price and tax overrides, as well as accepting customer signatures and wirelessly printing or e-mailing purchase receipts.

“The way customers use technology to shop has changed drastically in just a few years, and retailers are faced with the challenge of customers walking into stores armed with devices that help them know more about their merchandise than their own associates do,” said Jerry Rightmer, president and chief technical officer, Starmount. “Starmount Engage, along with an effective, easy-to-use device like the Linea-pro, helps retailers better serve customers and create a competitive advantage.”

IPC has equipped a large number of major retailers in the United States with the Linēa-pro, helping to revolutionize shopping and lead the move toward mobility, while driving traffic and increasing conversion rates.

“The Linea-pro does what it does extremely well, and gives us a stable, simple hardware base from which we can deliver a product that exceeds our customers’ expectations,” Rightmer said. “Customers are impressed with the ease of use of the Starmount application combined with the Linea-pro, and they appreciate the tangible results that come from interacting with customers in the aisle.”

Working with a mobile POS application like Engage, the handheld Linēa-pro also can conduct inventory operations and corporate communications, as well as access the Internet and Intranet.

Starmount Engage and the Linea-pro will be demonstrated at Starmount booth #2073 and Infinite Peripherals booth #1853 of the National Retail Federation’s BIG Show, Jan. 16 and 17, 2012, in New York City.

About Starmount

Starmount software solutions bring the richness of the Web and the power of mobile into the store, where retailers can create more personalized, relevant, and dynamic interactions with customers. From mobile selling to interactive kiosks, our retail solutions transform the store environment to a more connected, engaging shopping experience. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Starmount works with a diverse client base of leading retailers around the world, such as Pep Boys, Urban Outfitters and Home Depot. For more information, visit www.starmount.com, read the blog at www.starmount.com/blog and follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/starmountretail.

Infinite Peripherals Background

Since 1993, Infinite Peripherals, Inc. (IPC) has been fueling mobility with cutting-edge products, such as today’s industry-leading Linea-pro, and other mobile peripheral devices, receipt printers, mechanisms and receipt printer-related components. Anticipating trends and pre-empting solutions for a constantly evolving business landscape, IPC enhances operations in various industries, including retail, healthcare, hospitality, transportation, entertainment, security, industrial measurement, time and attendance, gaming, amusement and ATM.

# # #

For more information about the Linea-pro, contact IPC at sales@ipcprint.com or 866-278-7860. For images, contact Julie King at 847-638-1582 or jking@ipcprint.com. The Bluetooth® word mark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

Linea-pro and Apple®’s iPhone® 4 and iPod® touch Revolutionize Retail Experience

IPC — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:00:50 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Julie King
847-638-1582
Jking@ipcprint.com

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Jan. 10, 2012 – Rapidly transforming operations in hundreds of major retail outlets throughout the United States, the trailblazing Linea-pro from Infinite Peripherals, Inc. (IPC) (www.ipcprint.com) is a major draw at the IPC booth (#1853) at the National Retail Federation (NRF) Convention and Expo January 15-18 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.

Used with the Apple iPhone 4/4S and the iPod touch 4th generation, the Linea-pro 4 is a compact, efficient and easy to use mobile point-of-sale (POS) device that increases customer conversion rates while eliminating traditional checkout counters and long lines of waiting customers.

Maximizing the functionality and convenience of Apple’s iPod touch and iPhone by adding a 1D or 2D barcode scanner and magnetic stripe reader, the in-demand Linea-pro enhances POS applications with inventory capabilities, corporate communications, Internet and Intranet access – all in one handheld device. Such POS applications can accept customer signatures, and purchase receipts can be wirelessly printed or e-mailed.

“With the Linea-pro, retail is undergoing an evolutionary shift that ultimately reduces the retailer’s expenses, saves the customer time, boosts business and dramatically improves the overall shopping experience,” said Jeffrey Scott, CEO at IPC.

Leading the Way

Currently, versions of the Linea-pro are available for the iPod touch 4^th generation and iPhone 4/4S. Coming soon are a Linea-pro Tab for the iPad® 2^nd generation, along with a Linea-pro Pin-Pad, which includes a Smart Card reader and a touch-capacitive keyboard, along with a magnetic card reader and an optional 1D or 2D scanner.

Each Linea-pro is comprised of a two-piece plastic shell that attaches to the mobile device via its 30-pin mating connector and functions using third-party software that runs on the unit, allowing data transmission via a Wi-Fi or cellular network. It comes with a Bluetooth® option to connect to IPC’s 2” and 3” portable receipt printers.

Software development resources and tools are available for the Linea-pro so customers can program scanner and reader functions into their own software application. IPC also partners with several development companies who write applications for the Linēa-pro.

Linea-pro accessories include single or multiple-unit chargers, along with protective cases and hip holsters that can be customized with company colors and logos.

The affordable Linea-pro measures 4.9 inches by 2.6 inches by .75-.98 inches (depending on 1D or 2D scanner) (125 mm by 67 mm by 19-25 mm), weighs 105 grams and is backed by a one-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects.

Infinite Peripherals Background

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For more information about the Linea-pro, contact IPC at sales@ipcprint.com or 866-278-7860. For images, contact Julie King at 847-638-1582 or jking@ipcprint.com. The Bluetooth® word mark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.