Point Of Sale, Payment Processing And Data Collection News From September 2015
By The Business Solutions Network
Each month, Business Solutions reports news on business in the channel. This month in point of sale, payment processing and data collection news, Vantiv launches a new payments security suite, Honeywell unveils a new thermal printer and a new mobile computer, Janam announces a new rugged mobile computer, and Zebra introduces new tablets and software migration services. In other news, Phoenix Managed Networks PCI-certified security solution is available to BlueStar partners, APG Cash Drawer merges with Cash Bases, Creditcall and Gravity Payments partner to speed up EMV migration, and Epson announces a strategic partnership with Nimble Software Systems.
Vantiv Launches New Payments Security Suite
There is a new security suite that helps to protect merchants from fraud, breaches, and compliance issues. The new OmniShield Assure includes chip card acceptance, encryption, and tokenization.
Vantiv recently unveiled OmniShield Assure, a security bundle designed to assist in protecting consumer card data, reducing the chance of counterfeit fraud, and enhancing payment processing security to help merchants with PCI 3.1 compliance requirements.
OmniShield Assure, which comes standard on all new terminals provided by Vantiv, includes EMV or chip card fraud protection, card data encryption, and the OmniToken secure tokenization service, to help ensure that payment transactions are transmitted and stored safely. In addition, it includes
Vantiv’s compliance assistance solution, PCI Assist, to help SMBs meet PCI standards, as well as the Breach Assist program that helps merchants with expenses assessed by the card associations in the event of a data compromise. Breach Assist will reduce the merchant’s obligation to indemnify and reimburse Vantiv for certain fines, penalties, and expenses imposed by the card associations by up to $100,000 per merchant location and up to $500,000 per event involving multiple locations. Breach Assist also provides up to $25,000 for post-breach hardware and software payment technology upgrades.
Honeywell Unveils New Thermal Printer, Mobile Computer
Honeywell recently introduced its new PC42t, a thermal transfer desktop printer designed for applications such as retail shelf price labeling, general office packing and shipping labeling, and distribution center barcode labeling applications. One target market is SMBs looking to upgrade to thermal printing from inkjet or lasers for the first time.
The PC42t label printer, which can print on media up to 4.3 inches wide, supports connectivity options such as USB device and USB host, plus optional serial or serial plus Ethernet.
Honeywell also announced a new product for front-line workers in applications such as transport and logistics, field service, direct store delivery, and warehouse environments. Its new Dolphin CT50 mobile computer features an all-touch interface and runs on either Windows Embedded 8.1 Handheld or Android 4.4 KitKat (future proofed to upgrade to Windows 10 or Android 6 “Marshmallow”).
The Dolphin CT50 includes Wi-Fi and 4G/LTE connectivity to ensure access to business-critical applications and multimedia such as streaming video and videoconferences, whether in the office or connecting remotely from the road.
Janam Announces New Rugged Mobile Computer
Janam Technologies recently announced the newest addition to its XG3 series of rugged mobile computers. The XG3-ER, designed for manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and warehouse applications, incorporates auto-focus technology that results in barcode reading range that is 30 percent greater than competitive scanners. Indeed, the unit can read virtually any kind of 1D and 2D barcode, omni-directionally, from 6 inches out to more than 50 feet.
XG3-ER specs and features include a Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 operating system, ARM Cortex-A8 processor at 1 GHz, 3.5-inch VGA TFT display, IP65 sealing, and the ability to withstand multiple six foot drops to concrete. The unit also has 512MB/1GB of memory with expansion capability, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a motion sensing accelerometer, and a 5200mAh hot-swappable Li-ion battery.
Zebra Introduces New Tablets, Software Migration Services
Zebra Technologies recently introduced its ET50 and ET55 tablet computers. The tablets, running either Microsoft Windows 8.1 (Windows 10-ready) or Android 5.1 (Lollipop), are available in two different display sizes.
