DENVER — Jan. 15, 2007 — First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and HP (NYSE: HPQ)(Nasdaq: HPQ) today announced they have brought together their industry-leading payment solutions, state-of-the-art store management software programs and retail-ready computer hardware in a small-business point-of-sale solution with features that until recently were only available to large retailers.
The First Data POS Value ExchangeSM replaces a cash register and traditional point-of-sale terminal with a computer-based system that delivers a complete store management solution with greater information security, speed of transactions and more flexible payment options for customers.
POS Value Exchange leverages the three companies’ core competencies: 1) First Data’s payment processing power for virtually all forms of payment – from credit and debit to gift cards and checks; 2) Microsoft DynamicsTM – Point of Sale 2.0 software from Microsoft designed to manage inventory, track sales and improve customer management; and 3) a rugged, retail-specific point-of-sale hardware solution from HP. The solution will be offered by First Data, along with its participating alliance partners and independent sales organizations. Purchase and lease options will be available, with pricing set by the individual sales channels.
Specialty retailers will find that the system’s touch-screen display and ability to accept virtually all forms of payment will improve customer service and speed up transaction time. Retailers also will be able to track purchase behaviors and identify buying trends to improve inventory management and save valuable time.
“The customer experience has improved tenfold with the POS Value Exchange solution,” said Byron Borchardt with Bargain Books, one of a number of retailers who have been pilot testing the solution. “Our customers spend less time in the check-out line and the discount the customer received at the store is clearly reflected on the sales receipt. The user-friendly touch-screen display makes employee training simple and seeing a computer at the point of sale projects a professional image to my customers.” Bargain Books has also been able to track buying trends in the store to better manage staffing levels.
First Data, Microsoft and HP believe that the product will have benefits for merchants and consumers alike.
“First Data is excited to team with Microsoft and HP to deliver a unique value to small and mid-sized merchants,” said Barry McCarthy, president of Product Innovation at First Data Commercial Services. “This single solution enables small merchants to have the power to manage their inventory, understand and track customer buying behavior, and offer an enhanced consumer experience by accepting virtually all forms of payment — from credit, debit and gift cards to checks.”
“This new solution will revolutionize the way small retailers do business and process payments,” said Mike Dickstein, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics at Microsoft. “Now small retailers using electronic cash registers and dial-up connections can easily convert to an affordable, integrated point-of-sale and payment processing system, and offer the same great customer service and payment options to their customers that the big-box stores do.”
“Simply put, this solution gives small businesses a competitive edge,” said Gayle Papadopoulos, managing director of Worldwide Distribution and Retail Industries at HP. “HP’s retail-hardened, industry-standard rp5000 point-of-sale system adds the flexibility and affordability of a PC architecture with long life cycles and extended warranties to First Data’s payment processing power and Microsoft’s software.”
POS Value Exchange is designed for smaller retailers, typically with a single store location with up to five lanes.
More information on the POS Value Exchange solution offered by First Data is available at www.POSValueX.com or by calling (866) 711-4590.
About First Data Corporation
First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) is a leading provider of electronic commerce and payment solutions for businesses worldwide. Serving 4.6 million merchant locations, 1,900 card issuers and their customers, First Data powers the global economy by making it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses around the world to buy goods and services using virtually any form of payment. The company’s portfolio of services and solutions includes merchant transaction processing services; credit, debit, private-label, gift, payroll and other prepaid card offerings; fraud protection and authentication solutions; electronic check acceptance services through TeleCheck; as well as Internet commerce and mobile payment solutions. The company’s STAR Network offers PIN-secured debit acceptance at 2 million ATM and retail locations. For more information, visit www.firstdata.com.
About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended Oct. 31, 2006, HP revenue totaled $91.7 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.
About Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of financial, customer relationship and supply chain management solutions that helps businesses work more effectively. Delivered through a network of channel partners providing specialized services, these integrated, adaptable business management solutions work like and with familiar Microsoft software to streamline processes across an entire business. For more information about Microsoft Dynamics – Point of Sale, visit http://www.microsoft.com/pos.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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