Point of Service TerminalsPoint-of-service terminals, such as point-of-sale terminals, information kiosks, or self-checkout systems, used by a wide range of retail and hospitality companies to process and record purchase transactions, are familiar fixtures of any shopping experience. They are also increasingly used to enable real-time reporting of sales and inventory data, allow enterprises to streamline supply chains, accelerate self-service transactions, and reduce the cost of deploying and maintaining a retail IT infrastructure. Device Platform OfferingsWindows Embedded for Point of ServiceWindows Embedded for Point of Service is a standard, retail-optimized operating system platform designed for retail point-of-service systems. Based on the technologies available in Windows XP Embedded with Service Pack 2, Windows Embedded for Point of Service is a key component of the Microsoft Smarter Retailing Initiative and is an easy-to-use point-of-service platform optimized for the retail industry.
Advantages for Point-of-Service DevicesAs the first Microsoft operating system designed specifically for point-of-service systems used by retail and hospitality organizations, Windows Embedded for Point of Service will deliver at the point of sale and beyond. As a core component of the Microsoft Smarter Retailing Initiative, Windows Embedded for Point of Service offers the following advantages to retail and hospitality organizations:
- Ease of Use. Windows Embedded for Point of Service is the first point-of-service operating system platform to provide plug-n-play peripheral support. Extending standard desktop PC plug-n-play support to retail device peripherals, this will enable retailers to quickly install and integrate current and legacy retail device peripherals into a point-of-service system. The platform also offers a standard platform optimized for retail and hospitality applications and familiar device management technologies.
- Empowerment. Windows Embedded for Point of Service also empowers retailers to create the most compelling customer interactions by providing a standard, retail-optimized platform that includes the required retail-specific technologies, and full support for standard retail applications and device peripherals.
- Lower Life-cycle Costs. Windows Embedded for Point of Service provides low retail point-of-service life-cycle costs by decreasing OS and application development costs, deployment costs, servicing and maintenance costs, and point-of-service hardware costs while providing the longest published product support life cycle for point-of-service systems.
Windows Embedded for Point-of-Service FunctionalityWindows Embedded for Point of Service provides:
- Plug-n-play functionality for retail device peripherals such as scanners, MSRs, and receipt printers
- Easy setup and installation
- Operating system updates from Microsoft via Windows Update
- Support for standard PC network management solutions
- Microsoft .NET Framework support for application developers building smart, connected applications
- Internet Explorer Web browser software
- Windows Media Technologies for checkout lane advertising and training scenarios
- Remote boot support
- Multilanguage support
- Network boot/diskless operation support
- Dual-display support
Application and Device Peripheral SupportFrom the check-in counter to the checkout lane, Windows Embedded for Point of Service will improve any retail and hospitality setting. The platform has been engineered to integrate seamlessly with both legacy and nextgeneration point-of-service systems.
- The Windows Embedded for Point of Service platform provides support for the UnifiedPOS, OPOS, and JavaPOS standards for retail device peripherals, including cash drawer, check scanner, line display, MSR, PIN pad, keyboard, printer, and scanner.
- Non-UnifiedPOS devices can be easily supported via a "generic" device base class supported by Windows Embedded for Point of Service.
- Windows Embedded for Point of Service supports applications written to the Win32® APIs and .NET framework, and also provides support for Java virtual machines.
- Windows Embedded for Point of Service is compatible with applications written for Windows 9X, Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP itself, providing the widest range of available software for the point of sale.
Typical Windows Embedded for Point of Service DevicesWindows Embedded for Point of Service is designed for a full line of point-of-service devices such as:
- Full-function point-of-sale workstations
- Network-bootable "thin client" point-of-sale terminals
- Customer-facing information kiosks
- Self-checkout systems
- Installation on select legacy point-of-service devices
Building Devices with Windows Embedded for Point of ServiceWindows Embedded for Point of Service has a smaller operating system footprint than the standard Windows XP Professional and can be installed on new and existing point-of-service systems. The
baseline operating system hardware requirements are:
- 233 MHz PII Processor
- 64 MB RAM memory
- 280 MB storage
Windows XP EmbeddedWindows XP Embedded is a Windows Embedded family platform option for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) building point-of-service terminals. It allows OEMs to use low-cost computer architecture hardware while providing the ability to run rich native and managed retail application software, easily integrate into existing and next generation retail information technology infrastructure, and utilize the latest and most reliable Windows XP networking, application, browsing, multimedia, and remote management services. Windows CEWindows CE is the Windows Embedded family platform option for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) building very small -footprint and mobile point-of-service devices such as inventory or line-busting devices. Windows CE takes advantage of the .NET Compact Framework to provide a rich user experience in these portable devices.
| Microsoft and Retail: Nearly Two Decades of Innovation
(May 24, 2005) Microsoft Windows Embedded for Point of Service made its official debut with support from more than 40 partners and several retail customers at the Retail Systems 2005 conference in Chicago, marking the first time a Windows XP Embedded operating system has been designed and optimized specifically for the retail technology environment. | | Retailers Experience Continued Success With Microsoft Smarter Retailing
(January 17, 2005) CompUSA, Regal Entertainment Group and Rite Aid are among retailers benefiting from Microsoft technology-based solutions; ISVs and peripheral vendors demonstrate support for Microsoft .NET framework and Windows Embedded for Point of Service. |
| Retalix Ltd.
By porting its StoreLine retail point-of-sale (RPOS) terminal to Microsoft Windows XP Embedded, Retalix is able to provide its customers with more features in a smaller footprint and deliver StoreLine terminals to market quickly through easier customization. | | Wyse Technology
Wyse Technology, a worldwide market leader in thin client computing devices, turns to the Microsoft Windows XP Embedded operating system to continue delivering cost-effective devices with powerful functionality. |
Windows Embedded for Point of Service Product Web Site
Windows Embedded for Point of Service Newsgroup
Microsoft Windows Embedded Partners
Point-of-Service Solutions for the Retail Industry
Retailspeak magazine review of Windows Embedded for Point of Service | How to Buy Find details on how to purchase Windows Embedded Point of Service tools and run-time licenses. |