To all:This is new but I still think they have something else up their sleeve (IMHO) Rampant
RIM's New POS Technology:
RESEARCH IN MOTION LTD: New Wireless Point of Sale Technology Offers Mobile Retailers
November 25, 1999
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA ("RY-TMVYWBDNPQ") - New Wireless Point-of-Sale Technology Offers Mobile Retailers and - Customers Greater Convenience, Efficiency and Safety
InterPOS Electronic Payments Inc., a subsidiary of eXcape Inc., along with business partners Rogers Cantel Inc., Research In Motion, and Royal Bank, unveiled a new point-of-sale (POS) retail solution that will help make life easier for mobile retailers and their customers.
The MagIC 9000 direct-payment terminal from Schlumberger, introduced today at a reception at the King Edward Hotel, is a handheld wireless payment system that can accommodate credit, debit and smart cards and provides a convenient, efficient and safe payment system for those retailers who conduct business in a mobile or non-wired setting. According to InterPOS CEO Keith Cowan, this new wireless payment solution will appeal to a wide range of retailers. "The introduction of a truly handheld and mobile series of
on-line credit/debit and smart card-capable terminals, coupled with software that offers the ability to customize our solutions to retailers' unique needs, opens up a huge untapped market," says Cowan.
"While the rest of the retail world has been moving towards a system of cashless transactions, mobile retailers and their customers have been at a real disadvantage. Now, with the InterPOS system, these retailers can experience the same benefits traditional retailers have enjoyed for some time. Consumers also benefit from the convenience of being able to use debit and credit cards anywhere, anytime."
Experts expect that debit and credit at-your-door payment will become commonplace as the rampant growth of Internet commerce drives the need for delivery services. Companies involved in the delivery of Internet-purchased goods, home delivery (grocery, pizza, catering, etc.), home services (appliance repair contractors, etc.), transportation companies (taxis, limousines, passenger trains, tour bus companies), off-truck mobile sales, flee markets, sporting events and more will all benefit from wireless payment
technology. Connections Canada Inc., one of Canada's largest attractions ticket distributors, is among the first retailers to employ the new MagIC 9000 terminal.
Connections Canada President Peter Hilliard says his customers benefit from this new technology as much as his business does. "With these wireless point-of-sale devices, our 80 kiosks offer visitors the opportunity to purchase tickets to more than 60 attractions in the Toronto area, and gives them the convenient option to pay with credit or debit cards, whether they are standing on a street corner or in a hotel lobby," says Hilliard. "The software developed for Connections by InterPOS also makes life easier for us by allowing us to move from a voucher-based system to a completely automated one that not only accepts payments, but has the facility to issue tickets and coupons on- demand, while at the same time helping us keep track of sales-per-attraction."
The system also addresses safety concerns of mobile retailers by significantly reducing the amount of cash they are forced to carry and keep on hand.
The handheld MagIC 9000 terminals operate on the Cantel(R) AT&T(TM) Mobitex national data network. Using a state-of-the-art Mobitex modem from Research In Motion, transactions are processed over the wireless network with InterPOS software certified for credit and debit card processing by the Royal Bank.
"The Cantel AT&T Mobitex network is a nationwide, dedicated data network. In addition to traditional data services offered directly to consumers, it also provides retailers in Canada with a fast, reliable way to process customers' secure debit and credit card transactions, anywhere, anytime," says David Neale, Vice President, New Technologies, Rogers Cantel Inc.
"The InterPOS solution is a great example of how wireless data technology can solve major business problems and enable competitive advantage," said Mark Guibert, Director of Marketing for Research In Motion. "It offers operational efficiency and enhanced customer service for companies that conduct business in mobile environments."
"With wireless point-of-sale technology and the InterPOS full solution, we've made it easier for our merchant clients on the move to accept credit and debit card payments as well as issue tickets or coupons or loyalty points through one integrated device," says Frank Moore, Vice President, Merchant Services, Royal Bank. "With cards outranking cash as Canadians' favourite way to pay, it is important to offer consumers and businesses the convenience of mobile payment solutions."
InterPOS also offers technology that enables a version of the wireless terminal to be permanently installed in vehicles, providing a constant power connection and to prevent removal of the unit from the vehicle.
InterPOS is a private Canadian company based in Ontario. It is a subsidiary of eXcape Inc. eXcape offers Internet network services, remote server management, disaster recovery, Internet mirroring and business-to-business e-commerce solutions. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, TeamMate Solutions Inc., eXcape also offers Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions that address the entire cycle of customer interactions with a business. They also provide the tools and skills to bridge to corporate in-house systems of all types. A 7x24 call center provides service in French and English for our POS solutions customers.
Rogers Cantel Inc. is Canada's largest wireless provider serving over 2.2 million customers from coast to coast. Marketed under the co-brand Cantel(R) AT&T(TM), Rogers Cantel provides a complete range of wireless solutions including cellular, paging and Interactive Messaging, Digital PCS and wireless data services. Rogers Cantel Inc. is wholly owned and operated by Rogers Cantel Mobile Communications Inc., (TSE: RCM.B; NYSE:RCN). Rogers Cantel Mobile Communications Inc. is 51% owned by Rogers
Communications Inc. and 33.3% owned jointly by AT&T Corp. and British Telecommunications plc.
Royal Bank (RY) is a global financial services group and a leading provider of personal and commercial banking, insurance products, wealth management, and corporate and investment banking. The bank and its key subsidiaries Royal Trust, RBC Dominion Securities, RBC Insurance, and Royal Bank Action Direct have approximately 52,000 employees (on a full-time equivalent basis) serving 10 million clients through more than 1,400 branches and offices in over 30 countries.
Research In Motion Limited is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the mobile communications market. Through development and integration of hardware, software and services, RIM provides solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers in North America and around the world to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity. RIM's portfolio of award- winning products includes the RIM Inter(at)ctive(TM) Pager product line, the BlackBerry(TM) wireless email solution, wireless personal computer card adapters, embedded radio-modems and software development tools. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: RIMM) and the
Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE: RIM). |
