PointOfSale
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WSJ: Google teams with MasterCard and Citigroup for NFC payments, also files patent app
Ever since the Nexus S and its nifty little NFC chip hit the market, there's been speculation that El Goog was planning a foray into the mobile payment arena currently occupied by the likes of Charge Anywhere. Now, it looks like that plan may be in high gear, as the Wall Street Journal reports that Google's secretly partnered with MasterCard and Citigroup to test out just such a system. According to the publication, the early demo pairs "one current model and many coming models of Android phones" with existing Citigroup-sponsored credit and debit cards, and is using the phones' NFC chips with those VeriFone readers we recently heard about. What's more, a newly-published patent application from the crew in Mountain View may hint at the software behind such things. The application describes a service that sets up Google as a third-party broker who receives the shopping cart info of customers placing orders via a device (including those of the mobile variety), allows them to select shipping and other options, and provides the total order cost. It then collects payment, coordinates shipment, and forwards order information to the seller to complete the transaction. So companies can have Google handle all their payment-taking needs in return for getting a sneak peek at what folks are buying -- something that the WSJ's sources say might be a component of the setup Google's testing right now -- as opposed to other third-party services, like Paypal, that only obtain and exchange payment info with merchants. Looks like Alma Whitten (Google's Director of Privacy) has her work cut out assuaging the concerns such a system will inevitably create in an increasingly privacy-minded populace. Sean Hollister contributed to this report.
Google said to be preparing NFC checkout trials for San Francisco and New York City
Google does not sell hardware, Eric Schmidt told us as much, but the company has few qualms about buying the stuff up. Bloomberg is reporting, on the authority of a pair of well informed sources, that the Mountain View team is about to buy up "thousands" of VeriFone's NFC payment terminals, with a view to installing them in stores across San Francisco and New York City. Those two technophile cities represent the most receptive audience NFC is likely to get in the US, and Google will be hoping that users there will be able to appreciate the convenience of being able to swipe their Nexus S (or other similarly equipped handset) to complete payments. We already know that Schmidt and co. consider the concept of "mobile money" a priority and there have been rumblings of Google setting up its own payment system, which together make this hookup with VeriFone appear highly credible. Bloomberg expects the trials to commence within the next four months, just in time to make iPhone 5 users green with envy.
LG working on an NFC payment system for Europe, planning launch in 2012
All these upcoming NFC-equipped smartphones wouldn't be worth much without places to use them, so it's good to hear LG's announcement this week that it's working on providing the infrastructure for contactless payments. The Korean company has set its sights on Europe, where it's conducting beta testing of point-of-sale technology that will facilitate paying for goods and services by swiping your phone near an NFC sensor. We're not told whether that phone would necessarily have to be built by LG, though we imagine the company would be well served by including as many devices as possible and just taking its slice of the profits. Whatever LG does, it's looking increasingly safe to assume that having NFC on your phone will be a legitimate asset in the coming months (and not just if you live in Japan).
Old Navy pilots iPod-based point-of-sale system, still has creepy mannequins
Old Navy, the retail clothing store chain that owned by another retail clothing store chain (The Gap, former employer of onetime Apple retail exec George Blankenship), is reportedly piloting an iPod touch-based point-of-sale (POS) system like that used in Apple Stores. The system, known as EasyPay in the Apple retail world, uses a Linea-Pro barcode scanner and card reader sled from Infinite Peripherals to capture product and payment information and allow Apple Store customers to complete purchases from anywhere in the store. 9 to 5 Mac reports that Old Navy is now running a limited pilot of the same POS system at several of their stores. Apple has been marketing the EasyPay POS to third parties as "ZipCheck", and it appears that Old Navy is the first to give it a try. Some of the employees using the system wear small printers attached to their belts to provide receipts on-the-go. There is no word from Old Navy on whether or not the creepy "Supermodelquins" used in the chain's TV spots will be equipped with ZipCheck devices to haunt your nightmares and check you out at your local store.