The Android version of the ET50/55 tablet computer comes standard with Zebra’s Mobility Extensions (Mx) providing enterprise-class security, device management, and data capture capabilities. The Android tablets are also equipped with Zebra’s AppGallery — an Android enterprise app store providing ready-to-use apps.
The ET50 features Wi-Fi connectivity while the ET55 adds 4G LTE cellular connectivity, and both models offer an advanced capacitive touch display that enables gloved or ungloved usage and the ability to use a stylus or a finger for annotating and capturing signatures. All configurations are designed to MIL-STD specification for drops to concrete and have IP65 sealing.
Zebra also unveiled new services designed to help organizations successfully migrate their business applications to next generation technologies. Enterprises are modernizing their mobile environments to mitigate end-of-life operating system (OS) support timelines and accelerate improved customer experiences and increased productivity while capturing emerging new business models made possible with next generation mobility. Zebra’s Software Application Services offer end-to-end services to help with every phase of application migration including virtualization, re-engineering, rewriting, and ongoing support, shortening a migration to weeks, rather than months or years.
Phoenix Managed Networks’ PCI-Certified Security Solution Available To BlueStar Partners
Channel partners can take advantage of BlueStar’s partnership with a cloud-based network services and security provider whose solution can help secure your clients’ networks and help keep them in PCI DSS compliance. Phoenix Managed Networks’ agreement with BlueStar enables partners to sell PhoeniXSentry, a PCI DSS Level 1-certified network security service.
When combined with an optional third-party QSA Bundle, PhoeniXSentry can help end users address more than 97 percent of all PCI DSS obligations. This solution offers secure, encrypted connections between business locations, Internet usage and performance reports, content filtering, intrusion detection and prevention, built-in private/guest Wi-Fi connectivity, global redundancy, and a 3G/4G wireless backup connection. VARs can provide this service — which includes $100,000 in breach protection — to their clients for a monthly fee.
APG Cash Drawer Merges With Cash Bases
APG Cash Drawer and Cash Bases Group Limited of Newhaven, East Sussex, United Kingdom, recently announced the merger of their two companies. “The technologies of the two companies are very complementary and bring an even greater choice to customers on a worldwide basis,” says Mark J. Olson, President of APG Cash Drawer. “This merger brings Cash Bases’ SMARTtill cash management technology to the North American marketplace and expands the APG mass customization capabilities in the European marketplace.”
The combined company’s corporate headquarters remains at the current APG location in Minneapolis, and Olson continues to serve as president and CEO at the corporate level, overseeing all of the company’s operations.
Creditcall, Gravity Payments Partner To Speed Up EMV Migration
Creditcall has partnered with credit card processing and financial services company Gravity Payments to simplify and speed up the EMV migration process for ISVs, VARs, and developers. The integration of Creditcall’s ChipDNA EMV SDKs for iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux, paired with Gravity Payments’ payment platform, GravityPay, allows integrators to benefit from the fastest and easiest path to EMV.
By combining ChipDNA with GravityPay, developers can add PIN pads to existing POS systems to ensure merchants are EMV-ready with the highest level of cardholder data protection through point to point encryption (P2PE).
Creditcall’s EMV SDKs can also help de-scope merchants from PCI DSS, as all sensitive cardholder data is securely encrypted with P2PE and handled directly by Creditcall’s payment gateway. While EMV migration solves the issue of card skimming, it cannot prevent a data breach. With Creditcall’s P2PE, cardholder data is encrypted, making it useless to hackers if a merchant’s POS is compromised.
Epson Announces Strategic Partnership With Nimble Software Systems
Epson America recently announced a strategic alliance with Nimble Software Systems. As part of the alliance, Nimble Software’s NimbleSchedule, which provides food service and retail establishments with an application to manage predictive staff schedules, track attendance, and analyze profitability, will be leveraging the Epson Cloud and OmniLink smart printers.