REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 12, 2010 — Developers got a look at the future of retail during the recent National Retail Federation trade show in New York. There, Microsoft demonstrated several point of service (POS) devices running Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 — the next generation of Windows Embedded for Point of Service. The devices included NCR SelfServ 60 and Fujitsu TeamPoS 3600.
In response to input from its partners and customers, Microsoft optimized Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 with the features and components most requested by retail and hospitality organizations. These features include Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Silverlight and Microsoft .NET Framework. In addition, a feature called File-Based Write Filter helps retailers maintain their POS systems over time by giving them the ability to lock down critical areas of their system images.
Douglas, Europe’s largest fragrance and cosmetics retailer, has already begun migrating its POS systems in 23 countries around the world to Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 on Wincor Nixdorf Beetle hardware. Other well-known retailers such as Macy’s, Virgin Megastores (U.K.), Charles Vogele Holding AG (Switzerland) and De Bijenkorf (Netherlands) are currently using Windows Embedded for Point of Service; Microsoft will continue to work with these partners to upgrade their existing systems to Windows Embedded POSReady 2009.
Microsoft is also working with companies like NCR, IBM, Wincor Nixdorf and Fujitsu to move their end users to Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 as soon as possible, so they can take advantage of benefits such as these:
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Stronger security
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Standards-based plug-and-play support for peripherals
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Flexibility to deploy flash-bootable devices
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The ability to add and remove components after deployment to enable new applications and business process
Residents of the 21st century may still be waiting on television’s promises of flying cars and robot butlers; but from what we saw at NRF, the future of retail is right here, today.