Xsilva LightSpeed Mobile brings Apple Store-like checkout to any store
Xsilva Systems has been at the forefront of Mac Point-of-Sale systems for a while with their LightSpeed software. Now, they're bringing another member of the Apple hardware family into the LightSpeed fold. LightSpeed Mobile is designed to extend LightSpeed away from a traditional cash register, by using an iPod touch and Linea-Pro "sled" to scan bar codes and swipe credit cards from anywhere in the store. If this sounds familiar, it's because the hardware is the same that is currently used in Apple retail stores, although they use a proprietary app. For existing LightSpeed customers, LightSpeed Mobile is an additional US$1,299 (iPod touch not included). Complete turnkey retail solutions that include the necessary software, the Linea-Pro scanner, and a full POS hardware kit (receipt printer, cash drawer, and bar code scanner) start at $3,649. If you already have the necessary hardware and software, you can purchase LightSpeed Mobile in the App Store for just $19.99. A couple of fun videos showing LightSpeed Mobile in action follow on the next page. Thanks to Brad for the tip
TUAW Review: Checkout, top notch Point of Sale software for Mac
I had the opportunity to speak with the creators of Checkout: an excellent Point of Sale application for the Mac. I've been working with the app for several weeks now and have been thoroughly impressed by it, especially after the developers shared their perspectives. Many thanks to Ed and Dirk for walking me through it. Whether you're starting a new store or transferring your current system to Checkout, it's the best Point of Sale I've worked with in my many years of retail. The creators explained that they designed Checkout to help small and mid-sized retail stores make sales, print receipts, manage stock, organize customers, and collect payments. This application focuses heavily on ease-of-use in everything from installation to managing metrics and allows the user to remove "unneeded complexities" from the system they work with every day. Read on for a full walk-through of the application.
Neoluxiim demos solar-powered e ink display
We've been sort of wondering when we'd see a solar e-ink display, and here we are -- Neoluxiim is demoing this panel for use in point-of-sale advertising. What's interesting here is that the background appears to be in color while the text is black, but we're assuming that's just a fixed image behind the e-ink layer. Everyone ready for impulse purchasing to go high-tech? Video after the break.
Macworld 2009: Xsilva Lightspeed
With the Mac platform reaching 10% market share, there's a lot of interest in more vertical applications. For owners of retail businesses, point-of-sale systems are one area where the Mac is making impressive inroads. While there have been other Mac-based point-of-sale systems, the most impressive is Xsilva's Lightspeed.Lightspeed is a powerful POS system with a beautiful interface, compatibility with a plethora of devices (cash drawers, touch screens, receipt printers, card authorization units, etc...), and ties to other Mac heavyweights such as Marketcircle Daylite and QuickBooks. I spoke with Xsilva founder, CEO, and vice-president Dax Dasilva on January 7th about the product, and we have some video for you showing some of the features of both Lightspeed and its companion Web Store application. The video is after the break!
Apple's small business share continues to grow
I seem to be seeing Macs in small business offices with increasing frequency these days. My dentist uses all Macs, as does the wine shop in town, the photo developing shop, the kennel that watches our dog when we're away and the woman who sells craft supplies. Just a few years ago I'd be shocked to see an iMac running point of sale software. Today, it's much more common.Earlier this week, Needham Co. analyst Charlie Wolf confirmed my suspicions. Specifically, Apple sold 188,000 Macs to small businesses in the September quarter of this year. Compare that to the 61,000 Macs sold to the same group over the summer.The boost came just as residential sales cooled, which was fortunate for Apple. Of course, internet security and the ability to run the Windows software that these companies depend on are real selling points for many business owners.[Via AppleInsider]
Checkout - point of sale for Mac (beta)
Jasper Hauser and company have been busy, as Disco isn't the only thing pot on their oven. Behold: Checkout, a point of sale app (in beta) for store owners running Mac OS X. Boasting a 15 minute learning curve, Checkout has an impressive lineup of features, like: Interoperability - "export anything you want" Easy Backups - the database is just one file, with a .Mac Backup QuickPick included (hint hint to other devs) Bookkeeping super powers for maximum accountant happiness Address Book syncing "Extensive" reporting High-Speed input for more better schmoozing with customers Checkout's site offers a number of screencast Quicktours to help you get an idea of everything it can do. I personally don't run a retail store, but from looking at Checkout, I'm starting to wish I did. While Checkout is in beta, pricing and an official release date are still TBD.
